What is the deal with Thai nasal inhalers?
Thai menthol inhalers and herbal inhalers are a cultural phenomenon. The rest of the world has taken notice.
If you’ve ever been to Thailand you must have seen at least one person using a nasal inhaler. You might also have even seen someone with one of those little tubes hanging from their nose as if it was no one’s business.
These are called ya dom meaning literally “medicinal inhaler.”
Thai people have been using this type of traditional medicine for thousands of years. It is believed that the first ya dom was created as far back as two thousand years ago.
The Thai herbal medicine has roots in Chinese herbal medicine as it does in other Asian countries. Indonesia, China and other countries have their own versions of aromatic oils and aromatherapy. Ayurveda also uses aromatherapy as part of their healing practices.
What are menthol inhalers and herbal inhalers good for?
The strong smell of a nasal inhaler serves lots of purposes. From covering up nasty city smells or masking pollution, to clearing up nasal passages. The most impressive effect is that it revives the senses and gives a feeling of heightened energy.
Motosai (motorcyle) drivers, taxi drivers and of course bus drivers will always have a ya dom on hand to stay alert. Some will put a few drops of the liquid on a cloth that they tie around their face covering their nose and mouth, or on a rag that they keep close by.
How Ya Dom made its way to the rest of the world
Thailand is not the only country that uses herbal medicines as aromatherapy, but the use of ya dom is so widespread that it surprises every single visitor to the Kingdom.
As for me, after 6 years of back and forth trips to Bangkok, I have tried all different kinds of nasal inhalers. From the white Poy-Sian tubes sold at the 7–11 to the more natural versions that come in little glass pots.
In fact, the nasal inhaler collection at home takes a large space of my closet, and pockets and totes and backpacks….
Just how I have become a regular user of ya dom after living in Thailand for a while, so have many others. Some have even created their own versions of nasal inhalers. There are producers and startups in the United States, Singapore, Switzerland and Australia as far I can tell.
The Poy Sian brand inhaler has become popular with office workers in Japan who stay up all hours to work.
Nowadays, not a month goes by that I don’t discover a new nasal inhaler inspired by the Thai version. I actually saw a few Poy Sian for sale in a bodega in Buenos Aires last year.
Let’s do a run down of the different kinds of inhalers available in Thailand and now the rest of the world!
Thai menthol Inhalers with a cotton wick
The most common of the inhalers in Thailand are the menthol inhalers. They might be the most widespread but they are not the original. They are actually a modern version of the vintage metal and glass inhalers with little bags full of herbs soaked in oil.
Nevertheless the white tubes are the ones you will see the majority of people using because they are so handy. The main brands are Poy-Sian, Siang Pure, Vapex and Peppermint Fields. All of them have Menthol, Eucalyptus, Camphor and Borneol oil. The oils are soaked in a cotton wick that sits inside a little tube with a hole in the top.
Below the inhaler tube is a small compartment with the oils in liquid form. This is used to relieve mosquito bites by rubbing the oil on the sore area. It’s also used to relieve headaches by placing a drop at each temple or at the base of the neck. Some people place a couple drops on the inside of the wrist.
Poy-Sian
Relief of Vertigo
- Menthol 42%
- Camphor 16.4%
- Eucalyptus Oil 8.5%
- Borneol 6.1%
Peppermint Fields
Aromatics
- Menthol 55.9%
- Peppermint Oil 3.7%
- Camphor 4.9%
- Borneol 9%
- Eucalyptus Oil 6.2%
Siang Pure
- Menthol 53%
- Eucalyptus Oil 32%
- Camphor 2%
- Borneol 1.5%
Vapex
For the relief of nasal congestion
- Eucalyptus 4.45%
- Menthol 15.25%
Thai herbal inhalers with natural ingredients
Also available at the 7–11’s but mostly in pharmacies, the herbal inhalers are a bit different than the mass produced plastic menthol inhaler tubes. They are also made with a camphor oil base or sometimes menthol and eucalyptus oil but the main ingredients are the herbs and spices.
The usual ingredients in herbal inhalers are cloves, mace, pomelo skin, cinnamon and cardamom. All these are soaked in a mix of the usual camphor or menthol oil and wrapped in either gauze or cheesecloth.
Herbal inhalers come in lots of different containers.
The vintage looking Jarungjit is a decorative metal container with a strong cinnamon smell.
Hong Thai is a green plastic container with an herb bundle in white gauze, there is also a yellow plastic version with brown gauze and a different smell .
Kung Premma is a stout glass container with a metal lid and the soaked herbs are in a white mesh cloth.
Konplu is a little white plastic container with the herbal concoction underneath a plastic mesh cover.
Menthol roll-ons and balms
The menthol roll-ons and balms are not exactly inhalers but instead they are used to put on the skin. Peppermint Fields has a balm in a little plastic container and Siang Pure has an oil in a glass bottle. These are used in the same way that the oil in the little compartment of the white nasal inhalers is used.
Modern Thai herbal ya dom / Herbpiness
Apart from hundreds of mass produced menthol inhalers and the medicinal herbal inhalers available in pharmacies and convenience stores, there is a new kid in town.
Herbpiness is the ya dom for the younger, more health centered generation. Created by a Thai family headed by a botany and herbal expert mother, Herbpiness is a fresh alternative to the usual suspects.
The family produces herbal inhalers in glass containers with a bamboo covers and roll-ons in clear glass bottles. All ingredients are natural and created with love and care. Once you try these babies, you’ll be hooked.
Menthol inhalers and music festivals
Music festival and late night party enthusiasts that travel to Thailand also fall in love with Poy Sian and the other practical menthol inhalers that fit in your nose and stay in even while you dance.
Ravers are no strangers to sniffing Vicks Vaporub or rubbing it all over their noses. Menthol inhalers are the modern version of that often eye watering practice.
From these travelers to full moon parties in Koh Pa Gnan came menthol inhalers like BoomBoom. The smells of boomboob sticks have fruity add-ons, much like the orange Peppermint Fields.
Swiss perfection and Aromastick
What happens when two Swiss brothers spend a few years in Bangkok? They go home and create their own perfect version of the nasal inhaler. Nick and Tim, the guys behind Aromastick took a different approach to the “sniff stick.”
Using essential oils mostly used in aromatherapy and not depending on the usual camphor and borneol, they created Aromastick. They have six different smells with names like “energy”, “balance” and “relax.”
The design is minimal and utter perfection. The smells are not overpowering and are quite unique. Definitely one of my new favorites.
Futuristic herbal inhalers in Singapore
You have to give to the designers and creative minds in Singapore. A group of very smart entrepreneurs launched an innovative herbal inhaler through an Indiegogo campaign in 2016 and are now a major name in herbal inhalers.
My Zero Degre fused ancient Asian herbal medicine with futuristic packaging and are literally killing it in Singapore and the rest of the world. They product is even FDA approved.
I’ve still yet to try My Zero Degree. Maybe after this post I can become an influencer for them! I really like their packaging.
