Thai medicine has been influenced by trade, migration, war, diplomacy, and various foreign influences throughout history. Modern TTM today adopts many ideas from Ayurveda, Yoga, Chinese medicine, and Western medicine. Nevertheless, TTM is a unique system in its own right and can be studied and applied independently of other systems.
Thailand is located in the heart of the Indochina region, bordering Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and Burma/Myanmar. Throughout its history, it has had ports and roads frequented by Chinese Muslim Indian traders and travelers. Its various kingdoms tolerated and absorbed much of their neighbors' knowledge and culture. As a result, Thai medicine evolved into a complex system bearing the mark of several foreign traditions, as well as indigenous beliefs and practices.
Buddhism, Theravada Buddhism, is the dominant religion in Thailand. It is also the dominant faith in neighboring Sri Lanka, Myanmar/Burma, Laos, and Vietnam. The term Theravada Buddhism means "teaching of the elders" and is believed to be the oldest extant form of Buddhism. The Theravada school of Buddhism is distinguished by its conservative interpretation of Buddhist scriptures.
Thais believe that their medical knowledge comes from a series of Buddhist hermits and monks, beginning with the Buddha's own physician, Sivago Komarpai. A minor figure in the Pali Buddhist scriptures themselves, Sivago or Jivaka is considered far more important in Thai medicine. Proponents of both royal and folk traditions of Thai medicine praise him as the "Father Physician." Students and practitioners pay homage to him and the Buddha before each session. Of course, this legendary physician is not a deity. Rather, he is Thailand's foremost healer. Shivago's role here can be likened to the Catholic idea of a "patron saint."
Buddhism, with its many diverse practices and teachings, is an important unifying element of traditional Thai medicine. Folk healers may have resisted Ayurvedic doctrine, but without exception all seem to worship Shivago and the Buddha. Buddhist beliefs also play a more practical role. Its temples have become repositories of knowledge of traditional Thai medicine, especially Wat Pho. Monks are trained and deployed throughout the land to provide health care to the people.
Chinese and Thai cultures have had frequent contact throughout history, so it is not surprising to see the influence of ancient Chinese medicine in Thailand. Chinese immigrants have always had a strong presence in the Thai medical industry. A French writer testified in 1691 that the King of Siam employed Chinese doctors along with Thai, Burmese, and Western physicians. Today, you can find herbal medicines sold and used everywhere by locals, and some are even found in medical textbooks. Thai massage is similar to Chinese massage and perhaps more similar than Indian massage. The doctrine of Sen Line is comparable to the Chinese meridians as well as the Nadi of Yoga. One must remember that the Thais themselves are believed to have come from the Chinese/Vietnamese region.
Comments