What is Thai traditional medicine?
According to the “Protection and Promotion of Thai Traditional
Medicine Knowledge Act B.E. 2542” (1999), Thai traditional medicine is
defined by law as “the medical processes dealing with the examination,
diagnosis, therapy, treatment, or prevention of diseases, or promotion and
rehabilitation of the health of humans or animals, midwifery, Thai massage,
as well as the preparation, production of Thai traditional medicines
and the making of devices and instruments for medical purposes. All of
these are based on the knowledge or textbooks that were passed on and
developed from generation to generation”.
The four elements (Tard) of the body
According to TTM which is based on Buddhism, the human body
is composed of four elements (‘tard’ in the Thai language), i.e., earth,
water, wind and fire. When the four elements of the body are in equilibrium,
it will be healthy. In contrast, if an imbalance in these elements
occurs, i.e., if there is a deficit, an excess, or disability in any of the four
elements, a person will become ill. Moreover, the imbalance in the four
internal elements and illness can also be due to an imbalance in the four
external elements as well.
The Practice of TTM
The arts and the practice of TTM can be divided into four main
areas, i.e.
1. Medical practice involving the diagnosis and treatment of
diseases or symptoms.
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