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Allen JW; Merlin MD
Psychoactive mushroom use in Koh Samui and Koh Pha-Ngan, Thailand.
J.Ethnopharmacol; 1992 Jan; 35(3); P 205-28
This paper presents the results of recent ethnomycological exploration in southern Thailand. Field observations, interviews and collection of fungi specimens were carried out primarily on two islands, Koh Samui and Koh Pha-ngan, situated in the western region of the Gulf of Siam. Some fieldwork was also conducted in the northern Thai province of Chiang Dao and in the southern Thai province of Surat Thani. During five separate excursions (1989-90), observations were made of occurrence, harvesting, use, and marketing of psychoactive fungi by local Thai natives (males and females, adults and children), foreign tourists, and German immigrants. The first records of psychoactive Psilocybe subcubensis and Copelandia dung fungi in Thailand are presented in this paper. These fungi exhibited intense bluing reactions when handled, indicating the presence of psilocybin and/or psilocin. Seven collections of Psilocybe cubensis (Earle) Singer and/or Psilocybe subcubensis Guzman and four collections of Copelandia sp. were harvested and sun-dried for herbarium deposit. These fungi are cultivated or occur spontaneously, often appearing in the decomposed manure of domesticated water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) and at least three different species of cattle (Bos indicus, B. guarus, and B. sundaicus). The psychoactive fungi are cultivated in clandestine plots, both indoors and outdoors, in the uplands and villages on Koh Samui by both Thai natives and some foreigners. The sale of psychoactive fungi directly to tourists and to resort restaurants for use in edible food items such as omelettes and soups is discussed in detail. The preparation and sale of mushroom omelettes adulterated with artificial hallucinogens in some restaurants is also discussed. In addition, the marketing of items such as hand painted T-shirts, post cards, and posters bearing mushroom related motifs in Thailand is described.

GARTZ,J: ALLEN,JW: MERLIN,MD:
Ethnomycology, Biochemistry, and Cultivation of Psilocybe Samuiensis Guzman, Bandala and Allen, A New Psychoactive Fungus from Koh Samui, Thailand.
J Ethnopharmacol 43 2: 73-80 (1994) English

KIATYINGUNGSUREE,N: WANGMAT,M: SAWASDIMONGKOL,K: MOKKHASAMIT,M:
Pharmacological Activity of Zingiber Cassumunar Roxb.
Abstr Seminar on the Development of Drugs from Medicinal Plants Organized by the Department of Medical Science Department At Thai Farmer Bank Bangko K Thailand 1982 ():119-. (1982)

LAI SM; LIM KW; CHENG HK
Margosa oil poisoning as a cause of toxic encephalopathy.
Singapore Med J. 1990 Oct; 31(5): 463-5
Margosa Oil is an extract of the seed of the Neem tree and is widely used as a traditional medicine by Indians in India, Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. Used mainly for external applications, it is often administered orally to neonates and infants regularly in small amounts. Margosa Oil causes toxic encephalopathy particularly in infants and young children. The usual features are vomiting, drowsiness, tachypnea and recurrent generalised seizures. Leucocytosis and metabolic acidosis are significant laboratory findings. Management is aimed primarily towards the control of convulsions although supportive management is equally important. Prognosis is usually good but fatalities and neurological deficits have been reported. We report here two infants with Margosa Oil poisoning presenting with encephalopathy.

ROBERTS C; JAHN G; KOHL PK; KENNY GE
Tetracycline resistant mycoplasmas from Thailand and South America [letter]
Eur J Epidemiol. 1990 Dec; 6(4): 440-1
[NO ABSTRACT]

SPECIOSA FROM THAILAND.
The Mitragyna Species of Asia Part Xxxi. the Alkaloids of Mitragyna
Shellard,ej: Houghton,pj: Resha,m Planta Med 34:26- (1978)

SUWANLERT, SANGUN
A study of kratom eaters in Thailand.
Bulletin on Narcotics; 1975 Vol 27(3) 21-27
INTRODUCTION: Kratom is indigenous to Thailand. Market gardeners, peasants and laborers often become addicted to kratom leaf use. In certain respects kratom addiction resembles addiction to a drug with narcotic properties, except that long-term kratom addicts develop a dark skin, particularly on the cheeks. The age of onset is apparently later than in heroin addiction, and females are rare amongst those who use the substance. Because of the harmful effects which may result from the use of kratom leaf, the Government of Thailand passed a law (Kratom Act 2486) which came into force on 3 August 1943 and by virtue of which it is forbidden to plant the tree; and existing ones are to be cut down. Kratom, known botanically as Mytragyna speciosa Korth., is a large tropical tree cultivated in Thailand, especially in the central and southern regions; it is rarely found in the northern and north-eastern parts of the country. The kratom leaf has long been known to possess narcotic properties and the beginning of its use in Thailand cannot be dated. Kratom is also called Kakuam, Ithang and, in the south of the country, Thom. In Thai folk medicine the leaf is used for the treatment of diarrhoea and as a substitute in cases of opium addiction. Some villagers use it as an ingredient for cooking. Market gardeners, peasants and labourers become easily addicted to the use of the leaf; they reason that it helps them to overcome the burden of their hard work and meager existence. Several alkaloids have been derived from the plant such as mytragynine, speciofoline, rhynchophylline, and stipulatine. In the present study thirty male and female cases of kratom addiction were selected from the Nondhaburi province and from the suburbs of Bangkok for the purpose of an intensive study. The interview method was used with a questionnaire consisting of 30 items. In addition five cases of psychotic patients with a history of kratom addiction were studied at Srithunya Psychiatric Hospital in Nondhaburi. Findings from psychiatric and physical examinations as well as treatment results were evaluated.

SUWANLERT, SANGUN
A study of kratom eaters in Thailand.
Bulletin on Narcotics; 1975 Vol 27(3) 21-27
Discusses addiction in kratom, derived from the leaves of a tree indigenous to Thailand which contain several alkaloids. After ingestion, a pleasant mood prevails along with a strong desire to do manual work. Withdrawal symptoms, occur, and psychiatric problems arise after prolonged use. Five short case histories are presented.

Tohhara S; Kato A; Tsuji M; Nakajima T; Kato N
[A case of traveller who showed heroin withdrawal after returning from abroad]
Arukoru-Kenkyuto-Yakubutsu-Ison; 1991 Oct; 26(5); P 391-400
A 28-year old Japanese man with heroin abuse was reported. He is an ex-beautician and has abused a variety of substances such as toluene, marihuana, methamphetamine, LSD, and so on since he was in a junior high school in Japan. He experienced an intravenous injection of heroin for five days on his first trip to Thailand in 1989. Soon after he returned home, he went back there to use heroin again. He also experienced tearing and running nose as withdrawal at the end of his ten-day trip. During his third stay there he got a job as a wholesale dealer of heroin under a illegal drug organization in the northern part of Thailand. Before he returned home in Japan, he managed to withdraw from heroin by reducing the dose and replacing it with opium smoking. On his fourth trip he failed to withdraw from heroin and injected the drug intravenously at Chiang Mai Airport before leaving Thailand. He began to show acute heroin withdrawal just after he arrived in Osaka, Japan and sought treatment without telling heroin abuse. He was hospitalized next day and soon showed more severe withdrawal and delirium for next ten days. The delirium was thought to be due to not only heroin but the other drugs which he used. Recently heroin abuse, once prevalent during the latter half of 1950s in Japan, has been hardly seen owing to changing the law to severe punishment in 1963. To avoid strict regulations in home some of young Japanese seem to travel abroad and abuse drugs in Asian countries where the drugs are easily available.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

TONGROACH,P: SROYSUWAN,G: CHAISUPAMONGHONLARP,T: PONGLUX,D: WONGAREEPIPATANA,S
Antiserotonergic Principles from Uncaria Salaccensis.
Abstr Seminar on the Development of Drugs from Medicinal Plants Organized by the Department of Medical Science Department At Thai Farmer Bank Bangko K Thailand (1982)

TSENG WS; ASAI M; LIU JQ; WIBULSWASDI P; SURYANI LK; WEN JK; BRENNAN J; HEIBY E
Multi-cultural study of minor psychiatric disorders in Asia: symptom manifestations.
Int J Soc Psychiatry. 1990 Winter; 36(4): 252-64
Patients with minor psychiatric disorders, including neuroses, situational adjustment reaction or acute emotional reaction, were investigated using symptom questionnaires at five research sites in Asia including: Chiang-Mai, Thailand; Bali, Indonesia; Kao-Hsiung, Taiwan, China; Shanghai, China; and Tokyo, Japan. The results revealed that the symptom profiles differ significantly among groups of different settings indicating that sociocultural background does contribute to the manifestation of neurotic symptomatology. It was also found that numerous and various subtypes of somatic scales were identified through factor analysis of symptoms for these Asian populations. It demonstrates that the spectrum of neurotic symptoms has a different focus for subjects in different sociocultural settings.