The causes of illness in traditional Thai medicine.

by Diego Marquete

In traditional Thai medicine, the causes of illness are classified as: natural, unnatural, and karmic. Among the natural causes, six are described: imbalance of the elements; change of season; changes caused by age; changes related to the time of day, i.e., failure to perform activities according to the circadian rhythm; changes in climate and region in which we live; and daily routine habits that are detrimental to health.

The imbalance of the elements is the core principle that guides the therapeutic choice of points and approach in Thai massage, and all other forms of imbalance are interconnected with the state of the elements, influencing or being influenced by them.

Besides natural causes of illness, there are also unnatural and karmic causes. Unnatural causes include spiritual beliefs from Thai culture, rich in mystical subjects such as ghosts and spirits, which, through possession or simply by their nearby presence, affect the wind element.

The Thai people have a strong belief in ghosts and spirits, and it is common to build small shrines in front of their buildings, called "houses of spirits." These serve as shrines to pay respect to former residents and spirits that may be in that place.

Another unnatural form of illness is through connection with deities and broken promises. Magic is a third unnatural form of illness, and one that many fear in Thailand. As a fourth unnatural form, there are injuries caused by firearms, directly affecting the earth element. The fifth cause is accidents. Accidents such as falls, punctures, or other forms of bodily injury that unbalance the earth element. As a sixth and final unnatural cause of illness, there are poisonings, with the unbalanced element being defined according to the type of poisoning.

Buddhism, present in medical culture, is reflected in the concept of karma in medicine. According to Buddhists, every action performed generates merit, which is called punya. The result of these merits is called karma. Karma is not a punishment; it can be good or bad, depending on the merits generated by our thoughts, words, and actions.

Past karma refers to the result of actions and decisions made in a past life. Present karma is the result of actions more recent in this life, and both can be causes of illness and interference in the flow of vital energy.