More than decade ago, Korn Dabbaransi, then the Thai vice president and minister of Health Ministry, broke through barriers and obstacles to open a huge window for TCM entering Thailand. Since then, TCM rooted, grown and, tended to be more localized, then TCM and Thai medicine became governmental and social widely welcomed alternative medical care.
A few days ago, Korn Dabbaransi as the director of Sino-Thailand Friendship Association talked about this experience when accepting Xinhua reporters’ interview. He said that in order to make TCM legalized in Thailand, he once visited China with a delegation in 1999, and paid special visit in Kunming and other places to leant production, effect and usage of TCM. After his return to Thailand, he carried out a lot of propaganda in his country to end Thai people’s stereotypes and prejudice on TCM, and let more people learn about TCM.
In addition, Korn Dabbaransi also drove Thai government to carry out cooperation with China, and strived to build Thailand as Southeastern Asia medical training, research and cure center.
When was asked the original intention of promoting Chinese Medicine in Thailand, this Thai Chinese politician with profound “Chines love” deep inside said in simple words. I“Since I was a kid, I am full of curiousness and faith in traditional Chinese medicine”
Korn Dabbaransi recalled that, he once fell from the horse by accident while riding, which caused hip fracture, then doctor suggested have an operation on me while the Chinese Daifu cured the fracture with TCM therapy even without any trauma. “The Chinese medicine of 5000 years practice is safe and reliable medical treatment” he said.
So far, more and more Thai people know and focus on Chines medicine. Korn Dabbaransi said that the most popular Chinese therapies were acupuncture, massage, and Chinese herb, anytime when he felt sick, Chinese medicine would be his first choice. Thai Health Ministry offers powerful support for the development of Chinese medicine, Chinese medicine now have been the main alternative treatment.
When was asked how popular Chinese medicine is in Thailand actually, Korn Dabbaransi said “you will really know how popular it is when you walk on China Town in Bangkok and see Chinese medicine shops anywhere in the city.”