Note: The following account is told by retired Lethwei star, Saw Gaw Mu Doe, from his perspective about an traditional remedy experience he faced when injured during a fight in Singapore. Afterwards is a remark written by Prof. Patrick Finley analyzing the remedy from a modern medical perspective.
This article is for informational purposes only. For medical advice or diagnosis, consult a professional.
I am a traditional Lethwei fighter. Around 2015, a Myanmar promoter organized a traditional Lethwei event in Singapore. Along with me, well-known fighters at that time – such as Ko Soe Lin Oo, Ko Thapyay Nyo, and Ko Moe Thee – were arranged to compete against international fighters. Since we had never been to Singapore, we were excited to go.
Fighting there went smoothly. I fought a Muay Thai fighter, and the match ended in a draw. Since I had to move up in weight class to fight, the match was quite difficult, but I managed to perform in a way that the fans enjoyed. After the fight, I had two cuts on my face, but it was no big deal; I wasn’t bothered by that much.
The problem was that, after the fight, the promoter did not pay the fight purse. It wasn’t just me; neither the Myanmar fighters nor the foreign fighters received their pay. We had to sleep in Singapore for one night and return to Myanmar the next day. My Sayar (Teacher) was busy trying to get the agreed-upon purses for all of us and the foreign fighters as soon as the event ended. However, the promoter didn’t pay anyone.
It was impossible for me to go to a clinic in Singapore to get my cuts stitched. Even if we knew how to get there, we didn’t have the money to seek treatment at Singapore’s expensive clinics.
My Sayar called; I heard Sayar telling Ko Thapyay Nyo to treat my cuts using traditional methods since he was still struggling to get the payment. Since Ko Thapyay Nyo’s teacher, U Moe Palae, was a student of my own teacher, Ko Thapyay Nyo and I are like brothers. It seemed like I would only be able to get proper treatment once I returned to Myanmar.
Ko Thapyay Nyo said, “I’ll treat you with a method I learned from my teacher. It doesn’t cost much money, and after two or three days, it will heal without needing stitches.”
I thought to myself: Ko Thapyay Nyo is going to use the “egg” treatment. That method is famous in our traditional Lethwei world. Just as I thought, Ko Thapyay Nyo went to buy a chicken egg from a shop near where we were staying. When he returned, he cracked the raw egg and drank the yolk. Then, he patiently peeled away the thin membrane from inside the eggshell and carefully covered my cuts with it.
He then told me, “Don’t touch the cuts with your hands, and don’t let water get on them.”
The next day, we returned to Myanmar. One remarkable thing was that by the time we reached the airport the next day, the cuts hadn’t become sores and were quite dry. When we arrived in Yangon, my coach had us see our team doctor. The doctor said my wounds had improved so much that they didn’t need stitches anymore and only prescribed oral medication. After staying one night in Yangon, I felt much better. The following day, due to family needs, I had to return immediately to my hometown, Twante. By the time I got home, the wounds were almost completely healed.
What I want to say is that our traditional folk remedies are not completely useless. When the best modern medical treatments are unavailable, we have to rely on traditional medicine. In those kinds of situations, if we don’t rely on our traditional medicine, what else are we supposed to rely on?
Saw Gaw Mu Doe (Gaw Gaw)
Lethwei World Champion 2016 (67 kg)
Remarks On The Above Event
At first, using an egg membrane to treat a cut might seem odd. However, when you look at it through a medical lens, it starts to make more sense. What seems like a folk remedy actually fits with some well-known ideas about how wounds heal.
1. A Natural Barrier That Protects the Wound
The thin layer inside an eggshell works like a semi-permeable film. If you put it on a cut, it can serve as a temporary barrier. This is important because protecting a wound from germs and dirt is one of the first steps in care. Covering the cut with the membrane may help keep out bacteria, dirt, and environmental contaminants.
At the same time, because it is not completely airtight, it may still allow limited air exchange, which helps prevent the wound from becoming overly moist or from becoming oxygen-deprived.
2. Maintaining a Moist Healing Environment
Modern wound care emphasizes something that was once misunderstood: wounds often heal better in a slightly moist environment than when left to dry out completely. The egg membrane can help trap a thin layer of moisture over the cut.
This moisture supports several key processes:
- Migration of skin cells across the wound
- Reduced the formation of hard scabs that can slow healing
- Less tissue cracking and irritation
In this way, the membrane may act similarly to a very basic biological dressing.
3. Structural Proteins That Support Tissue Repair
Eggshell membranes are not just inert material. They contain proteins that are also important in human connective tissue, including:
- Collagen
- Elastin
- Glycosaminoglycans
These proteins help build and repair skin. While our bodies mostly make their own, having a surface with these proteins might help cells stick together and organize at the wound site.
4. Possible Antimicrobial Properties
Some research suggests that components of eggs, particularly proteins such as lysozyme (more abundant in egg white but sometimes associated with the membrane), have antimicrobial activity.
If even small amounts of these compounds are present, they might:
- Disrupt bacterial cell walls.
- Slow microbial growth.
This wouldn’t replace proper antiseptics, but it could contribute to a slightly cleaner wound environment.
5. Mechanical Stabilization of the Cut
When applied carefully, the membrane can adhere lightly to the skin. This may help:
- Hold the edges of a small cut closer together.
- Reduce movement at the wound site.
Stabilizing the wound edges is important because it allows the body to bridge the gap more efficiently during healing.
Important Limitations and Risks
While the mechanism has some scientific plausibility, it’s important not to overstate it. There are real concerns:
- Sterility: Raw egg membranes are not sterile and could introduce bacteria (including Salmonella).
- Inconsistent effect: The composition of membranes varies, so results are unpredictable.
- Better alternatives exist: Modern sterile dressings are designed to do all of this more safely and effectively.
Bottom Line
The egg membrane may have helped not because it’s a “mystical” cure, but because it accidentally mimics several features of good wound care: protection, moisture retention, mild structural support, and possibly some antimicrobial action.
It’s a good example of how traditional practices sometimes align with biological principles, even if they develop without formal scientific understanding.
Patrick Finley, Ph.D., M.A.
FAQs
1. What is the “egg treatment” used by Lethwei fighters?
It involves peeling the thin membrane inside an eggshell and placing it directly over a cut. The layer sticks lightly and acts like a basic covering when proper medical care isn’t available.
2. Why would an eggshell membrane help a wound?
It forms a barrier that keeps dirt out while trapping slight moisture, which helps skin cells move and repair the cut. That’s the same principle behind modern wound dressings, just done crudely.
3. Does it actually speed up healing?
It can help small cuts close by keeping the edges stable and preventing them from drying and cracking. In the example, the wounds dried quickly and didn’t require stitches by the time proper medical care was available.
4. Is there any real biological basis behind it?
Yes, the membrane contains proteins like collagen and elastin, which are involved in skin repair. It may also carry mild antimicrobial properties, though not enough to replace proper treatment.
5. Is this method safe compared to modern treatment?
Not really. The membrane isn’t sterile and can introduce bacteria, so it’s a fallback, not a preferred option. It works in a pinch, but proper medical dressings do the same job more reliably and safely.
