Ayurveda of Thailand: Indigenous Traditional Thai Medicine and Yoga Therapy (2025)

Ayurveda and Thai Yoga: Religious Therapeutics Theory and Practice

Meta Journal Press, 2017

The Indigenous medicine systems of India (Ayurveda, Yoga) have been practiced in one form or another in the land we call Thailand for a more extended period than the land has been called Thailand. Ayurveda, Indigenous Traditional Thai Medicine, and Yoga Therapy are firmly based on Classical Indian Ayurveda. Ayurveda of Thailand and Thai Yoga originated in the pre-Thai dawn of the great Indian vessel kingdoms of the Khmer and Mon civilizations and the Theraveda Buddhist medicine practices found within the orders of monks and nuns (the Thai Theraveda Buddhist Sangha). The term "Ayurveda" combines the Sanskrit words ayur (life) and Veda (science or knowledge). Ayurvedic medicine, originating in India, is one of the world's oldest systems of indigenous, traditional medicine. Many Ayurvedic practices predated written records and were handed down by word of mouth. The ancient Thai people adopted these ancient traditions and, over time, adapted them to their way of life. Ayurveda of India, Khmer, and Mon cultures became "Ayurveda of Thailand"! The ancient Sage, Monk, and Vidya (Ayurvedic Physician) Jivaka or Shivago Komalaboat, the patron saint of ITTM, is credited with introducing Ayurveda first to the Buddha himself, successfully treating his illnesses over time and then under the Buddha's authority to the developing Sangha. This became one of the foundations of Buddhist medicine and led to the idea that medicine and wellness of mind, body, and spirit together were equally crucial in pursuing a compassionate life and spiritual enlightenment. These teachings spread across Asia and S.E. Asia and became the dominant medicine of indigenous cultures. This text covers the ancient history, philosophy, and functional medicine principles of Thai Ayurveda with research notes and an extensive bibliography. It is not meant to report on a purely old viewpoint of indigenous medicine but in context, as an evolving and living tradition practiced in today's modern world. The SomaVeda Integrated Traditional Therapies® Thai Yoga system represents a spiritually based approach to integrating and practicing these ancient teachings in a modern ministry of counseling and service. Classical Indian, Indigenous Traditional Thai Ayurveda and Yoga Therapy of several traditional Thai Schools such as Buddhai Sawan, Anantasuk, Wat Po, Ayurveda Vidyali, Sawankholok, Lanna, Buntautuk including Hill Tribe variations from several different regions of practice, have been adopted as primary religious therapies of the Priory of Saving Grace and the Native American Indigenous Church. When combined in training with the sacred medicine practices of Indigenous people, these arts give us the possibility of expressing a comprehensive vision of what sacred healing practiced by authorized ministers and medicine persons was always meant to be. Healing is now and always has been an expression and practice of our indigenous religion. We now have practical means to bring this medicine to our community. Life cycles out of harmony with nature keep people from experiencing life fully and productively. These healing practices are seen as opportunities to learn a balanced way of living with nature. The character that is outside of ourselves and the heart that is within. These unique teachings regarding restoration and maintenance of life have now been passed on to this generation. Thai Ayurveda/ITTM/ Yoga Therapy incorporates counseling, energy balancing, sacred nutrition and a primarily plant-based diet, mindfulness, gentle rocking, deep stretching, and rhythmic compression to create a singular healing experience. This work, as it brings fundamental elements and energy into harmony, creates wholeness of mind, body, and spirit in the client and the practitioner. Dr. Anthony B. James, an "Ajahn" and Master Instructor, recognized as such by the Wat Po Association of Thai Traditional Medical Schools/Anantasuk Tradition, has taught Indigenous, Thai Ayurveda/ ITTM/ Yoga Therapy to thousands of students around the world since 1983. He is an Ordained Priest and Minister of the Sacred Medical Order of the Church of Hope (SMOKH), a Diocese of the Eastern Orthodox Catholic Church. He holds doctorates and formal degrees in Western Medicine, Ayurveda, Oriental Medicine, Naturopathy, and Ph.D. in Indigenous Medicine. A specialist in Sacred Complimentary and Alternative medicine with a spiritual basis and Native American Medicine.

Traditional Thai Medicine: Buddhism, Animism, Yoga, Ayurveda, 2nd ed. (Bangkok: White Lotus, 2016).

Buddhist Medicine and its Circulation

Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Asian History. Ed. David Ludden. New York: Oxford University Press, 2018

Buddhist medicine" is a convenient term commonly used to refer to the many diverse ideas and practices concerning illness and healing that have emerged in Buddhist contexts, or that have been embraced and carried by that religion as it has spread throughout Asia and beyond. Interest in exploring the relationship between mind and body, understanding the nature of mental and physical suffering, and overcoming the discomforts of illness goes back to the very origins of Buddhism. Throughout history, Buddhism has been one of the most important contexts for the cross-cultural exchange of diverse currents of medicine. Medicine associated with and carried by Buddhism formed the basis for a number of local healing traditions that are still widely practiced in much of East, Southeast, and Central Asia. Despite the fact that there are numerous similarities among these regional forms, however, Buddhist medicine was never a cohesive or fixed system. Rather, it should be thought of as a dynamic, living tradition with a few core features and much local variation. Local traditions of Buddhist medicine represent unique hybrid combinations of cross-culturally transmitted and indigenous knowledge. In the modern period, such traditions were thoroughly transformed by interactions with Western colonialism, scientific ideas, and new biomedical technologies. In recent decades, traditional, modern, and hybrid forms of medicine continue to be circulated by transnational Buddhist organizations and through the global popularization of Buddhistinspired therapeutic meditation protocols. Consequently, Buddhism continues today to be an important catalyst for cross-cultural medical exchange, and it continues to exert a significant influence on healthcare practices worldwide.

THE ROLE OF THAI TRADITIONAL MEDICINE IN HEALTH PROMOTION

The Kingdom of Thailand has its own system of traditional medicine called "Thai traditional medicine" (TTM). It originated during the Sukhothai period (1238-1377) and developed in parallel with the country as a means of national health care until the early 20 th century. (1) The spread of modern medicine from the Western world to the East then led to a decline in the practice of traditional medicine in Thailand. As a result, modern medicine eventually replaced TTM and became Thailand's mainstream health-care system while TTM was neglected for over 60 years until the revival of TTM began in the late 1970s. This paper will cover the principles of TTM and how they can be applied for health promotion, the movement to revive and integrate TTM into the national health system and the lessons learned.

Traditional Indian Systems of Healing and Medicine: Ayurveda

Ayurveda is one of several traditional medical systems that originate from the Indian subcontinent. It is now represented as the indigenous Indian medical tradition par excellence. As is the case with other Indian medical systems, the origins ofĀyurveda long predate the formation of an Indian nation and are not necessarily set within its geographical boundaries. "Indian" in the context of the history of medicine therefore often denotes quite a large area within South Asia. A second great tradition of medicine, called Siddha, developed in the south of India. It is less well known outside of India, but of similar antiquity and authority toĀyurveda. Other medical systems, originating from countries outside the Indian subcontinent, have been integrated into its cultures and now form part of its medical traditions. The earliest, and perhaps most important of these systems to be imported and acculturated isŪnānī medicine. Much later, but equally significant additions were Homeopathy and Naturopathy. A different development has taken place in the case of Yoga. Here, an indigenous knowledge system has been re-interpreted as the focus has shifted from the philosophical tradition to the health-related aspects of postural and meditative Yoga practice. The developments within the old traditions with their long and varied histories, the addition of new traditions to the established ones, their interrelations and the interweaving of medical thought with a changing religious, political and cultural climate, all form a rich and complicated pattern of medical and social history. The developments starting in the early twentieth century towards the modernization and professionalisation of medicine have brought these and other medical systems into a common frame of health policy and legislation, as health has become the responsibility of the government. Thus, the more recent history of traditional Indian medicine is shaped by health politics. At the same time, the sphere of its influence has widened, asĀyurveda and other traditional medical systems have come to the attention of an international public, taking a position beside other complementary and alternative therapies.

Buddhist medicine

Buddhist medicine, 2024

Walking on flowers, avoiding stones. Basically, Buddhism is a medicine that is considered to be an objective medicine, and it is introduced as a great physician in the World Buddhist tradition. Because he prescribes medicines for the birth of all the Rotas to go away. Everything is caused by our attitude towards the world. All diseases can be cured by cultivating those attitudes. Therefore, what is needed now is an intellectual revolution.

Elements of the Buddhist Medical System

History of Science in South Asia, 2023

This article aims to explore the anthropological foundations of early Buddhist medical thought by conducting a comprehensive analysis of Pāli texts and their relationship to the development of Indian traditional medicine, such as Āyurveda. The research investigates the possible existence of an ancient Buddhist medical system and compares it with contemporary medical systems, such as Hippocratic medicine. By examining the Bhesajjakkhandhaka and the Bhesajjamañjūsā, two Pāli texts that discuss medicine, the article seeks to outline the key elements of ancient Buddhist medical conceptions. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of understanding the evolution of Buddhist medical practices and their potential role in defining Indian traditional medicine. The findings could provide a foundation for historians of Indian medicine to delve into even more complex aspects of the medical tradition in ancient Buddhism.

Patanjali Yogpeeth, Haridwar: An Ayurveda center which includes treatment, research, and education

Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, 2013

Thai Traditional Medicine: Applying Local Wisdom Knowledge for Health Treatment of Cancer Patients in Aphinyana Arokhayasala Foundation

Asian Culture and History, 2014

Local wisdom knowledge concerning health care and treatment of cancer patientshas been handed down to Thai people who intent to study in this field. The Thai traditional practitioners working for Aphinyana Arokhayasala Foundation and using a Thai traditional medical examining and diagnosis to classify the patients into some kinds of cancer. They compound herbal medicine to treat their patients according to their symptoms and kinds of cancer. All patients staying in this Foundation are looked after by modern physicians, Thai traditional physicians, relatives, and service-minded volunteers and are treated with a combination of herbal medicine, exercise, and Buddhist meditation. This research will reflect all details of the application of indigenous knowledge for health treatment of cancer patients. Organizations concerned can use some ideas from the research results for treating their patients. Organizations concerned can use some ideas from the research results for treating their patients.

Traditional Bhutanese medicine (gSo-BA Rig-PA): an integrated part of the formal health care services

The Southeast Asian journal of tropical medicine and public health, 2007

Traditional medicine in Bhutan is known as gSo-ba Rig-pa and is one of the oldest surviving medical traditions in the world. Other medical systems, such as Chinese medicine, Indian Ayurvedic medicine, Unani medicine, Greco-Roman medicine and the country's rich cultures and traditions have greatly influenced the way traditional Bhutanese medicine evolved. However, Buddhist philosophy remains the mainstream of this medical system. gSo-ba Rig-pa's principles are based on the perception the human body is composed of three main elements: rLung ('Air'), mKhris-pa ('Bile') and Bad-kan ('Phlegm'). When these three elements are balanced in the body a person is said to be healthy. The pathophysiology is also different from other medical systems, and the close link to Buddhism is reflected in the spiritual dimensions and the perception that all suffering is caused by ignorance. The treatment of diseases includes behavioral modification, physiotherapy, herbal med...