Post-Partum Heat Therapy
[deleted account] ( no moms have responded yet )
Until the 20th century, most women in Thailand, particularly in the rural areas, gave birth at home, so the local midwife played an important role not just during birth, but also during the pregnancy and post-natal period. She would prescribe herbal drugs such as ya hom, fragrant medicine, or a blend of flowers and plants including jasmine, camphor, and ylang-ylang. When inhaled, the scented pellets relieved morning sickness, or nausea. Mixed with water, the tonic alleviated dizziness. At the same time, massage was employed to ease aching limbs. This still goes on today, but should only be performed by a trained masseuse.
In the past, but much less so today because of modern lifestyles, once a woman gave birth, she would undergo the yu fai, staying close to fire, therapy for up to three weeks. Basically, this means the woman remains in a room where a charcoal stove is kept burning, creating a sauna. No herbs are employed; the woman is just made to perspire and flush out toxins that built up during the past nine months. During this time, the woman does not bathe, but her body is continually wiped with a clean cloth.
During a nine-month pregnancy, a woman’s body undergoes tremendous changes. She gains weight. Her body stretches. She experiences swelling and stiffness. Her circulatory system is made to work harder. And her hormonal balance is altered, which is seen in her skin and moods. Therefore, in addition to yu fai, the woman often took a daily herbal sauna or steam treatment for ten to twenty minutes to counteract these conditions and restore musculature, particularly in the womb. Warm poultices could also be applied to the body; for example, a daily turmeric compress would be applied to the abdomen and buttocks to rejuvenate skin tone.
While the herbs used depended on the region, midwives often developed their own adaptations of yu fai as well. For instance, in one southern province, a midwife developed a belt that the woman could wear around her waist. It would hold small, metal incense boxes next to the woman’s abdomen so she could move around and not be restricted to a bed.
It was also believed that women who rejected the yu fai treatment would become more temperamental when they reached the age of 50 to 60. Today, though, many would say this can be attributed to menopause. It was also said that these women, especially if they gave birth when 35 or older, would be more susceptible to aches and pains in later life during cold and damp weather or, today, to quick temperature shifts, like moving in and out of an air-conditioned room.