Thai Traditional Medicine
แพทย์แผนไทย
During an internship with Abhaibhubehjr College of Thai Traditional Medicine in 2015, I had the privilege of meeting the healer featured below in Prachinburi province, Thailand. Practitioners of Thai Traditional Medicine are often called mor baan (หมอบ้าน), and use a variety of treatment methods involving herbology and bodywork.
The mor baan pictured below uses a technique known as nuad yeab cha (นวดเหยียบฉ่า), which involves dipping the bottom of one’s foot in oil and striking it against a hot piece of iron before using it to massage the patient.
Nuad yeab cha | นวดเหยียบฉ่า
Before massaging the patient, this mor baan first dipped his heel in sesame oil, then struck it against an iron tool once used for rice cultivation which had been heated over open coals.
According to the patient’s mother, her son had been involved in a motorbike accident that left him completely paralyzed. He was told by doctors within the medical system that he would never move independently again.
However, after several months of nuad yeab cha, the patient was able to hold himself upright, lift his head, and make other small movements with his arms.
