Are herbal remedies from a traditional Thai medical clinic located in the central province of Nakhon Sawan approved by the Thai Food and Drug Administration as cancer treatments? No, that's not true. The provincial Public Health Office in Nakhon Sawan told Lead Stories they confiscated those remedies in 2023 and filed a lawsuit against the producer for manufacturing and distributing herbal remedies that were not registered with the FDA.
The claim appeared in a TikTok video, (archived here), published on January 12, 2024, by @suphattv, a TikTok account affiliated with the clinic that has published several clips advertising the alleged medicinal properties of Suphat Traditional Medicine Clinic herbal remedies.
The video opened with the following text, translated from Thai to English by Lead Stories staff: "Mr. Chamnan's experience, stage 4 lung cancer, no shortness of breath, no fatigue. Suphat clinic, Lad Yao district, Nakhon Sawan and Klong Samwa, Bangkok."
The man speaking in the clip added where he was from, and was then asked by the interviewer why he came to Suphat Clinic. Here's the exchange, as translated by Lead Stories staff:
Man: I have stage 4 lung cancer.
Interviewer: How did you take care of your symptoms before this?
Man: I went to see a doctor, but my wife and friends recommended coming here. The first set I took was herbal medicine.
Interviewer: Did you see any changes after going back for another check-up?
Man: I went back for an X-ray. The shadows in the lungs have faded, not as dense as before.
Interviewer: Do you feel any changes in yourself before and after taking the medicine?
Man: I felt a bit tired before taking it, but after taking it, I don't feel tired. I breathe with more ease and deeper.
Interviewer: What herbal medicines did you take?
Man: It's in the form of herbal soup and capsules. I take it regularly, both in the morning and evening.
Interviewer: Is there anything you would like to recommend to the viewers as a guideline?
Man: I would like to invite viewers to try buying and consuming herbal products here. There are several types, and I feel that my condition has improved. I had stage 4 lung cancer, and now I breathe freely without fatigue or shortness of breath.
This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:
(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Mon Mar 25 16:39:42 2024 UTC)
In the comment section, a viewer wrote (as translated): "My father had colon cancer. He went to get medicine at the clinic ... He took two sets, and now my father has improved a lot. His body is much better than before." The poster answered, (as translated): "I'm glad to hear that. If you have the opportunity, I would like you to share your experience as inspiration."
In a second video posted on the same TikTok account on November 18, 2023, (archived here), a man who identified himself as the founder of Suphat Traditional Medicine Clinic asked a visitor named Nitya what her condition was. She replied that she had cancer that started in the salivary glands and spread to the lymph nodes, then to the lungs. He said, (translated from Thai to English by Lead Stories staff):
Within three months of receiving the medicine from my clinic, she would improve.
The woman mentioned that after taking the medicine from the clinic for the second time, she felt irritation in her lungs. He reassured her that it would be fine and she would recover. He noticed that she no longer looked like a sick person because her complexion had become rosier.
The woman then explained that her doctor wanted her to do chemotherapy, which she declined because she was already taking medicine from the clinic. The man responded, as translated:
You don't need chemotherapy anymore, and your condition would be eventually improved.
This is what the second post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:
:
(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Mon Mar 25 16:42:00 2024 UTC)
Lead Stories contacted by phone the Provincial Public Health Office of Nakhon Sawan, responsible for consumer protection within the province, on March 26, 2024. Two officials stated that some of the clinic's herbal products have not been registered with FDA Thai, including the alleged cancer remedies.
The Herbal Products Act of 2562 B.E. (archived here) states any person who produces, imports, or sells herbal products without obtaining a license shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or a fine not exceeding three hundred thousand baht (over 8,000 USD), or both imprisonment and fine. During the telephone conversation, an official of the Provincial Public Health Office told Lead Stories:
Following complaints, officials seized herbal medicines claimed to treat various diseases, especially cancer, in August 2023. Legal action has been taken against key personnel of the clinic on charges of producing and distributing unregistered medicines. The trial is ongoing.
(Translation from Thai to English by Lead Stories staff).
Furthermore, another official from the provincial Public Health Office added that they are currently addressing illegal advertising by the clinic. Many complaints have been received regarding advertisements that violate FDA regulations (archived here), particularly those claiming that specific medicines provided by the clinic can treat serious diseases such as cancer.
