| Nuad Thai, traditional Thai massage | |
|---|---|
| Country | Thailand |
| Reference | 01384 |
| Region | Asia and the Pacific |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 2019 (14th session) |
| List | Representative |
Traditional Thai massage orThai yoga massage is a traditional therapy combiningacupressure, IndianAyurvedic principles, and assisted yoga postures.[1] In theThai language, it is usually callednuat phaen thai (Thai:นวดแผนไทย,pronounced[nûatpʰɛ̌ːntʰāj]; lit. 'Thai-style massage') ornuat phaen boran (นวดแผนโบราณ,[nûatpʰɛ̌ːnbōː.rāːn]; lit. 'ancient-style massage'), though its formal name isnuat thai (นวดไทย,[nûattʰāj]; lit. 'Thai massage') according to the Traditional Thai Medical Professions Act, BE 2556 (2013).[2]
UNESCO added traditional Thai massage to itsCultural Heritage of Humanity list in December 2019.[3][4][5]
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Traditional Thai massage combines broad and focusedacupressure along energy lines calledsen, IndianAyurvedic principles, and assisted yoga postures.[1] Oils and lotions are generally not used, and the recipient wears lightweight and loose clothing during treatment. There is constant body contact between the giver and receiver, but rather than simply rubbing on muscles, the body is compressed, pulled, stretched and rocked.[6] The concept of metta (loving-kindness), based on Buddhist teachings, is an integral part of this practice. Well-known practitioners also emphasize meditation on the part of the practitioner as integral to the effectiveness of this practice.[7]
Thai massage, likeThai traditional medicine (TTM), is a combination of influences from Indian and Southeast Asian traditions of medicine, and the art as it is practiced today is likely to be the product of a 19th-century synthesis of various healing traditions from all over the kingdom.[8] Historically, during theSukhothai period, there was an evidence of Thai massage in the stone inscription atWat Pa Mamuang, which mentioned the use of massage for treating illnesses. Moreover, in theAyutthaya period, the department of traditional massage was established, and medical practitioners were categorized according to their specific expertise.
The spirit intermediary of traditional Thai massage and Thai medicine isJīvaka (ชีวกโกมารภัจจ์ Jīvaka Komarabhācca), who is said in the PāliBuddhist canon to have been theBuddha's physician over 2,500 years ago. He was recorded in ancient documents as having extraordinary medical skills, for his knowledge of herbal medicine, and for having treated important people of his day, including the Buddha himself.[9][10]
TheThai Ministry of Public Health's Department for Development of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine regulates Thai traditional massage venues and practitioners. As of 2016[update] the department says 913 traditional clinics have been registered nationwide in Thailand.[11] As of 2018[update], of the 8,000 to 10,000 spa and massage shops in Thailand. Only 4,228 are certified by the Health Ministry's Department of Health Service Support (HSS).[12]
A licensed, traditional massage practitioner is required to complete at least 800 hours training.[11] Massage therapists must acquire a professional license and must register at the Public Health Ministry's Department of Health Service Support (HSS). To qualify for a license, therapists must be trained in courses created by the HSS. The standard courses are provided free. Alternatively, students can go to one of the 181 schools nationwide approved to train therapists using standard HSS courses.[12]
Wat Pho, the center of Thai medicine and massage for centuries, opened the Wat Pho Thai Traditional Medical and Massage School in 1955 on the temple grounds, the first such school approved by the Thai Ministry of Education. Wat Pho offers four basic courses of Thai medicine: Thai massage, Thai midwife-nurse, Thai pharmacy, and Thai medical practice.[13] Thai massage is also taught and practiced in other countries.[14] In 2005,Thai Healing Alliance International (THAI) began to acknowledge Registered Thai Therapists (RTT) and Instructors around the world who met basic standards of study and practice. Today, THAI serves the general public as the largestonline library of information and research about traditional Thai massage and Thai healing arts.
All types of massage, including Thai massage, can help people relax, temporarily relieve muscle or joint pain, and temporarily boost a person's mood. However, many practitioners' claims go far beyond those effects well demonstrated by clinical study.[15] Some clinicians dispute its efficacy.[16]
