With rich knowledge of medicinal materials in nature, Dao ethnic minority people in Tu Son commune of Kim Boi district have practiced traditional medicine for generations and brought their long-standing therapies into play in the current life.


Phung Thi Hien (first, right), a resident in Thung Dao Bac hamlet of Tu Son commune (Kim Boi district), introduces precious medicinal plants of the Dao ethnic minority group.

Phung Thi Hien was born to a family having four generations practicing traditional medicine in Thung Dao Bac hamlet of Tu Son commune. After graduating from high school, she enrolled on the Tue Tinh traditional medicine school with the hope of preserving traditional remedies and adding new knowledge to her ethnic group’s remedies.

After nearly 20 years of working and gaining experience, now she has wide knowledge of over 120 medicinal materials and a number of remedies for bone, joint, stomach, liver, and kidney illnesses, among others.

Hien said she had learnt those remedies from her mother. Each remedy contains tens or even hundreds of herbal ingredients. Patience, prudence, and wholeheartedness are needed to practice traditional medicine. Sometimes, it takes even months in forest to seek enough ingredients for a remedy.

To develop medicinal plants for use in the Dao people’s traditional remedies and also create jobs and improve the life quality in Thung Dao Bac, Hien established Phung Gia (Phung Family) traditional medicine cooperative with seven members in 2019. Since the cooperative’s inception, local residents have replaced traditional crops with medicinal plants as natural resources are limited and they also want to preserve the precious genetic sources in the face of overexploitation.

The cooperative sold its products mainly in the northern region, especially Hanoi, Hung Yen, and Vinh Phuc, earning more than 3 billion VND (119,500 USD) in total revenue in 2023.

To scale up production, in April 2024, the Phung Gia traditional medicine cooperative was dissolved to establish the Thien Nam Green Herbs Co. Ltd., based in Ve hamlet of Dong Bac commune, Kim Boi district. The company is applying high technology to improve product quality, promoting activities under production chain, and aligning medicinal plant cultivation with market demand, thus working towards the sustainable development of traditional medicine.

Bui Van Lam, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Tu Son commune, said to preserve the traditional medicine of the Dao people and build a brand, the local Party Committee and administration will conduct a survey of medicinal plants in forest and step up communications to encourage local residents to join hands in preserving and developing the valuable plants.

Aside from curing illnesses, traditional medicine also helps the Dao people improve their income and quality of life. However, authorities and the community still need to give more attention and support so as to sustainably develop medicinal plants and generate better economic benefits for local residents, he added.

 


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