Associate Professor Dr. Panee Sirisa-ard
Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University
In this study, indigenous Thai traditional medicine documented in palm-leaf manuscripts and mulberry-paper manuscripts from many sources in Northern Thailand were revised and analyzed. It was found that the medicaments are mostly formulated into compound medicines using raw materials of herb, animal and mineral components. The ingredients can be formulated into 34 forms according to the methods of usage. Many parts of medicinal plants can be used, depending on their properties (hot, cold or neutral). The treatments include element analysis and many popular formulas, such as YAKAEHATON and YATUSSAMUNE, are referenced. It was found that curing procedures include spiritual rituals to expel bad luck and for longevity to extend a patient’s life. The Buddhist way of explanation of illness also is essential. Ritual is used in compounding and collecting medicinal plants. The revision and translation of manuscripts have been extended to the young generation to learn the local wisdom. The contents of the manuscripts and the methods for studying palm-leaf manuscripts and mulberry-paper manuscripts are available in electronic format at www.thrai.sci.ku.ac.th. The 200 working treatment formulas gathered from folk healers in Chiang Mai, Lampang and Lampoon Province have been officially offered to be used in the National Pharmacopoeia of Thai Traditional Medicine. Based on this study, indigenous knowledge of Thai-Lanna traditional medicine can be developed, especially in the field of pharmacy, in order to learn and rejuvenate folk medicine, which is a sector of self-care for public health benefit. However, more studies on its full application and potential are still needed.
(Presented in the 2017 Chulalongkorn Thai-Tai Heritage Forum: Healing and Herbal Medicine (การรักษาโรคกับการใช้ยาสมุนไพรในวัฒนธรรมไทย-ไท), 22-23 June 2017, Le Meridien Chiang Mai Hotel, Chiang Mai, organized by the Empowering Network for International Thai and ASEAN Studies, Institute of Thai Studies, Chulalongkorn University, Lanna Studies Center, Faculty of humanities ,Chiang Mai University and Thai Language Department, School of Liberal Arts Mae Fah Luang University)