Artificial intelligence is now being used to translate ancient Thai texts on traditional medicine into modern language to make them more usable by interested parties. This initiative is part of the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine’s (DTAM) efforts in developing a platform that would bring various traditional medicine and herb-related innovations onto the market.
DTAM Director-General Thongchai Lertwilairatanapong announced the progress of a “Healthcare Platform Utilizing Knowledge on Thai Medicine Knowledge and Smart Herbs”. The platform is being jointly developed by the department and King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB).
Dr. Thongchai explained that the platform contains 4 modules. The first module is a collection of texts on traditional Thai medicine gathered from folding-book manuscripts, palm leaf manuscripts, and stone inscriptions. Around 50,000 records are being collected as digital prototypes under the “Smart TTM Library” system. Another module involves the translation of ancient text from no less than 200,000 traditional Thai medicine prescriptions into modern words, to enable faster extraction of information from these texts. The third module has to do with compiling big data on herbal products and Thai traditional and alternative medicine services so information from various sources may be linked and added value may be generated in the future.
The final module entails the development of digital innovations to elevate Thai traditional and alternative medicine services and knowledge and to provide smart solutions for matters to do with Thai herbs. This module will enable health questions, evaluation, and treatment in the traditional Thai medicine sphere to be assisted by AI. One of the innovations under this module provides virtual visits to Thailand Herbal Expo, the Traditional Thai Medicine Museum, and a Thai herbs garden. Herbal products may be sold or purchased through this system.
The platform is expected to come into service next year. (NNT)
