INTEGRATED PROGRAM OF CERTIFICATE IN VOCATIONAL EDUCATION FOR THE BLIND
MEDICAL MASSAGE FOR THE BLIND IN THAILAND
BY MR. PECHARAT TECHAVACHARA , PRESIDENT FEPB and TBU
Massage is so far the most promising occupation for the Blind particularly in Asia! Massage can be divided in to two main categories: health massage and
medical massage. Thai Massage teaching was introduced to the Skill Development Center for the Blind thirty years ago. Mr. Pisit Benjamongkulwaree was the first teacher. At that time, very few people believed that massage was suitable to the Blind. There was a belief then that men and women touching each other was lustful and dangerous! Most Thai people merely believed that the Blind could not see therefore they could not know where to put their fingers on the right spots! Of course most of them have changed their belief! Now Thai Massage is the most promising occupation for the Blind in Thailand and Asia Pacific. Good progress has been achieved compared with the time when first Thai Massage teaching to the Blind was introduced thirty years ago but There is still very long path we must struggle. Besides China, Japan and Korea, blind people in this part of the world are never legally allowed to enter in to medical massage! The high officials in Ministry of Public Health should realize that Thai blind masseurs and masseuses are not inferior to those in foreign countries!
The first project of Thai Blind Union set this year is to create Medical Massage for the Blind in Thailand!
Before reading further more about Medical Massage for the Blind in Thailand, please know something about Nuad Thai Therapy which means Thai Medical Massage.
Traditional Thai massage known in Thai as “Nuad Thai” is Thailand’s traditional manual therapy. Nuad Thai is defined as “the examination, diagnosis, treatment, disease prevention, health promotion, and rehabilitation by pressing, in a circular movement, squeezing, touching, bending, stretching, applying hot compress, steam bath, or other procedures of the art of Thai massage or the use of medicines, all of which are based on the principles of Traditional Thai medicine.
According to Traditional Thai medicine, there are four major elements existing in our body namely earth, wind, water and fire. As long as these four elements are in good balance, our health is good. When these four elements are not in balance which means one or more elements are decreasing or increasing, our immune system is effected then we are getting ill!
Sen means lines. Sen or sen lines are the lines in the body that the energy or elements move through. Human body is composed of 72000 sen lines, of which there are ten that are the principal sen line called sen sib or sen prathan sib means ten, and prathan means principal or main). The names of the ten energy lines that play a key role in Thai massage are sen itha, sen pingkhala, sen sumana, sen kalathari, sen sahatsarangsi, sen thuwari, sen chanthaphusang, sen ruthang, sen sukhumang, and sen sikkhini, which originate from the abdominal area, run through and end at different areas of the body.
Both health and therapeutic massage in Thailand are based on the principle of sen sib. If the flow of energy or wind along sen lines is obstructed or becomes stagnant, diseases and symptoms will result and there are several diseases and symptoms that are related to the sen lines.
Nuad Thai therapy means therapeutic purposes to cure or relieve some musculoskeletal disorders and painful symptoms of different parts of body such as myofascial pain syndrome, tension headache, and for rehabilitative purpose to prevent or relieve muscle spasm and joint stiffness , in patients with paralysis, paresis or Parkinson’s disease.
Although blind masseurs and masseuses are not legally allowed to enter medical massage, they have studied the theories and practiced the technique and earn their living in this profession for thirty years. There are a few thousands blind masseurs and masseuses in Thailand. Some of them are very efficient and can earn good living in this competitive field. Besides proper physical technique, competent masseurs and masseuses must practice meditation, mind power and prey daily! While they are performing the massage, they must concentrate solely on what they are doing and wishing well being for their clients. Some studies have been conducted concerning achievement and personal behaviors of hundreds of masseurs and masseuses which proves clearly that there is a inter-related connection between mind and physical performance. A concentrated and real healing purpose for the client ensures a success of each massage session!
There are only major four organizations giving Thai massage training to the Blind in Thailand: Skills Development Center for the Blind, Caulfield Foundation for the Blind, Foundation for the Employment Promotion of the Blind, and Thailand Association of the Blind. Since there are hundreds of institutions teaching Thai massage, masseurs and masseuses are undoubtedly different in skills and experiences. Some give proper and effective treatments which can eliminate bad symptoms in the ailment but some unintentionally give wrong treatment which is harmful to the clients! Our Ministry of Public Health is very much aware of the situation and wishes to regulate the practice and set a uniform standard of Thai Massage.
Since Thai massage is a major occupation of blind people in Thailand, it is utmost important that we must conform with the national standard. Foundation for the Employment Promotion of the Blind “FEPB” contacted the Department for the Development of Traditional Thai and Alternative Medicine of the Public Health Ministry and ask for direction. The Director General of the department, Dr. Vichai Chokevivat was very cooperative and assisted us to set up a curriculum for an intensive training course. One who completed the course and passed the examination was given a certificate signed by the Director General of the Department for the Development of Traditional Thai and Alternative Medicine. Please note that the certificate, though signed by the Director General of Department for the Development of Traditional Thai and Alternative Medicine, is not a medical license. In order to obtain Thai Massage Medical License, there are three categories:
1. Men and women who have been practicing and teaching Thai massage for at least twenty years.
2. those who have enrolled in a specially designed course approved by the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Public Health.
And 3. Masseurs and masseuses must be under close supervision of a licensed teacher for at least two years. Those three categories must passe the examination set up by Medical Registration Division, Department of Health Support Services, Public Health Ministry, then are eligible to obtain the license.
Before 2001, Thai Massage was included in the branch of Traditional Thai Medicine. In February 2001, Thai Massage became its own identity. Up till now, there are only about 160 experienced masseurs and masseuses (under category one) have received medical license in therapeutic Thai massage! These 160 masseurs and masseuses have been teachers and practicing Thai massage more than twenty years! Though seven years have gone by, No single blind person has received a medical license!
We can not wait any longer. Something must be done. The Thai Blind Union “TBU” has taken the initiative of this matter. We have decided to take the plan of action: creating Medical Massage for the Blind within two years!