Traditional Thai Medicine (TTM) is an essential part of Thai culture and way of life. TTM dates back to the Sukothai Period, between the years 1238-1377 in the Buddha calendar. Some aspects of traditional healing, such as massage and herbal medicine, have been around as long as humans. TTM originated in the geographical region of Thailand but it has many influences from other cultures and practices around the world. A wide variety of influences can be seen in TTM including Buddhist principles, different cultural practices, and various philosophies (Chokevivat). This includes a combination of Indian, Chinese, Southeast-Asian and Western influences. One of the major influences seen in TTM is Buddhism and its philosophies often coincide with many of the principles in TTM. Jivaka Komarabhacca was the personal physician of Buddha and is often known is the father of Thai medicine. Buddhist temples like Wat Phra Chettuphon Wimon Mangklaram have become a center for knowledge and teaching of traditional medicine techniques in Thailand. TTM techniques were traditionally passed down orally through generations until they were written down. This can also account for some variations and regional differences in traditional medicine techniques.
For this collection of photographs emphasis was placed on the importance of Budhism and monks in traditional medicine, traditional herbal medicine, and Thai massage. Traditional Thai medicine is a holistic form of healing and there are many different aspects involved that are often intertwined. The collection focuses on some popular aspects of Traditional medicine in Southern Thailand.
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Phra Archan Boonchuay Techadhammo Bhikkhu
Phra Archan Boonchuay Techadhammo Bhikkhu, age 40, is the current director of the Red Cross House at Phromlok Temple in the Phromlok District. Along with being the director at the Red Cross House, Boonchuay is also an English teacher in Nakhon Si Thammarat. He has been a monk for 20 years. Boonchuay started off as a caretaker at Wat Phromlok and received his medical training from the late head monk of Wat Phromlok. He learned the treatment techniques used at the medical center which are scientific based and passed down through generations. Between the years 1987- 2009 he has treated almost 3,000 snakebite victims.
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Result of Snake Bite
Phra Archan Boonchuay Techadhammo Bhikkhu was bitten by a Calloselasma snake on his right hand when he was 11 years old. Boonchuay initially received treatment for his bite at a modern hospital where a portion of his hand was amputated to remove the area containing the bite. He was then treated using traditional herbal medicine by monks at the Phromlok Temple. After this natural treatment he began feeling better.
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Men and Women Treatment Rooms
Men and women can both receive treatment for snakebites at the Red Cross House at Wat Phromlok; however, there are separate treatment rooms for different sex patients. Here patients can receive treatment where instead of resorting to amputation, the monks at Wat Phrmlok turn to traditional Thai herbs to heal snakebites. This prevents the damage of skin tissues and ensures that all the venom is removed from the victim’s body.
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Red Cross House
The Red Cross House at Wat Phromlok in Nakhon Si Thammarat is a place for free traditional treatment of snakebites. It has been treating snakebites using traditional Thai herbs since 1977. All the herbs used to treat bite victims can be seen growing in front of and around the medical building. Plants are mixed into different formulas that can either be ingested or used as a topical medication placed directly on the skin over a snake bite. Some herbs can be taken directly off a plant while some need to be crushed and combined with other herbs before being used. About 100 different types of herbs are used.
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Old Balance Scale
This old-fashioned balance scale is over 100 years old. The store owner stated that this balance used to be used to measure out traditional Chinese herbs. Balance scales are used by placing the item needing to be weighed in one pan and placing objects of known weight in the other pan until the connecting is level.
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Drawers of Herbs
Herbal medicines in Thailand sometimes differs from region to region due to differences in climate and local traditions. However, most of the formulas and applications for herbal medicines are found all throughout the country. Under royal patronage, many temples and hospitals in Thailand began codifying a system of medical theory and practice in around 1600. This is often referred to as the royal tradition. It was a more organized and recorded account of traditional medicine practices.
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Mr. Wilat Roekmongkhon
Mr. Wilat Roekmongkhon is the owner of Arporn’s Herbal Shop on Yomrad Road in Nakhon Si Thammarat. Wilat used to be an employee at Arpon’s when he was younger and 10 years ago he took over the store. He is now the owner. Wilat studied traditional medicine with monks for about 10-20 years. His teacher was Phra Archan Nam. Wilat’s father was a doctor and he received his medical training and became a traditional doctor in order to follow in his father’s footsteps.
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Suchart
Suchart, in Nakhon Si Thammarat, is a medicinal herbal shop that has been open for 27 years. The owner Suchart Sukkasame owns two traditional herb shops in the city under the same name. Before opening his store, Suchart was an employee of a non-traditional herbal pharmacist across the street. Since he did not have a license to open a pharmacy, he opened a traditional herb shop.
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White Board
The Thai government has implemented key policies to integrate the use of Traditional Thai Medicine into the country’s health care system. In order to promote the use of herbal medicines, some of these medicines have been added to the National List of Essential Drugs. In 2010 there were 11 herbal medicines listed that were based on traditional knowledge. Groups are working to increase this number in order to give doctors and patients more traditional medicine alternatives to modern medicines (Traditional Medicine).
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Bins of Herbs
Some of the herbs sold at Suchart are ordered from Bangkok while others are bought from local villagers. Since the plants used for the herbs grow in a variety of different terrains, the store owners must purchase their herbs from villagers living in many different districts. It is important to ensure that plants are picked at the right times and places because soil quality can have a large effect on the quality of herbs (Chokevivat).
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Traditional Herbs on a Shelf
This store contains thousands of different herbs. The most popular herbs are displayed in the main store while others are out of sight upstairs.
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Ya Dong
Ya dong is a fermented liquor used as an ancient Thai remedy. Ya dong is prepared by cutting and grinding a mixture of different herbs and soaking them in rice whisky. The mixture should not be taken until it has soaked for at least one month. However, this process can be sped up by placing the herbs in water and boiling them. The herbs are then placed in a cloth that is left in the rice whiskey for at least one week before drinking. Ya dong is believed by some to be an elixir for longevity and sexual prowess (Hays).
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Desk at Thai Herb Shop
When Western medicine was brought to Thailand, the country began to adopt this new modern system of medicine which led to the abandonment of teaching Traditional Thai Medicine in medical schools in Thailand. The reemergence of TTM began when the World Health Organization began encouraging countries to use traditional medicine and medicinal plants in their health care programs. In response to this Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health began promoting the use of medicinal plants in the late 1970s. The government continues to encourage the use of traditional herbal medicine in Thailand today.
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Smile
Siripa Kanjanapan, nickname “Smile”, practices yoga on the beach in Khanom, Thailand. She is performing the Camel pose. Smile is 25b years old and in her second year of school. She is currently studying Traditional Thai Medicine and Alternative Medicine at Arsom Sin Institute where she will study for a total of seven years in order to become a Thai doctor.
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Yoga Statues
There are many parallels between yoga and Traditional Thai Medicine. In yoga, nadis are energy channels that run through the entire body. These lines are similar to sen lines in Thai massage. Both nadis and sen lines have similar pathways through the body.
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Performing Thai Massage
Thai Massage is a major component of Traditional Thai Medicine. The person receiving the massage is often placed in yoga-like positions. The practitioner will often use many body parts such as thumbs, palms, forearms, elbows, feet, and knees when performing the massage. These rhythmic motions are used to apply pressure along designated lines in the body known as “Sen” lines.
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Massage Mats
Thai Massages performed at Wat Salamechai in Nakhon Si Thammarat, and many other traditional massage places in Thailand, are performed on mats set out on a hard wooden surface. Massages here are performed with multiple people in a large room but they are sometimes done in private areas. A full massage can last from one hour to several hours.
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Thai Masseur
Thai Massage is becoming very popular around the world. Many spas around the world now offer Thai Massages and there is a large demand around the world for masseurs and masseuses trained in Thai Massage.
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Masseuses Receive Pay
Masseuses line up to receive pay for their work. The masseuses turn in small tickets signifying how many massages they have performed and in return they get money for their work. A Thai massage can cost between 150-750 Baht per hour.
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Father Doctor
Jivaka Komarabhacca is considered the founder of Buddhist medicine. Jivaka was the personal physician to Lord Buddha and the original order of monks. Jivaka is often worshipped in Thailand and referred to as Father Doctor. It is believed that Jivaka himself developed herbal medicine, therapeutic massage and other healing practices that he passed down to future generations (Salguero). Medical practitioners, herbalists, dentists midwives surgeons, and masseuses and masseurs give homage to Jivaka in their daily lives.
