Thanaka Information & Thanaka Links at HealthHaven.com

Market children with thanaka in Mandalay

Thanaka (Burmese: သနပ်ခါး; MLCTS: sa. nap hka:; pronounced [θənəkʰá]) is a yellowish-white cosmetic paste made from ground bark. It is a distinctive feature of Myanmar (formerly Burma) seen commonly applied to the face and sometimes the arms of women and girls and to a lesser extent men and boys.^[1]^[2]^[3] The use of thanaka has also spread to neighboring countries including Thailand.^[2]^[3]^[4]

[edit] Source and preparation

Thanaka wood (Murraya exotica) for sale

Kyauk pyin stone slabs for grinding thanaka at a pagoda market in Sagaing

The wood of several trees may be used to produce thanaka cream; these trees grow abundantly in central Myanmar. They include principally Murraya spp. (thanaka) ^[2] but also Limonia acidissima (theethee or wood apple).^[5] The two most popular are Shwebo thanaka from Sagaing Division and Shinmadaung thanaka from Magwe Division. A more recent contender sold as a paste is Taunggyi Maukme thanaka from southern Shan State. Thanaka trees are perennials, and a tree must be at least 35 years old before it is considered mature enough to yield good-quality cuttings. Thanaka in its natural state is sold as small logs individually or in bundles, but nowadays also available as a paste or in powder form.

Thanaka cream is made by grinding the bark, wood, or roots^[2] of a thanaka tree with a small amount water^[5] on a circular stone slab called kyauk pyin^[4] which has a channel round the rim for the water to drain into.

[edit] Application, style and properties

Thanaka cream has been used by Burmese women for over 2000 years.^[4] It has a fragrant scent somewhat similar to sandalwood.^[2]^[6]The creamy paste is applied to the face in attractive designs, the most common form being a circular patch on each cheek, sometimes made stripey with the fingers known as thanaka bè gya, or patterned in the shape of a leaf, often also highlighting the bridge of the nose with it at the same time.^[4] It may be applied from head to toe (thanaka chi zoun gaung zoun). Apart from cosmetic beauty, thanaka also gives a cooling sensation and provides protection from sunburn.^[1] It is believed to help remove acne and promote smooth skin.^[4] It is also an anti-fungal.^[2]

Market stall keeper wearing thanaka in Mandalay

Boy wearing thanaka

Thanaka seller at Kaunghmudaw Pagoda, Sagaing

A Karen child (an ethnic group in Burma and Thailand) with Thanaka on her face.

[edit] Notes

^ ^a ^b Streissguth, Thomas (2007). Myanmar in Pictures. Twenty-First Century ISBN 0822571463. pp. 44, 73. http://books.google.com/books?id=htrJvrCw0Y0C&pg=PT74&sig=vooz7_CX62b4gXqqq0R_wGqg_l8. Retrieved 2008-01-21.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Mabberley, D J (1997). The Plant-Book: A Portable Dictionary of the Vascular Plants. Cambridge University Press ISBN 0521414210. pp. 470. http://books.google.com/books?id=ZVdoUPtqKCIC&pg=PA470&sig=-8UF8wyqr1cgqTVH9NYa-9jOU7c. Retrieved 2008-01-21.
^ ^a ^b Kemp, Charles & Lance Andrew Rasbridge (2004). Refugee and Immigrant Health: A Handbook for Health Professionals. Cambridge University Press ISBN 0521535603. pp. 98. http://books.google.com/books?id=aK_qFjU60DoC&pg=PA98&sig=I8OW4MIIzLXs44m1h-MLWtdxWxA. Retrieved 2008-01-21.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Moe, J. "Thanaka withstands the tests of time". Mizzima News, 17 September, 2008. http://www.mizzima.com/news/regional/1053-thanaka-withstands-the-tests-of-time.html. Retrieved 2008-12-06.
^ ^a ^b Köllner, Helmut & Axel Bruns (1998). Myanmar (Burma). Hunter Publishing ISBN 3886184153. pp. 18. http://books.google.com/books?id=y42DMkS3ZXUC&pg=PA18&sig=l3ITfdkn7kHn2COMm08PqzO3PDk. Retrieved 2008-01-21.
^ Baker, William & Ira Bruce Nadel (2004). Redefining the Modern. Fairleigh Dickinson University Press ISBN 0838640133. pp. 24. http://books.google.com/books?id=Q45NWW-7pQkC&pg=PA24&sig=tXRO_Hrq-DHIBWzr1LC7w5iKM9Q. Retrieved 2008-01-21.

[edit] External links

[streissguth-0] Streissguth, Thomas (2007). Myanmar in Pictures. Twenty-First Century ISBN 0822571463. pp. 44, 73. http://books.google.com/books?id=htrJvrCw0Y0C&pg=PT74&sig=vooz7_CX62b4gXqqq0R_wGqg_l8. Retrieved 2008-01-21.

[plants-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Mabberley, D J (1997). The Plant-Book: A Portable Dictionary of the Vascular Plants. Cambridge University Press ISBN 0521414210. pp. 470. http://books.google.com/books?id=ZVdoUPtqKCIC&pg=PA470&sig=-8UF8wyqr1cgqTVH9NYa-9jOU7c. Retrieved 2008-01-21.

[refugees-2] Kemp, Charles & Lance Andrew Rasbridge (2004). Refugee and Immigrant Health: A Handbook for Health Professionals. Cambridge University Press ISBN 0521535603. pp. 98. http://books.google.com/books?id=aK_qFjU60DoC&pg=PA98&sig=I8OW4MIIzLXs44m1h-MLWtdxWxA. Retrieved 2008-01-21.

[mizzima-3] Moe, J. "Thanaka withstands the tests of time". Mizzima News, 17 September, 2008. http://www.mizzima.com/news/regional/1053-thanaka-withstands-the-tests-of-time.html. Retrieved 2008-12-06.

[kollner-4] Köllner, Helmut & Axel Bruns (1998). Myanmar (Burma). Hunter Publishing ISBN 3886184153. pp. 18. http://books.google.com/books?id=y42DMkS3ZXUC&pg=PA18&sig=l3ITfdkn7kHn2COMm08PqzO3PDk. Retrieved 2008-01-21.

[5] Baker, William & Ira Bruce Nadel (2004). Redefining the Modern. Fairleigh Dickinson University Press ISBN 0838640133. pp. 24. http://books.google.com/books?id=Q45NWW-7pQkC&pg=PA24&sig=tXRO_Hrq-DHIBWzr1LC7w5iKM9Q. Retrieved 2008-01-21.

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Contents

[edit] Source and preparation

[edit] Application, style and properties

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links