Study on the examination, diagnosis and treatment based on the theories of 10 main energy lines (sen prathan sib) and elements (tard) of Thai massage therapists

The objectives of this study were to observe the procedures of examination, diagnosis and treatment based on the 10 main energy lines ( sen prathan sib ) theory and the element ( tard ) theory of Thai traditional massage pratised by Thai massage therapists and to compare the diagnosis performed by Thai massage therapists with that performed by modern medical doctors. The study was carried out on 200 volunteers selected according to 12 groups of symptoms from outpatients at Abhaibhubejhr Hospital with the help of the assistants of Thai massage therapists in screening and documenting the initial case history before referring to the modern doctor for the examination and diagnosis; after that the volunteers were sent to six Thai massage therapists for examination, diagnosis, treatment and evaluation of the treatment.  The study showed that Thai massage therapists had two different techniques of examination related to the 10 main energy lines: one was pressing on the origin of the 10 main energy lines and the other was pressing on the affected area to determine whether the affected area was related to which main energy line. Whereas the diagnosis based on the theory of elements showed that most of the volunteers (49.5%) were diagnosed with the vitiation of earth element (tard din pikarn) and 29.5% with the vitiation of wind element (tard lom pikarn). By comparison, Thai massage therapists diagnosed the volunteers according to the symptoms and the areas with the presenting symptoms whereas modern medical doctors diagnosed according to the cause of illness or sometime according to the symptoms.  Regarding the treatment, Thai massage therapists treated the volunteers by pressing on the points on the affected main energy lines, but each therapist had a different technique for the massage. Apart from Thai massage, other supplementary techniques were also used such as fomentation with herbal poultice (14.5%). Some doctors also advised the volunteers about the regimen to be followed.