PHYSICAL CHECKING AND DIAGNOSIS IN THAI TRADITIONAL MEDICINE.

Abstract

The qualitative research was to 1) study the physical checking and diagnosis in Thai Traditional Medicine from the plenty of Thai Traditional Medicine textbooks, and 2) compare the methods of physical checking and diagnosis in Thai Traditional Medicine between Thai Traditional Medicine healers and textbooks. The research samples were six Thai Traditional Medicine healers and a modern doctor that were gathered by purposive sampling technique including five Thai Traditional Medicine textbooks. This research was worked from April to August 2015 which the tools used in the research were a voice recorder, interview, camera and data notebook. The research findings revealed that the physical checking and diagnosis techniques from Thai Traditional Medicine healers and textbooks were exactly the same. The techniques began with the physical checking of pulse beat of Wata, Pitta and Samha (or sputum), face, skin, eyes and mouth, next proved the causes of illness, consumption behavior, working status, lifestyle, element imbalance, season, age, time and environment might cause the illness. The results from Thai Traditional Medicine healers and textbooks revealed the technique of physical checking was consisted of inquiring, observing and touching. However, the differences between Thai Traditional Medicine healers and textbooks were that Thai Traditional Medicine healers did not check for blood pressure but they checked for palms and ankles in order to take the temperature, directly pressed a pain spot on the palm, examined the elements of Chaoreun (base elements) and fertilization to see the weakness of health. The differences between Thai Traditional Medicine practitioners and textbooks can contribute to the development of physical checking and diagnosis in Thai Traditional Medicine.