Thai healing art is akin to a “medicine basket” because it encompasses a diverse array of modalities that a practitioner can flexibly select and combine to create a customized, holistic treatment tailored to each client.
Let’s banish some additional myths that often hinder understanding of the modality..
It may seem like magic when an experienced Thai Massage practitioner applies the method. However, the most helpful and best sequence is one that is tailored to the recipient. The process of learning this may start with a memorized, cookie-cutter sequence, but as you gain more experience and continue to study and practice, you will get there too.
Although the use of a Masssage table is a recent apparition in the practice, the setting is not what determines if your practice is authentic. If it “works” it’s authentic.
The right way to do Thai Massage is to start superficially before we work deep, with the pure intention of providing benefit to the one we touch. You can start anywhere and use anything as an aid and be effective as long as you’ve got these things straight.
Throughout its history, traditional medicine practices in Thailand have been passed down locally, with variations from region to region in information and focus, rooted in lineage.
The Ministry of Public Health in Thailand has compiled information to develop a traditional medicine program offering government licensure over a 4-year period.
The four focus areas are traditional pharmacy, medicine, midwifery, and massage.
While all practitioners, regardless of prior training and experience, are encouraged to complete the degree program to earn licensure to practice, some doctors are already practicing within their lineages and systems of knowledge, locally and regionally across Thailand.
While overlap and standard theory exist among these various local systems, each lineage is considered whole unto itself.
Let’s map everything out.
| Herbal Medicine | Midwifery | Massage | Nutritional Counseling | Divination | Bone setting | Spirit Doctors | Magical Tatooing | Herbal Compresses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ยาสมุนไพร | ผดุงครรภ์ | นวด | โภชนาการ | หมอดู | จัดกระดูก | หมอผี | สักยันต์ | ลูกประคบ |
| Yaa sà-mŭn prai | Pà-dung kan | Nûat | poh-chá-naa gaan | mŏr doo | jàt grà-dòok | mŏr pĕe | sàk yan | lôok bprà-kóp |
| This is internal herbal medicine | Prenatal and postpartum care of the mother and child | External body therapies | Dietetics for elemental balance and general health | astrology, geomancy, numerology, tarot and palmistry | setting of broken bones, and also all indigenous chiropractics | Akin to shamans | Sacred words and symbols | External application of herbs |
| Cupping | Scraping | Yam Kahng | Chét hâek | Jòp kài | Bpào | Tok Sên | Blood Letting | Nûat Karsai |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| แก้วสูญญากาศ | การครูด | ยำขาง | เช็ดแฮก | จอบไข่ | เป่า | ตอกเส้น | ผ่าเลือดออก | นวด กระษัย |
| gâew sŏon-yaa-gàat | gaan krôot | yam kăang | no English name | no English name | no English name | no English name | pàa lêuat òk | no English name |
| Use of suction to draw out toxins and heat | Use of tools to gently pull out toxins and heat | A spirit medicine technique practiced by spirit doctors | A gentle rubbing combined with incantations | Removal of toxins and evil with an egg | Blowing sacred words | Percussive therapy combining use of tools and spirit medicine | Generally localized release of stagnant or toxic blood | Organ massage |