THAI TRADITIONAL MEDICINE FOR DIABETES: A CASE STUDY OF THAI TRADITIONAL MEDICINE IN CENTRAL THAILAND

Abstract

This research employed the qualitative research technique that mainly aimed to collect diabetes treatment data from Thai Traditional Medicine, and to study the treatment procedures by mean of Thai Traditional Medicine. This study focused on two Thai Traditional Medicine healers who were professionals in diabetes treatment. Data were collected by in-depth interview. Findings of this study revealed that the Theory of Thai Traditional Medicine had the folk idea for holistic healthcare, which was relevant to the way of Thai life. In term of Thai Traditional Medicine, diseases were mainly caused by nature, etiology was the origination of disease. Etiology was caused by four factors, hereinafter age, time, season, and environment. Thai Etiology stated that causes of disease were also from food, manner, temperature (hot and cold), deprivation from sleep or food and drink, continence, over workload, sadness, anger, and other physical and emotional risk behaviors. Four steps of Thai Traditional Medicine for diabetes were 1) Pre-treatment; Thai folk healers, and patients would do the guru worship (“Wai Kru” in Thai) that aimed to pray, and wish treatment all the best, 2) Diagnosis; it was consist of history taking, physical checking (some healers would also check the patient’s horoscope), 3) Treatment; the method for diabetes treatment was serving a hot drink formular, put their feet in hot water, detoxification, and etc. The traditional methods differed from healers, and their education. After treatment, folk healers would follow the patient’s symptom, and suggest them to go on a diet, and 4) Physical and mental restoration. Aafter treatment, the patients were getting better and satisfied with the procedure.