Did you know that the Thai government has recently announced that it has the best marijuana in the world? But, marijuana is not yet legal (again) in Thailand, and that’s all about to change. As reported in Globe Southeast Asia’s article, “Making green: how weed could push Thailand’s economy to new highs,” Thai government officials have moved forward a draft bill that would legalize cannabis in the country, after decades of it being outlawed. Their hopes are economic in nature; a global export opportunity for medical therapeutic and research purposes to benefit their small farmers who can grow the crops. But, Thailand didn’t always see marijuana as an illegal substance, but as a part of Traditional Thai Medicine.
The healing traditions in the Kingdom of Thailand are a mixture of herbalism, massage and meditation to achieve mind-body accord, thanks to generations of trial-and-error, spiritual beliefs and practices, and the cultural influences from abroad.
History of Thailand and Traditional Thai Medicine
The Kingdom of Thailand, formerly known as Siam, is the only Southeast Asian country to not be ruled by Western colonial powers in its entire existence. Nestled among Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and Malaysia, Thailand is a made up of the Tai peoples who emigrated from China around the 11th century. While the country has vacillated between constitutional and parliamentary democracies and monarchies, its current political state is that of basically a military dictatorship. Even with these frequent leadership turnovers, Thailand is still an economic and political force in the Southeast Asian region. As well, its healthcare in the region is improving. With its average life expectancy at 70 years, according to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) most recent public health profile.
In 1977, the WHO is responsible for promoting national traditional heritage, encouraging countries’ governments to embrace their cultural heritage. The Thai government, in response, incorporates ethno-medicine to its five-year plan for economic and social programs. By doing so, Traditional Thai Medicine surged back into popularity and its history.
Traditional Thai Medicine begins with the elements–earth (din), water (nam), wind (lom), and fire (fai), and these foundations emanate from the Indian Brahmins along with the Buddhist monks that came to teach in Thailand. From the third century BCE, Avuryeda from India was introduced in Thailand. Meanwhile, Traditional Chinese Medicine principles came to the Thai people from visiting Chinese monks with new teachings of Buddhism. This blend created the holistic approach that we see today in Traditional Thai Medicine.
The cultural resurrengence of the 1970s is not the first but the third renaissance of Traditional Thai Medicine. Under two prior kings in the 18th century and late 1920s, Thailand embraces its ethno-heritage with preservation of its herbal and other medical treatments in medical texts that last through today.
Core Tenets of Traditional Thai Medicine
Traditional Thai Medicine practices entail four branches: medicine, midwifery, orthopedic, and massage. The traditional doctor masters all four disciplines. Doctors study under the tutelage of a seasoned doctor for many years, and through this apprenticeship becomes a physician.
These disciplines can be categorized by the four elements, or physical body, energy systems or the mind/heart continuum. Herbal medicine and midwifery manage issues related to the physical body. Thai massage and yoga focus the energy systems. Thai spiritual healing works on the mind/heart.
As well, each of the four elements manages specific body parts and bodily functions. The earth element governs 20 organs, water contains 12 fluid types, the air has 6 wind types, and the element fire holds 4 kinds of heat. This aids the Traditional Thai Medicine doctor in diagnosing and providing treatments for each issue with a combination of herbal remedies, massage, nutritional guidance, acupressure/acupuncture, meditation and physical exercises.
Traditional Thai Medicine You Can Use
Aside from marijuana (and its precarious federal legal status), there is much Traditional Thai Medicine that everyone can use for greater wellness. Thanks to the Traditional Thai Medicine focus on massage, acupuncture and acupressure, even reiki, there are many options for using these various wellness modalities to maintain your health. There are many local massage studios in the DC Metro area, along with apps where licensed massage therapists can come to you.
In the herbal medicinal space, you can pick up some Tiger Balm for muscle aches and pains as the Thai people do. Tiger Balm, while originating in China in in the late 19th century, its primary ingredients, menthol and camphor, are staples of Thai herbal remedies. This is a convenient, US consumer-accessible mixture. Try it on a sore spot and feel the relief.
And, finally, when you sit down to work on that report with a five o’clock deadline, and it’s two o’clock, there’s nothing better than something that can calm your nerves and focus you. Lavender oil does just that, and the Thai have been using it for hundreds of years. According to a Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand study in April 2012 entitled, “The effects of lavender oil inhalation on emotional states, autonomic nervous system, and brain electrical activity,” they found that, regarding participants’ “mood responses, the subjects in the lavender oil group categorized themselves as more active, fresher relaxed than subjects just inhaling base oil.”
To get these benefits in stressful work periods, you can purchase an ultrasonic essential oil diffuser at a local home goods store, then pour in the requisite amount of water and a few drops of lavender essential oil in it, and activate it on your desk. Now, you can get to work.