Thailand college unveils herbal lipstick for smoking addicts
A college in Thailand has produced a herbal lipstick to help smokers with their addictions.
The Lanna Polytechnic Technological College located in Chiang Mai unveiled the product on May 31 as part of efforts to mark “World No Tobacco Day”.
Students at the school produced lipstick from Ya Dok Khao grass (Leptochloa chinensis, commonly known as red sprangletop). The grass is usually consumed as a tea by smokers in many parts of Thailand to reduce cravings.
Deputy Director supervising the project, Sirphob Jaroensakul said extracts from the grass were added to a colourless lip balm which can be applied frequently by smoking addicts. It changes the taste of cigarettes and therefore reduces the urge for it.
According to Jaroensakul, the increasing use of tobacco products especially by teenagers in the country accounted for the innovation.
“What inspired us to make this lipstick is the continued increase in the number of new smokers, especially among teenagers and college students. Smoking is the second biggest killer in Thailand, with more than 40,000 deaths per year, and is responsible for at least 12,000 new lung cancer patients per year,” he was quoted as saying.
62% of the users who tested the product between four to six weeks saw a significant reduction in the urge for smoking. According to local media platform Nation Thailand, 69% said their lips felt slightly numb, which significantly reduced their cravings.
The Ya Dok Khao lipstick has been recognised through an award of excellence from the Thai Health Promotion Foundation and Social Innovation for Creative Society.
Jaroensakul said the team is preparing to file a patent for and is looking into ways of improving the product’s colour and fragrance to attract a wider group of users.
World No Tobacco Day is observed on May 31 every year as part of the World Health Organisation’s campaign to fight against the use of tobacco.
