Herbal potions keep illness at bay

It's wintertime Thailand and so it is cold. Temperatures drop especially in the evening and at night to around 18 – 20° Celsius and in the north of Thailand even below 10° Celsius.

Here in Pattaya with the sea breeze, the wind chill is even lower and in the evening you see the Thais with sweaters over an extra T-shirt and I also often wear a windbreaker on my moped.

I know, in the Netherlands this will all seem a bit laughable, but the colder weather can still affect health. Cold weather, for example, weakens the immune system, making us more vulnerable to illnesses such as the common cold and flu. This applies to the Thais, but also to the older expats who live here

In an interview with the Bangkok Post, Supaporn Pitiporn, chief pharmacist at Chao Phraya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital, says it is imperative for this reason that we stay warm when the temperature drops. “We must adhere to the golden rule: “Prevention is better than cure”.

According to the pharmacist, drinking herbal tea from a mixture of herbs can be helpful. She recommends herbs with warm elements such as ginger, garlic, onion, pepper, which warm the body. Most of the herbs in this group are found in every household in Thailand, she notes. Krajiab or Roselle (a Hibuscus species), with anthocyanin, a red colored substance that strengthens the immune system, also fits in this list.

Some fruits such as the “yaw” carombola (star fruit) and the Indian mulberry (Indian mulberry morinda citrofolia) contain polyphenol, a substance that can stimulate the immune system and also a lot of vitamin C. Another rich source of vitamin C are “makhampom”, or Indian gooseberry and guava, both widely available in Thailand. The Indian gooseberry, in particular, keeps the throat moist, preventing germs from causing infections.

In addition to drinks, the pharmacist recommends clear chicken soup with turmeric root as an ideal dish during the winter. Chicken amino acid helps to widen and unclog airways, while turmeric is known to contain antioxidant and anti-infective components.

Furthermore, Pitiporn said that a daily walk of 15-20 minutes in sunlight is also beneficial for health, not only because of the fresh air, but sunlight is also a natural source of vitamin D.

Finally, she believes that people from vulnerable groups should always wear a scarf and socks, especially at night, to maintain good health. The latter made me smile, because wearing socks in bed used to be very common in the Netherlands. I remembered the warning if I had done something naughty. My mother would say: "Be careful, otherwise I will send you to bed with bare feet"