Authentic Thai Traditional Massage and Foot Massage
Dr. Pennapa Subcharocn,M.D.
Director, the National Institute of Thai Traditional Medicine
The History of Thai Traditional Massage
Thai Traditional massage was a valuable and indigenous wisdom of thai ancestor. It was seen that Thai massage
had an important role for treatment from past until now. It was believed that Thai massage was originated to cure by
themselves within the family, for example, husband giving massage to his wife, children giving massage to their parents
and grandparents. They gave a massage by using some parts of the body such as elbows, knees and feet to self-massage.
In addition, Thai-style exercising (Rue See Dad Ton) was used to adjust anatomy by oneself easily.The development of
massage instrument was to assist better such as "Nom-saow" and wooden stick for massage. Due to the fact that they had
a skill of massage within the family, they could give a massage to neighbors. Finally the clients or patients trusted that
Thai massage was popular, efficient and respectable curing, it became one of the famous occupations.
From the historical evidence of the oldest massage on the stone inscirption. It was found that Thai massage was to treat
some illnesses from Sukhothai period in the reign of King RamKamheang. However, Thai traditional medicine especially
Thai massage was the most prosperous in Ayutthaya peroid in the reign of King Narai. The evidence of Lalubaire's
dispatch indicated that the Siamese used Thai massage to cure some illnesses, to relieve pain or to give birth easily.
Rattanakosin period, Thai traditional medicine was descended from Ayutthaya period. During the war some document and
textbooks were vanished, however, a lot of flok healers still existed in the rural area. In the reign of King Rama I, 80 statues of
hermit, Thai-style exercising and the inscription of thai traditional massage were created at Wat Po (Medical School).
In the reign of King Rama IV, the texbooks of Thai traditional massage and traditional medicine were reviewed ade revised.
After western medicine came into Thai society in the reign of King Rama VI, Thai traditional massage had been neglected
from the royal palace. But folk massage had still an important role for villagers.
Thai traditional massage was continuously evolved and developed. Currenty, Thai traditional massage is devided to two
patterns; royal Thai massage and folk massage.
Royal Thai massage refers to massage which applying to King, his royal family and his aristocracy. It is considered that
royal Thai massage is very nice because ti uses only hands and fingers to control the weight of massage, directly pressed
on the pain point. It is said that its characteristic is special unique and the masseur must be expertise and know the theory of
10 Sen, the concept of invisible energy lines running through the body. Royal Thai massage conists of basic massage, arms
basic massage (outer and inner arms), shoulders basic massage, massage to Trapezius, head massage (front and back head),
massage to rectus abdonminis
Folk massage refers to massage which applying wihtin the family or general public. It is said that its characteristic depends
on local culture. It is suitable for villagers to massage each other by using hands, elbows,kneees, forehands and the edge of
feet, So, folk massage is well known and widespread in Thai society for a long time.
The Differences between folk massage and royal massage
Boht folk and royal massage are similar to the principle of treatment : diseases and illnesses, however, the effects
of treatment are different.
Folk massage : before the masseur starts giving a massage, he must pay respect to the patient in order to ask for
permission to touch the patient's body. The masseur then begins to massage from feet up to knees, upper legs, stomach, back
shoulders, nape of the neck and head.
Royal massage : the masseur must walk with both knees and hands beside the body toward the patient. Then, he/she
sits with legs folded sideways in a distance of 35 cms. far from the patient. The masseur next respect and ask for permission the
patient. After the masseur tests the wrist pulse and foot pulse on the same side (right or left) in order to check the symptom, he/she
begins to massage. Therefore, royal massage may be similar to folk massage, but the position of placing his/her hands and the
posture of masseur are different from that of folk massage, Foyal massage is more polite pattern and more efficient in treatment.
In addition, royal massage is used to cure some symptoms such as muscle pain, headache, bone disease, illness from blood
circulation and treating for the loosened joint causing from the accident.
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