Abstract
This is a qualitative cultural research into the traditional knowledge used by Northeastern Thai communities to
care for mothers during the postpartum period. The research objectives were to study the background, current
conditions and problems with the integration of Isan traditional knowledge in the holistic health treatment of
postpartum mothers in order to outline an overview of the integration process. Following investigation into nine
communities in Northeastern Thailand, it was found that three prominent forms of treatment are adopted. These
are namely yu fai, tab maw gleau and herbal massage therapy. The traditional medicine has suffered in recent
times through lack of inheritance and changing social conditions causing mothers to seek convenient treatment at
local hospitals. There are complaints from these new generation mothers about aches, pains and tiredness that
were rarely heard in the past. Thus integration of ancestral wisdom in holistic health care provides a perfect
solution to the need for recuperation and the fast recovery of the postpartum mother so that she may take care of
her child and return to work.