A Development of Healthy Promotion Model by E-SAN Folk Healer's Wisdom

Authors

  • Patthira Phon-ngam, Dr. Loei Rajabhat University Thailand, Bangkok, Thailand

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25255/jss.2013.2.1.5.14

Keywords:

folk healer wisdom, community health, healthy promotion, community health promotion

Abstract

The purposes of research were 1) to study the knowledge used by local folk healers, the
condition of healing and services, the acceptance of the methods used by the folk healers in Loei
Province, and 2) to develop the model for the promotion of the community health with the herbal
wisdom of I-san folk healer participated by the related stakeholders.
Mixed methods of quantitative and qualitative research were applied, the quantitative
research was used in the survey, and the quantitative research was used in an in-depth interview,
the participatory observation, and focus group discussion. The target groups in this study consisted
of the registered folk healers from 14 districts of Loei who still perform the healing, the local
people who get the services or used to get the services from the folk healers, the senior people in
the areas, and Thai traditional medicine scholars. The findings were as follows.
1. All folk healers treat the illness according to the systems of human body. The healing
condition in which the folk healers used was related to the belief of local culture that the folk
healers believe, including (1)the belief in the causes of illness, (2) 4 elements and 5 aggregates of
life, (3) astrological belief on fate, (4) astrological belief on the causes of illness, (5) the belief on
the 4 elements of life, (6) the belief in the rite of Thai traditional medicine, (7) the belief and the
rite on the herbs, and (8) the belief on the village herbs and the elimination of illness.
The acceptance on the healing methods of the folk healers in Loei indicated that the
patients and the relatives are satisfied with the results of healing, because the symptoms of illness
were disappeared. Some people were back to normal, however, everyone can go back to live life
and to work normally as before.
2. The results from the development of the healthy promotion model in community
with the knowledge on herbs of the folk healers using participatory action of related the
stakeholders in the community were in 3 models; Model 1: The community health promotional
activities consisted of (1) the activities related to public health to promote the local students’
learning, (2) herbs garden project in schools, (3) the first aids cure with the herbs in schools instead
of using medicine, Model 2: the creation of learning materials of the local wisdom of the folk
healers by making books and CDs titled Herbs in Loei and I-san Herbs Recipe, and Model 3: The
Dissemination of folk healing knowledge to people
The evaluation of the three models was done by the observation of the activity
participation, interview on the satisfaction, and the usefulness of the participation in

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Author Biography

Patthira Phon-ngam, Dr., Loei Rajabhat University Thailand, Bangkok, Thailand

Chairman of Doctoral Degree Program
Faculty of Humanities and Social Science
Loei Rajabhat University Thailand, Bangkok, Thailand

References

Daranee Onnchomchan. (1994). Treatment of bone fracture by folk healers, Phaya Meng Rai
District . Bangkok : Department of Health Care , Ministry of Public Health.

Pender, N.J. (1996). Health Promotion in Nursing Practice. 3rd ed. Norwalk – Connecticut:
Appleton & Lange, New York.

Walker, S.N., K.R. Sechrist and N.J. Pender. 1987. The Health Promoting Lifestyle:
Development and Psychometric Characteristic. Nursing Research, New York.

WHO. (1986). Health Promotion OTTAWA Charter. Division of Health Promotion, Education
and Communication, Health Education and Health Promotion Unit, WHO,

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Published

2013-01-01

How to Cite

Phon-ngam, P. (2013). A Development of Healthy Promotion Model by E-SAN Folk Healer’s Wisdom. Journal of Social Sciences (COES&Amp;RJ-JSS), 2(1), 5–14. https://doi.org/10.25255/jss.2013.2.1.5.14