Abstract
Thailand is now focusing on forming the sufficient health-care system by using local wisdom and traditional health resources. The use of local resources such as traditional medicine (TM) and traditional healers to share expenses can be cost-effective in increasing good health of the Thai people. Traditional healers have played an important role in Thai health long before the introduction of Western medicine. Although modern health providers play a key role in the provision of health care in the Thai health-care system, traditional healers and their practice still exist in most rural areas of Thailand. Thai people continue to seek help from traditional healers because they perceive that there is no single healing system that could promote a total well-being. They look for the one that could best help them to return to normal health. The individuals expect that any healing form would be complementary, or an alternative, to another. Thai health policy has recognized traditional medicine (TM) and traditional healers as local resources in Thai health. Thus, these resources are promoted in Thai health today. The cooperation between traditional healing system and modern health care could also increase choices for consumers within the Thai health-care system. However, obstacles to smooth cooperation between the two groups still remain.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
It is an eye disorder involving the growth of medial conjunctiva to form a thickset mass on the cornea area. Tor nuea or pterygium mostly grows from the nasal side of the sclera in triangular shape. Sunlight, ultraviolet, dust, wind, or dry air contribute to this eye problem.
References
Amen, M. M. (2007). Different ways of creating knowledge. Journal of Theory Construction & Testing, 11(1), 38–39.
Antweiler, C. (1998). Local knowledge and local knowing: An anthropological analysis of contested “Cultural Products” in the context of development. Anthropos, 93(4–6), 469–494.
Blackwell, A., & Colmenar, R. (1999). Transforming policy through local wisdom. Futures, 31, 487–497.
Briggs, J., Sharp, J., Yacoub, H., Hamed, N., & Roe, A. (2007). The nature of indigenous environmental knowledge production: Evidence from Bedouin Communities in Southern Egypt. Journal of International Development, 19, 239–251.
Brush, S. B. (1996). Whose knowledge, whose genes, whose rights? In S. B. Brush & D. Stabinsky (Eds.), Valuing local knowledge: Indigenous people and intellectual property rights (pp. 1–21). Washington, DC: Island Press.
Bureau of Indigenous Thai Medicine. (2003). Thai indigenous medicine: The Thai intellectual property. Bangkok: Thai Royal.
Bureau of Indigenous Thai Medicine. (2009). Effectiveness of traditional doctors in treating patients with fractures in 9 areas. Retrieved November 1, 2009, from http://www.dtam.moph.go.th/intranet/doct/forum/index.php?showtopic=34
Bureau of Policy and Strategy Ministry of Public Health. (2009). Health policy in Thailand 2009. Retrieved August 14, 2011, from http://whothailand.healthrepository.org/handle/123456789/589
Chokevivat, V., Chuthaputti, A., & Khumtrakul, P. (2005). The use of traditional medicine in the Thai health care system. Retrieved January 29, 2010, from http://www.searo.who.int/LinkFiles/Meetings_document09.pdf
Chokevivat, V., Wibulpolprasert, S., & Petrakard, P. (Eds.). (2010). Thai traditional health profile 2009–2010. Bangkok: The War Veterans Organization.
Chuengsatiansup, K. (2007a). Indigenous health system in the rural Thailand. In K. Chuengsatiansup & Y. Tantipidoke (Eds.), Thai health Thai culture (pp. 113–144). Bangkok: Nungsurdeeone.
Chuengsatiansup, K. (2007b). Trend of local wisdom in Thai health: Concept and strategy for knowledge management in the area of Thai traditional medicine, indigenous medicine, and alternative medicine. In K. Chuengsatiansup & Y. Tantipidoke (Eds.), Thai health Thai culture (pp. 205–214). Bangkok: Nungsurdeeone.
Chuengsatiansup, K., Muksong, C., Tongsinsat, N., Pinkaew, R., Petkong, W., Sirisathitkun, M., et al. (2004). Dynamic of self-reliance (rural sector). Bangkok: Foundation Okml Gold Tweezers.
Correa, C. M. (2002). Protection and promotion of traditional medicine implications for public health in developing countries. Geneva: South Centre.
Courtright, P. (1995). Eye care knowledge and practices among Malawian traditional healers and the development of collaborative blindness prevention programmes. Social Science & Medicine, 41(11), 1569–1575.
Golomb, L. (1985). An anthropology of curing in multiethnic Thailand. Urbana: University of Illinois Press.
Helman, C. G. (2007). Culture, health and illness (5th ed.). London: Hodder Arnold.
Jiang, W.-Y. (2005). Therapeutic wisdom in traditional Chinese medicine: A perspective from modern science. Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, 26(11), 558–563.
Kale, R. (1995). Traditional healers in South Africa: A parallel health care system. British Medical Journal, 310(6988), 1182–1185.
Kleinman, A. (1980). Patients and healers in the context of culture: An exploration of the borderland between anthropology, medicine, and psychiatry. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Krongkaew, M. (2003). The philosophy of sufficiency economy. Retrieved July 8, 2009, from http://kyotoreview.cseas.kyoto-u.ac.jp/issue/issue3/article_292.html
Kulsomboon, S., & Adthasit, R. (2007). The status and trend of research in local wisdom for health. Bangkok: The War Veterans Organization.
Liamputtong, P., Suwankhong, D., & Rumbold, B. (2012). Traditional, complementary and alternative medicine (TCAM): A review of healing practices outside the formal health care system. In Y. Motto (Ed.), Traditional medicine: New research (pp. 59–82). New York: Nova Science Publishers.
Mahler, H. (1983). Foreward. In R. H. Bannerman, J. Burton, & C. E. Wen-Chieh (Eds.), Traditional medicine and health care coverage: A reader for health administrators and practitioners (pp. 7–8). Geneva: World Health Organization.
Nathalang, E. (1990). The wisdom of Thai farmers: Contemporary efforts for cultural reproduction. Paper presented at the 4th international conference on Thai Studies, Kunming, Yunnan.
National Economic and Social Development Board. (2000). Sufficiency economy. Retrieved July 7, 2009, from http://www.sufficiencyeconomy.org/en/files/4.pdf
Nelms, L. W., & Gorski, J. (2006). The role of the African traditional healer in women’s health. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 17(2), 184–189.
News Division, Department of Information. (2007). The philosophy of sufficiency economy. Retrieved July 7, 2009, from http://www.us-asean.org/Thailand/C95.pdf
Office of the National Culture Commission. (1991). Lay local wisdom and promoting culture for developing rural areas. Bangkok: Office of the National Culture Commission.
Oppong, A. C. K. (1989). Healers in transition. Social Science & Medicine, 28(6), 605–612.
Ovuga, E., Boardman, J., & Oluka, E. G. A. O. (1999). Traditional healers and mental illness in Uganda. Psychiatric Bulletin, 23, 276–279.
Petrakard, P., Chantraket, R., & Limpananont, J. (2008). The integration of Thai traditional medicine: The situation of its service. Bangkok: Dawn of Printing.
Phongphit, S. (1982). Back to the root. Bangkok: Teanwan.
Raekphinit, C. (2009). Local wisdom. Phattalung: Thaksin University.
Read, D. W., & Behrens, C. (1989). Modeling folk knowledge as expert systems. Anthropological Quarterly, 62(3), 107–120.
Sermsri, S. (1989). Utilization of traditional and modern health care services in Thailand. In S. R. Quah (Ed.), The triumph of practicality: Tradition and modernity in health care utilization in selected Asian countries (pp. 160–179). Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.
Sringanyuang, L., Wattanapa, A., Peawking, J., Toungratanaphan, S., & Lertmanorat, S. (2001). Self-care development in family and community. Nonthaburi: Health Systems Research Institute.
Timmermans, K. (2003). Intellectual property rights and traditional medicine: Policy dilemmas at the interface. Social Science & Medicine, 57(4), 745–756.
Williams, G., & Popay, J. (2006). Lay knowledge and the privilege of experience. In D. Kelleher, J. Gabe, & G. Williams (Eds.), Challenging medicine (2nd ed., pp. 122–145). London: Routledge.
Wongkumdang, S. (2007). Knowledge management of Pga K’nyau folk healers in Ban Chan sub-district, Mae Chaem district, Chiang Mai province. Unpublished master’s thesis, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai.
World Health Organization. (2002). WHO traditional medicine strategy 2002–2005. Retrieved August 15, 2009, from http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/2002/WHO_EDM_TRM_2002.1.pdf
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to all customers of traditional healers who have provided us with deep understanding of their care-seeking behavior. We would also like to thank the Faculty of Health and Sports Science, Thaksin University, Thailand, and the School of Public Health, La Trobe University, Australia, for the scholarship to support the first author in carrying out the fieldwork in rural Thailand. Additionally, we would like to thank Department for Development of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, Ministry of Public Health, Phatthalung Provincial Health Office, and all local government organizations and their staff who gave the first author their sincere support during the process of our data collection.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Suwankhong, D., Liamputtong, P. (2014). Phum Panya Chao Baan (Local Wisdom) and Traditional Healers in Southern Thailand. In: Liamputtong, P. (eds) Contemporary Socio-Cultural and Political Perspectives in Thailand. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7244-1_31
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7244-1_31
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-007-7243-4
Online ISBN: 978-94-007-7244-1
eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and LawSocial Sciences (R0)