DEVELOPMENT OF A MODEL FOR ELDERLY HEALTHCARE BEHAVIOR PROMOTION IN WORKAEW SUB-DISTRICT, HANG CHAT DISTRICT, LAMPANG PROVINCE

Abstract

The purposes of this research are: 1) to study the healthcare through local wisdom by using herbs. 2) to study the body of knowledge and methods of healthcare through local wisdom by using herbs; and 3) to propose a model of healthcare by local wisdom in Mae Ta District, Lampang Province. The researcher collected the data by in-depth interview with 25 persons. The acquired data were analyzed by means of the descriptive method and concluded the research results in the following details:

Healthcare by local wisdom has applied the use of herbs for basic treatment. The herb seedlings are planted or bought from the pharmacy to mix with honey and mold into a round ball as a bolus before boiling and drinking, from studying the knowledge and methods of Buddhist healthcare through local medical wisdom by using herbs.

The methods of healthcare through local wisdom by boil the herbs and apply them at the spot, the roots of tree are spun and mixed with water. The patients should drink it until the symptoms of back and waist pain disappear. The types of the herb used depend on the symptoms of patients in which the local doctors apply the treatment that has been taught by the ancestors.

A model of Buddhist healthcare by local medical wisdom has symptom of the disease and the local doctors will analyze and diagnose the disease, and prescribe the herbs. The treatment also applies both herbs and modern medicines. The local healers usually do not ask for treatment fees and trust in healers which are accepted by people in the village. Herbs and modern medicines should be used concurrently but the use of herbs must be moderate, not too much, and not too little.