What is TTM?

Traditional Thai Medicine (TTM) is an officially recognized part of the healthcare system in Thailand today. Every formally trained TTM practitioner is required by the government to study a standardized curriculum, which typically includes one year of classes to become a traditional pharmacist and another two years to become a full physician. The arts of therapeutic massage (nuad boran or nuad phaen boran) or traditional midwifery (pradung kahn) can be taken during a fourth, optional, year. Students graduating from these programs are examined by the Ministry of Public Health, and are licensed and regulated by the national government through a process parallel to that which regulates medical doctors, nurses, and other practitioners of Western medicine. A study in 2005 counted 37,157 practitioners in various branches of TTM, and reported that 83.3% of hospitals, 67.8% of community centers, and 22.4% of health centers incorporated TTM to some degree.

Traditional medicine in Thailand is split into distinct disciplines, which can generally be grouped into three different approaches:

• Spiritual practices (including both Buddhism and magical therapies)
• Traditional Thai Massage and other body therapies
• Herbal/dietary therapies

Thai Institute of Healing Arts is the only comprehensive Thai Medical education, research, and treatment center outside of Thailand. We offer courses on Thai herbalism, Thai medical theory, Theravada Buddhism, and many aspects of Thai culture. We have a full Thai massage curriculum up to and including teacher training. We have a traditional Thai doctor ("mo boran") on staff, and two separate therapy clinics for massage and herbal treatments. And we are closely integrated with the local Thai community and Thai temples in the DC area in order to provide students with a unique cultural immersion experience.

To read more about how we trace our lineage to Thai medical institutions in Thailand, click here.

This website will introduce you to the study of Traditional Thai Medicine in all of its various forms. Click on any of the Resources for more information on these disciplines, join an interest group, or participate in the discussion forum. Not sure where to start? Click on the RESEARCH CENTER or RESOURCES tabs at the top of this page. Enjoy learning and poking around, and let us know what you think. See you online!