China|Laos|Vietnam - Medicinal souvenirs
When Chinese travel, their souvenirs include the usual knickknacks as well as local produce such as fruit, honey, meats and also natural medicinal products. Unfortunately, the US and many other countries disagree with such practices and many Chinese travelers have to give up their often pricy purchases. Next time you are at an international airport and a flight from China arrives, watch how the customs activities increase and the dogs sniff around to detect any last bits and pieces of produce.
In Vietnam and Laos, it also seems to be a common practice to purchase medicinal souvenirs. Shops selling local natural remedies are right next to the touristy souvenir stores. In Sapa, Vietnam, close to the Chinese boarder, many natural medicinal products are sold as imports from China. Our Vietnamese friend Yen tells us how her brother bought some of these maggots soaked in alcohol and is crazy about this medicine. Whenever he feels under the weather, it's his first choice to get better.
This one below are herbs crushed to make a powder for medicinal baths. The Red Dzao tribe use these herbal baths to stay healthy and energetic in the mountains. More on their herbal baths here.
In Laos at a famous waterfall sightseeing spot, local natural medicinal products are sold next to souvenirs: dried roots, dried frogs on sticks and palm sugar wrapped in bamboo fibre. Are Chinese and SE Asian tourists more open to conversations around health at sightseeing spots? Could this behavior of purchasing remedies at tourist sights be leveraged for public health campaigns? What if pharmaceutical companies would get out of their medical setting and allow let say their new diabetes treatment to be discovered right next to local remedies?
