Thai Traditional Medicine College Initiates a 5-Year Training Program to Disseminate the Knowledge and Value of Local Herbs

Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi sent a committee of delegates from the Thai Traditional Medicine College to inspect the progress of its 60-village community project in honor of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. The committee visited Bo Ngern community, Soontharomettaprachasun School, and Bo Ngern Community Health Promotion Hospital, in Pratumthani Province and provided a participatory training program about Thai herbs. The topics included business start-up training for health and beauty products, such as tamarind facial cream, pomelo-scented inhaler, and facial compress ball, and plai oil, in order to help create jobs and add value to local herbs.

“Tamarind is easy to find in every household. It is also an effective facial scrub because of its high vitamin C content. Due to these two reasons, we decided to teach the community how to make the AHA tamarind facial cream,” said Jutarat Sangkwan, head of Bua Spa, Thai Traditional Medicine College. “The community has low income and will benefit from this business,” she added.

Yamila Dormae, lecturer from the health, beauty, and spa course, said that Thai herbs are readily available, and the facial compress ball offers a new alternative for those who pay attention to their health. The recipe that she introduced to the community was unique to the college. “Today, consumers are more aware of herbal cosmetic products because they are chemical free. Each facial ball costs 35 baht and will generate income for the community,” she said.

Representing the community, Wanna Maimeetuk said that the training was very useful because it taught her skills and knowledge that she could use to generate an income. She would pass on this knowledge to her community and set up a pilot group for the start-up business.

Siriyakhon Wan-aelo, Mathayom 2 student from Soontharomettaprachasun School, said that she learned about the properties of Thai herbs and could use her free time to create the products with her friends. This would help generate an income for her as well as increasing the value of local herbs.

Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi has a policy to enhance the livelihood of 60 nearby communities, through this participatory training program, in honor of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. The program was planned to continue for five years, starting this fiscal year.