"Thai Spa" at EVR
~ "Traditional Thai Massage" ~

Traditional Thai Massage is a deep, full-body treatment, that is both stimulating and relaxing. Pressure-point massage along the body's ten major energy channels or "sen" lines releases blocked energy, increasing awareness and vitality. Gentle stretching of the joints and muscles relieves tension, enhances flexibility, and induces a deep state of tranquility. Traditional Thai Massage is like nothing else in the world of massage - it must be experienced to truly appreciate its rejuvenating and healing benefits.

The Thai massage provided by the Thai therapists at Echo Valley Ranch and Spa is the Chaloeisak method of Thai massage. This method, which uses various parts of the body to apply the massage, such as the elbows, knees, and hands, has been practiced in Thailand since ancient times.

Knowledge of the Chaloeisak method can be found inscribed in marble on display at the Wat Po Temple and is taught to students of massage by the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, a department of the Thailand Ministry of Public Health. A person who trains in Thai massage to become an expert can treat a variety of ailments.

"Thai massage" is part of the Ancient Wisdom of Traditional Thai Medicine

Thai massage is a priceless treasure of the Thai people with a history that spans a very long period of time. This can be seen in the fact that massage has had an important role in treating illnesses from ancient times until today.

Human history in Thailand dates back not just thousands of years, but hundreds of thousands of years.

Evidence of Pleistocene cultures, dating from 600,000 to 130,000 B.C. has been found in various parts of the country, from Lampang in the north to Krabi in the south. Flake and pebble tools, dating back to the Proto-Hoabinhian era, from 140,000 to 13,000 B.C. have also been found, while the earliest Hoabinhian tools discovered in caves in Mae Hong Son in the northern region, date from 9700 to 6000. More sophisticated tools like the polished adze and the edge-ground knife, dating back to approximately 6800 B.C., have also been discovered.

In addition to tools and weapons, there is also evidence that ancient cultures in Thailand had developed the use of medicines. Fossils of herbs known to have a very bitter or spicy taste have been found in caves, leading archaeologists to conclude that they were used for the treatment of illnesses.

With thousands of indigenous species of plants and herbs, and an astonishing variety of fruits and vegetables, it is no wonder that ancient Thais developed a tradition of medicine based on the bounty of nature. Traditional Thai medicine is a natural, holistic approach to health and well-being, developed over thousands of years, which includes proper nutrition, physical exercise, the use of medicinal herbs and therapeutic massage. Traditional Thai medicine is not only concerned with curing diseases and ailments. Its primary goal is maintaining health and well-being, as ancient Thais believed that "the absence of illness is the best blessing". The medical knowledge developed by Thai people through many generations has come to be known as the "ancient wisdom" of Thailand.

Traditional Thai medicine is a form of primary health care, practiced within the family, as Thai people have historically preferred to be cared for at home when they are sick, rather than in a hospital. Knowledge of how to treat various diseases and illnesses was originally passed down from generation to generation by word of mouth, but by the time of the Sukhotai era, from 1240 to 1320, medical information was preserved on stone inscriptions. During the Ayutthaya period, from 1350 to 1767, koi and sah tree leaves, as well as palm leaves were used to record and preserve the "ancient wisdom" of traditional Thai medicine.

Even before the Sukhotai era, which saw the establishment of an independent Thai kingdom following the overthrow of the Khmer regime, many towns and states had been created - and the practice of medicine was already well established. Historical evidence in letters and tales passed down through the years indicates that individuals who practiced medicine accompanied communities when entire towns or cities relocated. In one account, recorded in stone inscriptions, 500 medical practitioners, warriors and monks accompanied the king when he sought refuge from his enemies.

There is also ample evidence that medical knowledge in Thailand was highly advanced during the Ayutthaya period. Manuscripts of medical texts reveal that several sub-specialties had already been developed. There were separate departments for masters of massage, experts in the use of medications, and eye specialists, among others. Thai medical practitioners had also developed specific information on diseases afflicting women and children during this time.

In the latter part of the Ayutthaya era, King Narai the Great (1655-88) assembled over 80 volumes of medical texts, which are still extant. Of the 80 texts which were collected, 75 were written by Thais, while the remaining 5 were written by visitors from Portugal, France, China and India. During this period, important medical knowledge, as well as other important information, was displayed in temples throughout Thailand. People could come from surrounding areas to gather knowledge at the temples, known as "wats", and then return to their village to share it with friends and relatives.

After the capital city of Ayuthhaya was destroyed in 1767, a new capital was established in Bangkok, in 1782. During the reign of King Rama III, from 1824 to 1851, medical documents from all across the country were brought together by the four sons of King Taksin, at Thailand's oldest and largest temple, Wat Phra Cheptuphon in Bangkok, popularly known as Wat Po. Originally founded during the 16th century, Wat Po was a favourite of the Chakri kings who reigned during the Ayutthaya period, but it was King Rama III who was Wat Po's greatest benefactor, turning it into a form of open university. Information on such diverse subjects as warfare, astrology, botany and history, as well as medicine, was collected at Wat Po, and displayed through inscriptions on the marble walls.

Visitors to Wat Po can still learn much about the fascinating history of traditional Thai medicine. Diagrams inscribed on the walls at Wat Po illustrate one of the fundamental principles of traditional Thai medicine, that is, that energy flows through the body along ten major channels or sen lines. If an obstruction occurs in any of these channels, it is believed, pain or disease results. In this sense, traditional Thai medicine is similar to many other ancient healing systems, which believed that illness was caused by an imbalance or obstruction in the individual, rather than by an invasion of the body by a microorganism.

Ancient Thais treated a number of ailments by using massage to restore the flow of energy throughout the body. Traditional Thai massage is a deep, full-body treatment, which includes both stretching of the joints and muscles, and applied pressure to the sen lines. Thai people used massage not only to treat illnesses, but to maintain health and well-being as well.

Also on display at Wat Po are 24 statues depicting the positions of Ruesri Dat Ton. A series of postures and stretches which bear some similarities to Indian yoga, though there is no historical connection between the development of yoga and Thai Ruesri Dat Ton. The Thai exercise regimen is believed to have been developed by religious hermits, who needed a method of restoring flexibility and vitality after meditating in one position for a long period of time. There were originally 80 positions in Ruesri-dat-ton, but only 24 statues remain at Wat Po, as the others were either stolen or destroyed through the years. And while the resemblance to yoga remains, the differences are, in fact, more striking. Ruesri Dat Ton postures are gentler, and more consistent with the body's natural movements. Hence, the 80 positions of Ruesri-dat-ton are easily accessible by an individual of average ability.

The Ruesri-dat-ton statues at Wat Po provide further insight into the evolution of traditional Thai massage. Among the various postures and stretches depicted are several which show an individual applying pressure to points along his own sen lines. For this reason, it is believed that Ruesri-dat-ton was a precursor to Thai massage, as when someone was unable to reach a pressure point himself, he would ask a friend or relative to assist him.

Although it is impossible to establish just how old the practice of traditional Thai massage is, the oldest historical reference was found on stone inscriptions at Pa Mamuang, dating back to the Sukhotai era (1240-1320) in the period of King Ramkamhaeng. By the time of the Ayutthaya period (1350-1767) massage was clearly very highly regarded. In the military and civilian registry for the year 1455, which was a list of all of the king's noblemen, showing their social status measured in acres of paddy land, the massage department was quite large, with two divisions, and had more practitioners than any of the other medical departments. Later, under the reign of King Trailokanart, professional Thai masseurs were accorded ranks commensurate with senior military officers.

The attainment of prestigious positions within the royal court by professional masseurs during the Ayutthaya period may be seen as the high point in the history of traditional Thai massage. For many centuries before, it was practiced by family members upon each other. Husbands massaged their wives, wives massaged their husbands, and children massaged their parents and grandparents. Massage techniques included the use of elbows, knees and feet. As family masseurs and masseuses gained skill and confidence, they were called upon to massage ailing neighbours in their villages, and the profession of massage therapist was born.

Simon de la Loubere, a French envoy to Siam from 1687-88, observed in his memoir that when Thai people were ill, they would be treated by massaging various areas of the body, or by a "step massage', in which a child would walk on their body. La Loubere also reported that Thai people used a considerable variety of herbal medicines, with mixtures that had been handed down through many generations, and were reluctant to change their methods, even when foreigners tried to persuade them to. He noted as well that Thai people used heat as a way of maintaining health and treating illness, and were known to warm themselves by the fire, or to place heated pots and salt containers on their bodies, a conspicuous practice in a warm country. As the use of saunas and steam baths to promote health and well-being has gained acceptance throughout the western world, appreciation for the wisdom of ancient Thai people has also increased.

And, as the practice of Thai massage gained acceptance at the highest level of Thai society during the Ayutthaya era (The King appointed his own massage specialists) the ancient healing art underwent significant changes. When performed upon members of the royal family, Thai massage was no longer an intimate, familial experience. The use of elbows, feet and knees was deemed inappropriate for the royal family, and so a second strain of Thai massage, using only hands, was developed. Providing the same quality of treatment using only hands was much harder work for the masseur, and required a higher level of skill. The technique of massaging the royal family was constantly being refined, and only the most polite and skilful masseurs had the honour of taking on this responsibility. The strain of massage using only hands came to be known as "royal massage", while the traditional form of Thai massage, using hands, knees, elbows and feet, was called "folk massage".

In addition to "royal" and "folk" massage, traditional Thai medicine also included the use of the luk pra kob or herbal bag. The luk pra kob is a blend of medicinal herbs, wrapped in cotton, which is applied to the body as a hot or cold compress, for the relief of pain and inflammation, and to nourish and soften the skin. Used for centuries by Thai people, the luk pra kob is another example of the "ancient wisdom" of Thailand. In traditional Thai medicine, herbs were not only applied externally, but taken internally for the treatment of many ailments.

Misconceptions

Although Thai people preserved much of their medical knowledge in manuscripts and artifacts dating as far back as the 13th century, many of the foreign writers who attempted to record the history of traditional Thai medicine either did not have access to these texts, or if they did, were unable to understand the ancient Thai language. Hence, a number of misconceptions developed, which were promulgated through the years.

One of the most persistent of these misconceptions is that traditional Thai medicine originated in India or China and was taught to Thai people by foreign doctors. There is no historical evidence to indicate that any medical practitioners were ever sent to Thailand from China or India. Nor is there any evidence that traditional Thai massage was influenced by Chinese or Indian massage practitioners. On the contrary, the historical evidence reveals that traditional Thai massage is an authentic healing art developed by Thai people over thousands of years.

Because much of the information regarding Thai massage was collected at temples, another serious misconception developed, namely, that Thai massage was originally practiced and taught by monks. The rules of conduct for monks makes this claim impossible, as monks are not permitted to touch a woman at all, even for the purpose of giving a massage. The only exception is for a person who is gravely ill, in which case touching the body is regarded as an ethical and humanitarian act. Hence, while it was possible for monks to study Thai medicine, there were strict limitations on their ability to perform therapeutic massage.

Nor should the fact that there is information on massage in Thai temples be construed as proof that traditional Thai massage and Buddhism developed together. There is no evidence in the Phra Tai Pri Dok religious texts, that Buddha made any references whatsoever to the practice of massage.

Cause of decline in respect for Thai massage

During the late 19th and 20th century, the practice of traditional Thai medicine, and of Thai massage, began to fall into disfavour within the royal court, and the Thai medical establishment. The primary cause of this was the introduction of western medical practices in Thailand. The art of royal massage played no role in the court of King Rama V (1868-1910) or VI (1910-1925), although in the countryside, traditional village massage therapists continued to practice and pass down their knowledge.

During the 1960's, further damage was done to the reputation of traditional Thai massage. Up until this time, nightclubs, bars and European spas were uncommon in Thailand, as temples were the main centers of recreation. But as American soldiers came across the Mekong River to escape from the stresses of the Viet Nam conflict, prostitution in the Sampeng district of Bangkok flourished, mostly through refugee women from China. These women did not have Thai passports, and were not permitted to work legally in Thailand. To support themselves, they established "tea houses", known as Rong Num Cha, in which visitors could have tea, a bath, and sexual services. Historically, Thai women were not involved in prostitution, and those engaged in "free sex" were chastised, and banished from their families.

As more western-style hotels were built in Thailand, and European-style spas were introduced, massage services performed upon undressed clients, using massage oils, were offered. Inevitably, young Thai women became caught up in the burgeoning sex trade too, as many were lured or sold into prostitution. While the services offered may have been called "Thai massage", they bore no resemblance whatsoever to traditional Thai massage, known as nued boran, which is performed upon a fully-clothed client, and were perhaps, more closely linked to Swedish massage techniques. But that too, is unfair, as what was really being sold were sexual services, under the guise of massage.

Thailand call to action

By the early 1990's, the Thai government became aware that a very valuable and indigenous body of "ancient wisdom" was being ignored by the medical establishment and health care system, though it continued to play an important role in rural communities. In 1993, the Ministry of Public Health established the Institute of Traditional Thai Medicine with the mandate to restore and preserve the "ancient wisdom" of Thailand, and integrate it with modern medical services. Dr. Pennapa Subcharoen M.D. was appointed Director of the Institute.

The daughter of a traditional Thai medical practitioner, Dr. Pennapa, as she is known, is both a medical doctor and an historian. She has a P.H.D. from Songkla University, and wrote her thesis on the theory and practice of traditional Thai medicine. In 2002, the Ministry of Health in Thailand promoted the Institute to departmental status within the ministry, and named Dr. Pennapa the Deputy Director- General of the new Department for Development of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine.

One of Dr. Pennapa's first priorities was the development of a study program in traditional Thai massage that would restore the dignity and purity of the ancient healing art, and establish an internationally recognized standard of excellence for traditional Thai massage practitioners. The result of Dr. Pennapa's efforts includes the 800-hour, Professional Thai Massage Study Program, currently offered at the Department's training and educational center in Bangkok. The first graduates of the program received their certificates, signed by the Thailand Ministry of Health, in the fall of 2001.

Source of knowledge

Dr. Pennapa Subcharoen M.D. studied the history of Thai massage for many years. To be able to do this she had to be able to read many books and texts in the old Thai language and take the time and interest to search back through the various sources of data and knowledge. None of this has ever been done in such depth by any of the foreign writers who visited Thailand. The history that is being presented to you is the work of a qualified historian, the first Thai to make such work available outside of Thailand.

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