History and Vision

The Faculty of Traditional Thai Medicine, PSU intends to be the leading, preeminent teaching and research institution with focus on the application of the knowledge in the field of Thai traditional medicine for Thai society and the world at large.

History of Faculty of Traditional Thai Medicine

Thai Traditional Medicine has coexisted with Thai society for centuries. According to the history of Thailand, there was some evidence appearing in the era of Sukhothai Kingdom that this kind of medicine was founded on practical experiences in Thai’s knowledge and wisdom accumulated and transferred through the ages. Although Thai Traditional Medicine has been neglected and replaced by conventional medicine, it has not totally forgotten by the Thai society since Thai Traditional Medicine is needed for curing diseases and maintaining good health. In addition, the study and techniques of Thai traditional Medicine was individually transferred by practitioners, through private organizations and in associations or groups involved with Thai Traditional Medicine and Thai pharmacy.

Prince of Songkla University (PSU), a leading university in the South of Thailand, has a resolution to be a supporter of the society. Furthermore, PSU recognizes the importance of playing active role in Thai Traditional Medicine instruction for higher education in order to preserve, study, research, and develop its benefits to the society and the nation. The curriculum of Thai Traditional Medicine was thus incorporated into PSU development plan (No.9) and initiated in order to set up the Bachelor Degree of Science program in Thai Traditional Medicine.

Significance

Thai Traditional Medicine is one of aspect of medical sciences that support, prevent, cure, and rehabilitate health by means of homeostasis. Thai Traditional Medicine also emphasizes on holistic health care in terms of the combination of body, mind and society; hence, Thai Traditional Medicine is different from conventional medicine. For the aforementioned reasons, more people opt for Thai Traditional Medicine as a method of health care. Additionally, Thai Traditional Medicine is a reservoir of accumulated wisdom since the ancient time. However, scientific and academic evidences are inadequate to support the acclaimed wisdom.

Prince of Songkla University, a Research oriented University, has instituted a university’s development plan in order to enhance research in terms of personnel, fundamental structure, research scholarships, and research contributions. Faculty of Traditional Thai Medicine, Prince of Songkla University has also recognizes the necessity in developing its role to be a research faculty in order to be relevant to the university’s development plan. The Faculty of Traditional Thai Medicine aims at developing researchers and academics who have the ability to conduct high level of research, create research works in a field of Thai Traditional Medicine and Folk Medicine, as well as develop and apply new knowledge that conforms with the society and nation’s needs. As such, the curriculum of the Doctor of Philosophy in Thai Traditional Medicine Program was created in order to develop higher level of research works in the field of Thai Traditional Medicine, and respond to the university and faculty’s development plans. This curriculum is intended to produce graduates who have knowledge and advanced expertise in a field of Thai Traditional Medicine, create quality research works accepted nationally and internationally, as well as create new knowledge which can be further applied to the field of Thai Traditional Medicine.

Objectives

To deeply enlarge the knowledge of Thai Traditional Medicine
To be able to develop research work and create new knowledge accepted nationally and internationally
To have academic leadership and the ability in applying the knowledge of Thai Traditional Medicine for the benefit of the society
To possess high morality and academic ethics
To have possess critical thinking skills and applications of technology in the development of efficient Thai Traditional Medicine research

Academic services

The services provided for the general public include both academic and professional ones in health promotion, disease prevention and treatment and rehabilitation based on the principles of Thai traditional medicine. We also provide free academic services to the society and offer various TTM courses (Thai massage, formulation of herbal inhaler, etc.) to the public. In addition, we also assist in conducting research activities as well as create innovative projects for both the government, private agencies and community enterprise.

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