Traditional Thai massage
| Part of a series on |
| Alternative medicine |
|---|
 |
| Nuad Thai, traditional Thai massage | |
|---|---|
| Country | Thailand |
| Reference | 01384 |
| Region | Asia and the Pacific |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 2019 (14th session) |
| List | Representative |
Traditional Thai massage or Thai yoga massage is a traditional therapy combining acupressure, Indian Ayurvedic principles, and assisted yoga postures.[1] In the Thai language, it is usually called nuat phaen thai (นวดแผนไทย, [nûat pʰɛ̌ːn tʰāj], lit. 'Thai-style massage') or nuat phaen boran (นวดแผนโบราณ, [nûat pʰɛ̌ːn bōː.rāːn]; lit. 'ancient-style massage'), though its formal name is nuat thai (นวดไทย, [nûat tʰāj], lit. 'Thai massage') according to the Traditional Thai Medical Professions Act, BE 2556 (2013).[2]
UNESCO added traditional Thai massage to its Cultural Heritage of Humanity list in December 2019.[3][4][5]
Practice
[edit].jpg)
Traditional Thai massage combines broad and focused acupressure along "energy lines" called sen, Indian Ayurvedic principles, and assisted yoga postures.[1] Oils and lotions are generally not used, and the recipient wears lightweight and loose clothing during treatment. There is constant body contact between the giver and receiver, but rather than simply rubbing on muscles, the body is compressed, pulled, stretched, and rocked.[6] The concept of metta (loving-kindness), based on Buddhist teachings, is an integral part of this practice. Well-known practitioners also emphasize meditation on the part of the practitioner as integral to the effectiveness of this practice.[7]
History
[edit]
Thai massage, like Thai traditional medicine (TTM), is a combination of influences from Indian and Southeast Asian traditions of medicine, and the art as it is practiced today is likely to be the product of a 19th-century synthesis of various healing traditions from all over the kingdom.[8] Historically, during the Sukhothai period, there was an evidence of Thai massage in the stone inscription at Wat Pa Mamuang, which mentioned the use of massage for treating illnesses. Moreover, in the Ayutthaya period, the department of traditional massage was established, and medical practitioners were categorized according to their specific expertise.
The spirit intermediary of traditional Thai massage and Thai medicine is Jīvaka (ชีวกโกมารภัจจ์ Jīvaka Komarabhācca), who is said in the Pāli Buddhist canon to have been the Buddha's physician over 2,500 years ago. He was recorded in ancient documents as having extraordinary medical skills, for his knowledge of herbal medicine, and for having treated important people of his day, including the Buddha himself.[9][10]
Training
[edit]The Thai Ministry of Public Health's Department for Development of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine regulates Thai traditional massage venues and practitioners. As of 2016[update] the department says 913 traditional clinics have been registered nationwide in Thailand.[11] As of 2018[update], of the 8,000 to 10,000 spa and massage shops in Thailand, only 4,228 are certified by the Health Ministry's Department of Health Service Support (HSS).[12]
A licensed, traditional massage practitioner is required to complete at least 800 hours training.[11] Massage therapists must acquire a professional license and must register at the Public Health Ministry's Department of Health Service Support (HSS). To qualify for a license, therapists must be trained in courses created by the HSS. The standard courses are provided free. Alternatively, students can go to one of the 181 schools nationwide approved to train therapists using standard HSS courses.[12]
Wat Pho, the center of Thai medicine and massage for centuries, opened the Wat Pho Thai Traditional Medical and Massage School in 1955 on the temple grounds, the first such school approved by the Thai Ministry of Education. Wat Pho offers four basic courses of Thai medicine: Thai massage, Thai midwife-nurse, Thai pharmacy, and Thai medical practice.[13] Thai massage is also taught and practiced in other countries.[14] In 2005, Thai Healing Alliance International (THAI) began to acknowledge Registered Thai Therapists (RTT) and Instructors around the world who met basic standards of study and practice. Today, THAI serves the general public as the largest online library of information and research about traditional Thai massage and Thai healing arts.
Thai acupressure
[edit]
Thai acupressure (Thai: kot chut thai; กดจุดไทย) is a therapeutic technique derived from traditional royal Thai massage. It involves the application of finger pressure to specific points on the body to restore the flow of chi phajon (Thai: ชีพจร), a concept in traditional Thai medicine referring to the circulation of "blood and wind" rather than the anatomical pulse or circulatory system recognized in modern medicine. The technique has been transmitted through successive generations of practitioners and is primarily performed using the fingers.
According to traditional Thai medical theory, Thai acupressure aims to restore the balance and function of the body's elemental and energetic systems by stimulating specific points associated with the body's vital pathways. It is traditionally used to relieve musculoskeletal pain and stiffness and is also applied in the management of conditions including headaches, migraines, insomnia, hypertension, allergies, frozen shoulder, knee osteoarthritis, menstrual pain, and paralysis.
Thai acupressure is based on traditional Thai medical concepts of the four elements (Thai: ธาตุทั้งสี่), which are earth, water, wind, and fire. And the Tridosha (Thai: ตรีธาตุ), consisting of Vata (Thai: วาตะ), Pitta (Thai: ปิตตะ), and Semha (Thai: เสมหะ), and the diagnosis of disorders affecting the body's vital pathways. Some practitioners also interpret the technique in relation to the peripheral and central nervous systems, suggesting that stimulation of specific pressure points may influence muscular, neurological, and circulatory function.[15]
Herbal Compress Massage
[edit]
Herbal compress massage (Thai: luk pra khop; ลูกประคบ) is a therapeutic practice commonly used in conjunction with traditional Thai massage. It involves the application of steamed cloth compresses containing fresh or dried medicinal herbs to various parts of the body, typically following a massage session. The treatment combines the therapeutic effects of heat and herbal constituents to enhance the benefits of massage.
Herbal compress therapy is traditionally used to stimulate blood circulation, relieve muscle pain and stiffness, reduce swelling and inflammation, improve the flexibility of muscles and connective tissues, and promote relaxation. In traditional postpartum care, herbal compresses are also used to help relieve breast engorgement.
The herbal compress is traditionally prepared by wrapping a mixture of medicinal herbs in a cotton cloth to form a compress ball. Common ingredients include zingiber montanum, turmeric, curcuma zedoaria, lemongrass, kaffir lime, tamarind leaves, soap pod leaves, camphor, and borneol. Before application, the compress is steamed until hot and then gently pressed onto the body along the muscles and areas previously treated by massage. The heat is applied gradually to avoid burns, and the compress is reheated or alternated with another heated compress during treatment. A typical treatment session lasts approximately 15–20 minutes, although it may be performed twice daily for certain musculoskeletal conditions such as sprains.[16]
Effectiveness
[edit]All types of massage, including Thai massage, can help people relax, temporarily relieve muscle or joint pain, and temporarily boost a person's mood. However, many practitioners' claims go far beyond those effects well demonstrated by clinical study.[17] Some clinicians dispute its efficacy.[18]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 Cowen, Virginia S.; Burkett, Lee; Bredimus, Joshua; Evans, Daniel R.; Lamey, Sandra; Neuhauser, Theresa; Shojaee, Lawdan (2006). "A comparative study of Thai massage and Swedish massage relative to physiological and psychological measures". Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies. 10 (4): 266–275. doi:10.1016/j.jbmt.2005.08.006.
- ↑ Traditional Thai Medical Professions Act, BE 2556 (2013).
- ↑ "Nuad Thai, traditional Thai massage". UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. United Nations. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
- ↑ Wipatayotin, Apinya (13 December 2019). "Unesco lists Nuad Thai as an 'intangible cultural heritage'". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
- ↑ "Unesco heritage: Traditional Thai massage added to 'cultural heritage' list". BBC News. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
- ↑ "A concise description of traditional Thai massage (Nuad Thai / Nuad Boran)". Thai Healing Alliance International. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
- ↑ Chow, Kam Thye (2011). Advanced Thai Yoga Massage: Postures and Energy Pathways for Healing. Vermont: Healing Arts Press. ISBN 978-1-59477-952-7.
- ↑ Salguero, Pierce (2007). Traditional Thai Medicine: Buddhism, Animism, Ayurveda. Forres, Scotland: Hohm Press. ISBN 978-1890772673.
- ↑ "Origin and evolution of traditional Thai massage" (PDF). Thai Healing Alliance International. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
- ↑ Ulyanov, Yury (2022-05-02). "History of Thai Massage: A Journey Through Healing Therapy". Школа Юрия Ульянова. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
- 1 2 Jitcharoenkul, Prangthong (13 October 2016). "'Brain opening' neck massage risky and illegal". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
- 1 2 Chaiyong, Suwitcha (2018-12-10). "A sign of wisdom". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2018-12-10.
- ↑ "Welcome". Wat Pho Thai Traditional Massage School. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
- ↑ Thai Massage: Sacred Bodywork. Penguin. 2004. p. 30. ISBN 9781583331682. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
- ↑ "กดจุดไทย" [Thai Acupressure]. Thai Traditional Medicine Innovation Center (TTMIC) (in Thai). Thai Traditional Medicine Innovation Center. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
- ↑ "การนวดประคบสมุนไพร" [Herbal Compress Therapy]. Department of Alternative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University (in Thai). Mahidol University. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
- ↑ Heid, Markham (2018-01-03). "You Asked: Do Massages Have Real Health Benefits?". Time. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
- ↑ Barrett, Stephen (9 March 2006). "Massage Therapy: Riddled with Quackery". Quackwatch. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
