China will help Thailand develop herbal treatments in its drug rehabilitation program using local ingredients to reduce the cost of imported medicine, local press reported Monday.

China has a lot of experience in using herbs to cure sickness and rehabilitate drug addicts, said Justice deputy permanent secretary Kitti Limchaikij.

Early next month, the two sides will exchange information at an academic seminar.

"As about 30 percent of herbs grown in China come from areas with a similar climate to Thailand's, the project will bring mutual benefits to both countries," Kitti was quoted by Bangkok Post as saying.

Chinese herbs have already been used to treat heroin and opium addicts at the Thanyarak Institute. A four-month study by Chulalongkorn University found that some 90 herbs are being used throughout Thailand to treat drug addiction, but only 10 of them should be studies further.

We have to prove the scientific efficacy of herbs before bringing them into wider use, which China could help since it continues to use herbs as medicine till today, said Kitti.

Using herbs can help cut the expense for imported medicine and also promote herb growing by locals, he added.

Source: Xinhua