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Traditional
Thai Massage |
Rusi-
Dut Ton or Thai ancient gentle exercise of self-Massage)
Thais love the arts of fighting like boxing and
fencing, so when some injuries or accidents occurred,
they learned how to cure themselves from pain
using body twisting and self massaging (and later
developing this further to traditional massage
until it became a theory). Moreover massaging
is a way of treating sickness, when tired and
weak.
Thai
massage consists of two kinds: the Royal pattern
and Folk pattern. The latter one developed from
the massage in the family circle: children rubbed,
pressed or stood-on or twisted the body their
father, mother or grandfather and grandmother
to less the pain of old age. This created closeness
and warmth among the family as well as putting
everyone in a good mind. The Royal pattern was
developed from the folk style tosuitably apply
it to the King and his Royal lineage. It is
more respectfull in its approach, and it also
uses hot compresses of herbs as part of a "perfect
treatment".
Massage is one of the precious arts of Thai
Medication, it is the custom of taking care
of ach other when getting sick. The details
of which have been inscribed on the stones at
Phrachetupon Vimolmangkalaram Buddhist temple
(Wat Po), Bangkok, Thailand.
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Herbal
Steaming |
| Body
steamed with herbs is another way of treatment
for sore bodies. Experiences like the hot treatment
given to mothers after giving birth (1), who sit
in a tent made of cloth whilst a boiled pot of
herbs is placed inside the tent. The new mother
can inhale herb vapor and at the same time steam
herself to remove toxins. This was believed to
help blood circulation, freshen and smooth the
skin and so it later became more popular among
everyday people, and not just new mothers.
There
are two kinds of steaming: ‘dry steaming’ or so-called
‘sauna’ which is similar to Thai hot treatment.
The second kind is ‘wet steaming’. This was developed
from steaming in a tent to steaming in a room
where more than one person at a time can enjoy
the experience of having the steam of boiling
herbs piped into the room. Body steaming is now
accepted by modern medicine as helping with blood
and lymph circulation while herbs help in accordiance
with their specific properties.
| (1)
After delivery, mother will clean herself
with salt and herbs to cure body and skin,
and receive some natural herbs to heal the
inside of her body. For hot treatment, mother
will lay down on a small bed made of bamboo
or rattan and place under the low bed a container
with burning charcoal. Some herbs are added
to the charcoal and the smoke of herbs will
drift over the mother’s body, making her body
warm. The heat and vapor will stimulate the
squeezing womb to return to its normal stage.
this helps the mother to have good health
and reduces the risk of womb cancer in the
future. |
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