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Traditional & natural medicine

Thai traditional medicine

การแพทย์แผนไทย

Thailand's own system of healthcare, combining herbal medicine, therapeutic massage, midwifery and a theory of the body's four elements.

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Origin

Thailand, drawing on Indian Ayurvedic and Buddhist thought

History

Herbal remedies in use before the Sukhothai period (before 1238); formalised through the Ayutthaya and early Bangkok eras

Licence in Thailand

Required

01

Where it comes from

Thai traditional medicine (การแพทย์แผนไทย) is the healing system that served as Thailand's main form of healthcare until the early 20th century. Thai people were already using herbal medicine before the Sukhothai period, and the system grew through the Ayutthaya era (1350–1767). King Narai (1656–1688) commissioned the first official textbook of Thai drug recipes. After Ayutthaya fell in 1767, the early Bangkok kings worked to revive the tradition, and more than 1,000 recipes were inscribed on stone tablets at Wat Pho and Wat Raja Oros.

As Western medicine spread, systematic teaching of Thai medicine in a medical school ended in 1916, and laws in 1923 and 1936 weakened the position of traditional practitioners. A revival began in the late 1970s with government policy on medicinal plants in primary care, followed by new foundations and institutes in the 1980s. In 2002 the Ministry of Public Health created a dedicated department, today the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine.

Thai traditional medicine is usually described as four branches: diagnosis and treatment (Thai medicine), Thai pharmacy (preparing herbal remedies), therapeutic Thai massage, and Thai midwifery, which covers pregnancy, birth, postpartum and newborn care.

02

The principle

The system draws on Ayurvedic and Buddhist ideas. The body is understood as made of four elements, called thaat (ธาตุ): earth, water, wind and fire. Illness is seen as an imbalance between these elements, and each person is thought to have a dominant 'birth element' linked to the time of conception.

Treatment aims to restore balance, mainly with herbal medicines and manual therapy. Thai massage works along energy lines called sen, and practitioners may add heated herbal compresses (luk prakob). These are traditional explanations; they are not the same as how modern medicine describes the body.

What people come for

  • Help with muscle and joint aches, the most common reason for visits in public clinics
  • Rehabilitation support as part of a care team, for example for people with weakness or paralysis
  • Traditional postpartum care for new mothers
  • Advice on Thai herbal remedies, some of which are on Thailand's essential medicines list
  • Relaxation and general well-being through massage and herbal compresses
03

How it works on the body

Care combines an assessment based on the four elements with herbal medicines and hands-on therapy.

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04

A session, step by step

  1. 01

    Consultation

    The practitioner asks about your symptoms, history and habits, and may examine the painful area.

  2. 02

    Traditional assessment

    Your condition is interpreted through the four-element theory to decide on a treatment plan.

  3. 03

    Hands-on treatment

    Depending on the plan, you may receive therapeutic Thai massage, a heated herbal compress, or both.

  4. 04

    Herbal remedies

    You may be prescribed Thai herbal medicines, such as turmeric or plai preparations, with instructions on how to take them.

  5. 05

    Follow-up advice

    The practitioner may suggest diet, rest or self-care steps and a date to come back.

Precautions

  • Tell both your doctor and your Thai medicine practitioner about every medicine and herbal product you take, as herbs can interact with medication.
  • Herbal products vary in quality: a review found microbial contamination in 7 of 16 community-made herbal products tested, and cadmium in one. Choose registered products from licensed providers.
  • Skin rashes or hives from herbal compresses have been reported; stop if your skin reacts, and avoid hot compresses on broken or numb skin.
  • If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have a chronic illness or bleeding problem, ask your doctor first.
  • Do not use Thai traditional medicine to delay seeing a doctor for new, severe or worsening symptoms.

Complementary practice: does not replace medical advice.

05

In Thailand

Thai traditional medicine is part of the public health system. The Thai Traditional Medical Professions Act B.E. 2556 (2013) regulates the profession through the Thai Traditional Medical Council, which certifies schools, runs licensing exams and registers practitioners. Practitioners in the health system hold a Thai traditional medicine or applied Thai traditional medicine licence; applicants qualify either through a degree from a Council-certified institution or through a non-degree route. Community health-promoting hospitals employ these practitioners, mostly offering Thai massage and Thai herbal medicines for muscle and joint problems, and herbal compress is covered by the national health security systems. Universities such as Mahidol's Siriraj hospital run applied Thai medicine programmes and clinics. When choosing a provider, ask to see their licence.

Frequently asked questions

Is Thai traditional medicine the same as Thai massage?

No. Thai massage is one of four branches. The others are diagnosis and treatment with herbal medicine, Thai pharmacy and Thai midwifery.

Is it recognised by the Thai government?

Yes. It is regulated by law since 2013, practitioners are licensed, and many public hospitals and health centres offer it.

Does the scientific evidence support it?

Evidence is limited. For example, a 2015 review of herbal compress found it performed about as well as anti-inflammatory drugs for knee and muscle pain, but most studies were small and of low quality.

Can I take Thai herbal medicines with my regular medication?

Only after checking with your doctor or pharmacist, and tell your Thai medicine practitioner what you already take.

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Sources

  1. He K. Traditional Chinese and Thai medicine in a comparative perspective. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2015 (PMC7134758)
  2. Siriraj Center of Applied Thai Traditional Medicine (Mahidol University) – Our history and the four branches of Thai traditional medicine
  3. Pooma S., Angsusingha G. Situation of Thai Traditional Medicine Services at Tambon Health Promoting Hospitals. Journal of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM), 2016/2017
  4. Dhippayom T. et al. Clinical Effects of Thai Herbal Compress: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2015 (PMC4377500)
  5. UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage – Nuad Thai, traditional Thai massage (2019)
  6. Chittaraharnya A. Legal Problems Concerning the Control of Professional Practice of Thai Traditional Medicine. Journal of the Association of Researchers, 2022 (Thai Traditional Medical Professions Act 2013, Thai Traditional Medical Council)