Thai Massage & Thai Midwifery

Thai Massage

The Traditional Thai Medicine curriculum offers courses in Thai massage as follows:

1. Thai Massage Courses: study the history and evolution of Thai massage. There are 2 types of Thai message: Chaloey Sak (independent massage) and Ratchasamnak (court massage). Students study the body’s ten major lines (Sen Pratan Sip), the disorders caused by abnormalities in the body’s ten major lines and their treatment and rehabilitation by Thai massage. Students should also be able to evaluate patients’ symptoms so that they can give them a referral to doctors in modern medicine in a timely manner.

2. Thai Massage: Students study massage therapy for partial paralysis, paralysis, migraine, sprained ankle, neck stiffness, Lom Plai Pattakat Sanyan 1, 3 Lang, Lom Plai Pattakat Sanyan 4, 5 Lang and Jap Pong Haeng/Nam Kao, by means of Ratchasamnak massage (court massage). The approach taken is a combination of theories from Thai traditional medicine and modern medicine. Students practice giving Thai massage to promote health according to the principles of Thai traditional medicine and the wisdom of Thai traditional doctors.

Apart from theory and practice sessions, students have to undertake internships at community hospitals nationwide in order to gain first-hand experience, acquire professional skills and apply the theory of examination and treatment in real situations.

The key to the study of Thai massage is the weight of the hands or fingers. Students have to practice by crossing their legs, forming their fingers into a bowl shape and lifting themselves up. They learn and master this so that they can acquire quality hand or finger weight which will lead to quality treatment.

Thai midwifery

“Thai midwifery refers to the examination, care, counseling and the promotion of health in pregnant women. It also includes the prevention of abnormality during pregnancy or delivery and the rendering of assistance in childbirth by means of Thai traditional medicine (according to the Practice of the Art of Healing Unit). In the Thai traditional medicine curriculum, students study both the theory of Thai midwifery and modern midwifery, in the hope that students will be able to work effectively with professionals from other fields. The courses students take are as follows:

1. Thai Midwifery Students are taught to understand childbirth and the importance of Thai midwifery and the Thai culture of postpartum lying-in by fire. They also study the anatomy of men and women of child-bearing age, conception, pregnancy and the process of assisting childbirth in normal labor.

2. Thai Midwifery Students learn the Mother and Child Scripture which covers normal and abnormal symptoms during pregnancy. At the end of their studies, students should be able to connect Thai midwifery theory and modern midwifery.

Thai midwifery students also have to undertake internships at community hospitals so that they can practice the whole process, beginning with prenatal health care. Students have to be able to perform obstetrical examinations, evaluate the age of the foetus and determine the delivery date. During childbirth assistance, students have to examine or treat patients by means of Thai traditional medicine. On the point of delivery, students also have to assist pregnant women in normal labor and care for their infants. They should also be able to provide post-partum treatment if any abnormality occurs or provide post-partum care, such as applying compresses to the breast in case milk is scarce or mothers cannot breastfeed, or giving basic post-partum leg and back massage. Students should be able to explain the principles and benefits of Thai postpartum lying-in by fire which includes massage, herbal compresses, sitting above charcoal, herbal saunas, herbal bathing, heated salt-filled pot compresses and abdominal wrapping. They should also be able to correctly and appropriately advise mothers on postpartum self-care.

Thai massage is part of the national wisdom of the Thai people and has been passed on and accepted from the past to the present. Thai massage can be employed as a treatment and it is regarded as being beneficial for both health and beauty. Compression and touching can increase blood circulation, resulting in muscle relaxation, the loosening of stiffness and the refreshing and relaxation of the mind.