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What are the four divisions of Traditional Thai Medicine?
Divisions
In the early 1900s, the Thai government began to promote Western medicine over traditional practices. However, in 1993, the Ministry of Thai Medicine established the National Institute of Thai Traditional Medicine to help preserve, standardize, and codify traditional Thai medicine.
This effort to codify had mixed results. On the bright side, it helped preserve many older traditions. However, the Ministry chose practices that were more likely to be accepted worldwide, aligning closely with Western or Ayurvedic traditions. As a result, the Ministry dropped some traditional practices, but local practitioners continued to practice them. This split resulted in four divisions of traditional Thai medicine.
Traditional Thai Medicine (TTM)
Traditional Thai Medicine (Paet Paen Tai) refers to the comprehensive term used to describe all traditional medicine practices in Thailand. Thai Traditional Medicine (TTM) originated during the Sukhothai period (1238-1377 AD) and evolved into a key component of national healthcare until the early 20th century. At that time, modern medicine became the primary health service. However, TTM saw a revival around 1978, following the Alma-Ata Declaration. The World Health Organization (WHO) has encouraged Member States to include medicinal plants in their primary healthcare programs. In response, Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) created a policy to promote the use of medicinal plants in primary health care. This government policy has continued to support medicinal plants and traditional Thai medicine in the healthcare system.
In 1993, the Government of Thailand established the Institute of Thai Traditional Medicine under the Department of Medical Services. This institute played a crucial role in reviving TTM and integrating it into the health service system. Later, in October 2002, the Department for Development of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine was founded. This department comprised the Institute of Thai Traditional Medicine, the Division of Alternative Medicine, and the Office of the Secretary, all of which worked together to enhance the role of TTM in healthcare.
TTM is now part of the national health policy, focusing on the development, transfer, and protection of the wisdom of Thai traditional medicine, indigenous medicine, alternative medicine, and medicinal plants. Today, TTM services include treatment and diagnosis using traditional Thai medicine, as well as applied traditional Thai medicine. Services also cover treatment and rehabilitation using traditional herbal medicines or recipes made from medicinal plants, therapeutic Thai massage, herbal steam baths, and herbal hot compresses for therapeutic purposes.
TTM services are available through various channels in the health system. Thai citizens can study TTM as a four-year degree program in government-approved schools. Licensed TTM practitioners operate TTM clinics, and community or provincial/general hospitals have their own TTM sections to provide these services. TTM Health Promotion Centres have been established as model service centers in every province, ensuring everyone can access these valuable health resources.
Thailand maintains a national policy to integrate traditional medicine into the mainstream healthcare system. This integration requires strengthening the knowledge base of TTM, developing human resources, ensuring the quality of herbal medicinal products, and securing commitment and financial support from the government. The government hopes to achieve this integration through effective administration, a robust information system on TTM, research and development, certified educational systems, and training curricula. Good collaboration among institutions and organizations at the national and international levels is also essential for success.
Traditional Medicine of Thailand (TM of T)
The source material for Traditional Medicine of Thailand (Paet Paen-Boh-Raan) comprises ancient texts from the 1800s, written in both Thai and Khmer scripts. There is no standardization for TToT so that practices can vary depending on the ancient text, practitioner, and region.
Local/Indigenous Medicine
Thailand’s third division of traditional Thai medicine is local and Indigenous Medicine (Paet Puen Boaan). This division is the most common form of Thai medicine in Thailand. The theories and traditions in this division are older than those of TTM and TToT. Local village doctors (Mor Meuang) rely on oral traditions and local texts that teachers pass down to the students.
Lanna Medicine
Lanna Medicine (Paet Lann-Naa) is a regional form of Local/Indigenous Medicine. It comes from the Lanna people, who settled in Northern Thailand centuries ago. This unique division has well-preserved medical texts dating back to the thirteenth century. Lanna Medicine encompasses specialized practices such as Tok Sen, Thai Fire Cupping, and Ched Hak, which have become integral components of Thai medicine.
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