The Spiritual Healing of
Traditional Thailand
By C. Pierce Salguero
Findhorn Press, 2006
143 pp., $19.95
Thailand,
in relation to health, has been in the news recently as part of the
phenomenon of medical tourism: patients from the west traveling there to
obtain treatments at a fraction of the price that one would pay, say, in
the United States. However,
The Spiritual Healing of Traditional Thailand, focuses on
traditional Thai medicine that originate from Buddhist teachings that
are thousands of years old.
At the basis of Thai healing is
the Circle of Life, which says that three essences are always present
and are interconnected: body, citta, and energy. Citta
translates into mind-heart, and if I understand the author correctly, in
other systems of medicines might be the equivalent of prana or
chi. One cannot have an imbalance in one area without the others
being affected. Traditional Thai healing might include herbal teas or
soothing saunas as part of the treatment.
To fully understand Thai
medicine, one must become familiar with Thai Buddhism. This is not the
same Mahayana Buddhism that one finds in China, for example. The
Buddhism discussed in this text is an early form called Theravada
(Teaching of the Elders). The author, Salguero, goes on to explain the
basic premises of this branch of Buddhism and even outlines two
meditations, a mindfulness of breathing meditation and the loving
kindness practice. Salguero goes on to explain that meditation is
usually learned by having a teacher, and these exercises are meant to
give the reader only a general idea of some healing meditations.
This text has literally dozens
and dozens of gorgeous color pictures that are worth the price of this
book alone. By the way, 10% of the author’s proceeds from the sale of
this book are donated to charities working with healthcare in Thailand.
The photos in some chapters depict Buddhist shrines. The author has
spent much time and care in showing what a traditional Thai altar – a
must for any healing work to take place – looks like. Photos of
laughing Buddhas with big bellies are explained not to be what one is
searching for when one is constructing their Thai altars, and drawings
are included to show the proper arrangement of candles, offerings, and
the centerpiece Buddhist icon.
A whole chapter is spent on
healing amulets, and what is interesting is that many of these include
healing tattoos which the men traditionally wear. A yan, or
mystical picture, is often incorporated into a tattoo and the artist
doing the inking will chant appropriately while administrating the
design.
There are two prior books in
this series which I’ve not seen:
Encyclopedia of Thai Massage and
A Thai Herbal. I would like to read both now having read
and enjoyed this, the latest one. Salguero includes other books and
sources in an “Additional Reading” segment at the end of each chapter
and, again, the photographs are quite lovely to look at. I recommend
this book to those who want to learn more about Buddhism as well as
those who would like to learn more about different systems of healing.
The Spiritual Healing of Traditional Thailand, by
C. Pierce Salguero, Findhorn Press, 2006, 143 pp., $19.95
Review by Diane Saarinen
