Abstract

This is a qualitative cultural research into the traditional knowledge used by Northeastern Thai communities to care for mothers during the postpartum period. The research objectives were to study the background, current conditions and problems with the integration of Isan traditional knowledge in the holistic health treatment of postpartum mothers in order to outline an overview of the integration process. Following investigation into nine communities in Northeastern Thailand, it was found that three prominent forms of treatment are adopted. These are namely yu fai, tab maw gleau and herbal massage therapy. The traditional medicine has suffered in recent times through lack of inheritance and changing social conditions causing mothers to seek convenient treatment at local hospitals. There are complaints from these new generation mothers about aches, pains and tiredness that were rarely heard in the past. Thus integration of ancestral wisdom in holistic health care provides a perfect solution to the need for recuperation and the fast recovery of the postpartum mother so that she may take care of her child and return to work.

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