Trang Hospital Uses Black Mud to Treat Knee Arthritis
Trang Hospital is treating knee arthritis using black mud from Hadsamran Beach, combining traditional Thai medicine with modern research to reduce pain and improve joint function without medication side effects.
Hadsamran Chaloem Phra Kiat 80 Phupha Hospital in Trang province has created a new innovation combining Thai traditional medicine and modern medicine to treat knee arthritis using black indigo mud from the beach. On August 17, 2025, staff from the Thai Medicine and Alternative Medicine Clinic collected fine black mud from Hadsamran Beach following research confirming its therapeutic properties for degenerative knee disease. The hospital has treated patients with this condition since 2020.
According to Amorin Kiangheeia, head of the Thai Medicine Clinic, the soft black mud can be dug up and used after sifting out sand, keeping only the truly black mud. Collection is easier during certain seasons and difficult during others, but must occur during low tide between the 13th and 15th lunar days only. The Pollution Control Department found in 2018 that Hadsamran District has excellent air quality at blue level with no harmful pollutants, being the only district among Trang's ten districts free of factories with green environment, making the black mud there high quality for treating knee arthritis.
Hospital Director Dr. Purirat Kamhaeng explained the treatment began when villagers applied this mud to their faces and bodies as folk wisdom for health and skin care. The hospital then sent samples to Songkhla Nakharin University for residue testing and began research and trials. They found the black mud has cooling properties, a key principle in Thai medicine, suitable for poultice application to reduce knee symptoms. Dr. Ugrit Kunnatham, an orthopedic surgeon from Trang Central Hospital, assisted in studying knee movement, flexion and extension angles, and assessment methods, integrating Thai and modern medicine successfully.
Marine mud can be kept for about one month but must rest overnight before use to allow minerals to settle and reduce fermentation odor. Each treatment uses 200 grams of mud applied to the knee for 20 minutes, with patients scheduled three times weekly or every other day for a total of 12 treatments. Knee arthritis ranks as the top disease treated in the Thai medicine clinic with patient numbers increasing yearly.
Treating knee arthritis with black indigo mud reduces the hospital's drug costs and helps patients avoid medication side effects while reducing pain, stiffness, and increasing knee joint function and movement range. The salt minerals from seawater penetrate tendons and bone, enhancing treatment effectiveness.
