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An overview of the herbal medicine garden at the Border Post of Le Thanh International Border Gate |
The garden now has about 50 types of medicinal plants which are divided into different groups according to their uses. They are groups for treating snakebites, sedation, cooling, detoxification, and others. These plants are always carefully looked after by border troops.
Stationed far from local people, and living in erratic weather conditions, some newcomers found difficulty in sleeping. Knowing this problem, Major Tran The Hien, the post’s medical staff, grew passion flowers in the unit’s garden because of its effectiveness in treating insomnia. Major Hien regularly uses passion flowers to make drinking water, or cook soup for officers and soldiers, which has partly helped the troops have a good sleep and be healthy to study, train, and work. The herbal medicine garden is like a valuable pharmacy to treat troops having colds or fevers during training, patrolling, farming, or getting injured during sports and physical activities.
To promote the functions of the garden, Major Hien takes the time to introduce and equip any newcomers with knowledge and uses of each type of medicinal plant, so that troops could treat others and themselves whenever they are sick or encounter risks. With basic knowledge of medicinal plants, the post’s border guards sometimes enrich the garden with more plants which they met on the patrolling roads or during their outdoor activities in other localities. As a result, the types of herbal medicinal plants, including precious ones, are increasing.
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Major Tran The Hien looking after plants in the garden |
Captain Hoang Van Quang from the Drug and Crime Prevention Team of the Border Post of Le Thanh International Border Gate, recalled that once he suffered from an ankle sprain after slippering in a patrol. On returning to the post, his comrades covered his foot with leaves picked from the unit's herbal medicine garden. He was able to walk without much pain after just one night. Knowledgeable about treating sprains, Captain Quang also shows his comrades the way to treat other skin diseases with medicinal plants.
In a conversation, Major Phan Van Hung, Second-in-Command of the Border Post of Le Thanh International Border Gate spoke highly of Major Tran The Hien. According to the post’s leader, Maj. Hien always tries his best to bring new, precious plants to grow at the garden. He gives signs for each type of plant. In his free time, he often surfs internet to study the functions and effects of each plant to apply them effectively.
Translated by Mai Huong