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391

Traditional Thai Medical Perspectives on Liver Cancer and Its Treatment:
Results of a Qualitative Study
†,§
‡
Yongsak Tantipidoke*, Ruangthip Tantipidoke , Thanat Nakaphan , Monthaka Teerachaisakul ‡
*Thai System of Health Wisdom Research Unit, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand.
†
Social and Administrative Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330,
Thailand.
‡
Thai Traditional Medicine Research Institute, Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, Ministry of
Public Health, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand.
§
Corresponding author: ruangthip.t@chula.ac.th

Abstract

Liver Cancer is the first leading cause of death in Thailand. For some reason that current conventional
medicine has some limitations for cancer treatment. Since traditional Thai medicine has been brought back
into Thailandûs healthcare system which different from modern medicine in terms of Thai traditional is aiming
to normalize the inner elements of human body naturally. This research objective is therefore to deliver
knowledges and treatments of the disease which relate to traditional Thai medical science. This research is a
qualitative research composed of 1) a documentary research method which was done by collecting and
analyzing relevant information from official classical traditional Thai medical textbooks, and 2) a making
knowledge explicit method by in-depth interviewing and analyzing documents written by seven traditional
Thai medicine experts residing in Bangkok and perimeter areas. Content analysis was applied to data collected
from both methods. The research findings indicate that genetic, health-risk behaviors, and microorganisms are
the major factors of common diseases that can be aggravated to chronic diseases if proper treatments are not
applied. These chronic diseases may lead to the deterioration of pathavi dhatu (earth element) in the body,
including yakanang (liver and related organs responsible for metabolism), that is named kasai disease.
Without proper treatment, phi phai nai (inner pock) may be developed. Liver cancer is the final stage of this
disease progression. The systematic examination, diagnosis and treatment of liver cancer according to
traditional Thai medicine are the process that is based on principle of tri samutthan. Usage of drugs for
purging harmful substances out of body, decreasing body and liver heat, nourishing liver and blood, treating
malignant tumor with mao bau drugs, and igniting the digestive fire to normalize the function of four body
elements, are the major methods of treatments. This process needs individualistic evaluation of bodily strength
and illness condition of each patient. This study suggests that the clarification of diseaseûs causes and
progression based on dhatu theory is essential for more specific examination and diagnosis of disease. This
study suggests that the clarification of diseaseûs causes and prgression based on dhatu theory is essential for
more specific examination and diagnosis of disease. This will provide the information needed for identifying
disease etiology according to principle of traditional Thai medicine. And the study design for the research on
cancer treatment should be done collaboratively with experienced traditional Thai medical experts so that
appropriate evaluation method would be find out.

Key words: treatments, liver cancer, Thai traditional medical science

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