Thai Massage and Medical Traditions

Salguero, C. Pierce. The Encyclopedia of Thai Massage: A Complete Guide to Thai Massage Therapy and Acupressure. Forres, Scotland: Findhorn Press, 2004. - The purpose of this book is to be the most complete written guide to date on the practice of Thai massage, including both the classic routine for relaxation as well as the more therapeutic applications of Thai massage. This book includes complete a acupressure atlas of the human body (in print for the first time) as well as a guide to the Thai sen of the northern lineage. Chapters on the history and spirituality of Thai massage, on sample therapy routines for different disorders and diseases, as well as on herbal massage round out the work. Details Here. Wholesale info here.

Salguero, C. Pierce. A Thai Herbal: Recipes for Health and Harmony. Forres, Scotland: Findhorn Press, 2003 - This book is the only English-language guide to the traditional herbal medicine of Thailand. An introduction to Thai medical theory, including Four Element diagnosis is presented, with particular emphasis on diet, natural health and beauty products, and herbal tonics. A chapter on herbal compresses details several recipes, and the compendium of over 150 herbs allows for detailed comparison of medicinal properties. Indexes in English Thai, and Latin, as well as by ailment, action, and taste. Details Here. Wholesale info here.

Salguero, C. Pierce. The Spiritual Healing of Traditional Thailand. Forres: Findhorn Press, 2006. This is a complete introduction to the spiritual practices of Thailand, including sections on Buddhist meditation, honoring the Father Doctor Jivaka, performance of ceremonies, belief in spirits, and the history of the connections between spirituality and medicine. Available at left from TaoMountain Press in manuscript format until publication date. Details Here. Wholesale info here.

Salguero, C. Pierce. Thai Medicine: Buddhism, Ayurveda, Animism, Prescott, AZ: Hohm Press, 2007. This book will published in 2007, but is available in pre-press manuscript format directly from TM Press. This book explores in detail the history and modern practice of Thai massage from a historical and anthropolical perspective. Sections on early Buddhist Indian medicine, Thai folk healing, and the institutionalization of traditional Thai medicine in the twentieth century. Wholesale info here.

Salguero, C. Pierce. Thai Massage Workbook: Basic and Advanced Courses. Forres: Findhorn Press, 2007. The perfect student companion to the Encyclopedia. This book includes space for note-taking and numerical references to the book. For use in your courses, wholesale info here.

Salguero, C. Pierce. A Thai Herbal: Recipes for Health and Harmony (Southeast Asia Edition from Silkworm Books, Chiang Mai) - This is the same book as listed above, but in its Southeast Asian version. This edition contains Thai script for ease of use by those living or traveling in Thailand. Purchase directly from www.selectbooks.com.

Thai Culture

Cornwell-Smith, Philip and John Goss. Very Thai: Everyday Popular Culture. River Books, 2005 - An excellent primer on modern Thai culture.

Cummings, Joe, et al. Thailand: 10th Edition. Melbourne: Lonely Planet Publications, 2003 - This is the pre-eminent guidebook for budget travel to Thailand, but is also a great read. The Lonely Planet series is known for being a reliable and interesting source of cultural information as well as for covering all of the details you need to know to visit.

Jotisalikorn, Chami. Thai Spa Book: The Natural Asian Way to Health and Beauty. Hong Kong: Periplus Editions, 2002. This is a beautiful book with excellent photos. It presents a very attractive (although not extensive) guide to some Thai beauty and herbal treatments. A great gift or a coffee-table book for your massage clinic.

Standen, Mark and John Hoskin. Buddha in the Landscape: A Sacred Expression of Thailand. Pomegranate, 1999. - This is a fantastic glimpse of the Thai landscape, and the Buddha statues one finds in the most surprising places. Absolutely stunning photos.

Warren, William and Luca Invernizzi. Thailand: The Golden Kingdom. Hong Kong: Periplus Editions, 1999. The same photographer as the above book. Provides excellent views of Thailand's beauty. Another nice gift or coffee-table book.

McDermott, Nancie. Real Thai: The Best of Thailand's Regional Cooking. San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 1992. - Obviously I am partial to the recipes in my book A Thai Herbal. But this book is really great. It presents all sorts of regional Thai dishes beyond the standard curries and pad Thai. It gives a wonderful snapshot of each region of Thailand as well. I highly recommend it!

Gosland, Betty. Origins of Thai Art. Weatherhill, 2004. A comprehensive survey of 3500 years of art in Thailand, written by a well-known scholar in the field.

O'Reilly, James and Larry Habegger, eds.  Thailand, True Stories. San Francisco: Traveler's Tales, Inc., 2002 - This is a fun little book which will give the reader a glimpse into Thai culture and the life of the Western traveler in this colorful country. Each chapter is a separate vignette on some aspect of Thailand. Some stories will make you laugh, some will shatter your illusions, but all will entertain.

Anatomy and Physiology for Students and Teachers of Thai Massage

Calais-Germain, Blandine. Anatomy of Movement. Seattle:  Eastland Press, 1993. - in my opinion, this is the best introduction to anatomy and how it relates to the movement of the body. I consider it to be required reading for my advanced students, and feel it would be beneficial for any bodyworker, yoga instructor, or massage therapist.

Coulter, H. David. Anatomy of Hatha Yoga: A Manual for Students, Teachers, and Practitioners. Honesdale, PA: Body and Breath, Inc., 2001 - An impressive and complete guide to the anatomy and physiology of the practice of yoga. This is a very thick and complex book, and may not be appropriate for the beginner. However, it is essential to the serious practice of Hatha Yoga or of Thai Massage. Chapter 1 is particularly interesting.

Theravada Buddhism

Maguire, Jack. Essential Buddhism. Atria, 2001. — This is the best introductory book to Buddhism I know of. From Amazon: "Essential Buddhism is the single best resource for the novice and the expert alike, exploring the depths of Buddhism's popularity and illuminating its tenets and sensible approach to living. Written in the lucid prose of a longtime professional storyteller, and full of Buddhist tales, scriptural quotes, ancient stories, and contemporary insights, Essential Buddhism is the first complete guide to the faith and the phenomenon."

Kornfield, Jack. Living Dharma: Teachings of Twelve Buddhist Masters. Boston: Shambhala, 1996 - Buddhism in Southeast Asia has very little to do with the more familiar Tibetan and Zen traditions. This book is a wonderful introduction to 12 Buddhist teachers, half of whom were native to Thailand. Kornfield, a well-known meditation teacher himself, covers the breadth of teaching styles and meditation techniques taught in Theravada Buddhism. This is a great place to start for those interested in pursuing Thai Buddhism and/or Vipassana meditation.

Hart, William. The Art of Living: Vipassana Meditation as taught by S.N. Goenka. San Francisco: Harper, 1987. - This is the best basic introduction to meditation I know of. It is fun, light, and very insightful. Goenka offers free 10-day Vipassana retreats world-wide, and is a highly respected Theravada Buddhist teacher.

Bhante Henepola Gunaratana. Mindfulness in Plain English. Boston: Wisdom Publications, 2002. A great guide to basic meditation technique, presented in simple clear down-to-earth language. "Bante G" is among the best-known figures in Theravada Buddhism.

Gethin, Rupert. The Foundations of Buddhism. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998 - This is a wonderful and well-respected introductory text to Theravada Buddhism. While it is not specific to Thailand, it accurately represents many of the doctrinal foundations of Thai Buddhism, and is an easy although academic read.

Gombrich, Richard. Theravada Buddhism: A Social History from Ancient Benares to Modern Colombo. London: Routledge, 1988 - This is a classic work on Theravada Buddhism, well-known to any scholar of this religion, and is a must-read for anyone interested in the academic analysis of Thai Buddhist traditions.

Bhikkhu Bodhi has translated or contributed to translation of many wonderful collections of the Buddhist canon, the "sutras." The Middle-Length Discourses are the place to start for first-time reader. These sutras are classics of world literature, and are indispensable for a deeper understanding of all forms of Buddhism, Theravada in particular. The link at left is to a compilation of the most readable discourses from throughout the Pali canon.

Birnbaum, Raoul. The Healing Buddha. Shambhala, 2003. A scholarly analysis of the history and modern rituals surrounding Mahayana Buddhism's Medicine Buddha.

Zysk, Kenneth. Asceticism and Healing in Ancient India: Medicine in the Buddhist Monastery. Analysis of the origins of Ayurveda in the Buddhist monasteries.

Indian Medicine (Yoga & Ayurveda)

Iyengar, B.K.S. Light on Yoga: Revised Edition. New York: Schocken Books, 1979 - As it states on the front cover of my edition of this book, this is "the Bible of modern yoga by the world's foremost teacher." This is a lighter read than Coulter's book, but is still geared toward the fairly advanced practitioner of Hatha Yoga. Even so, I consider it indispensable for the Thai therapist.

Silva, Mira and Shyam Mehta. Yoga the Iyengar Way: The New Definitive Illustrated Guide. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2003 - A highly readable and attractive pictorial guide to the practice of Hatha Yoga. This is a great book for beginning students of yoga and Thai massage. The postures are explained in detail, with detailed points of alignment.

Lad, Vasant and Frawley, David, The Yoga of Herbs: An Ayurvedic Guide to Herbal Medicine, © 1993 Lotus Press, Twin Lakes, WI. This is in my opinion, the most readable general introduction to Ayurveda.

Frawley, David, et al. Ayurveda and Marma Therapy: Energy Points in Yogic Healing. Twin Lakes, WI: Lotus Press, 2003 - A great point of comparison between Ayurvedic and Thai acupressure therapy. Frawley is readable and informative.

Frawley, David. Yoga and Ayurveda: Self-Healing and Self-Realization. Twin Lakes, WI: Lotus Press, 1999 - Another readable book useful for comparison. Frawley draws connections between Ayurvedic principles such as doshas and the practices of Hatha Yoga.

Feuerstein, Georg. The Yoga Tradition: Its History, Literature, Philosophy, and Practice. Hohm Press, 2001. A comprehensive guide to the history of Yoga written by a leader in the yoga industry.

Zysk, Kenneth. Religious Medicine: The History and Evolution of Indian Medicine. New Brunswick and London: Transaction Publishers, 1993. A scholarly analysis of medicine in the Vedic period.

Zysk, Kenneth. Asceticism and Healing in Ancient India: Medicine in the Buddhist Monastery. Analysis of the origins of Ayurveda in the Buddhist monasteries.

Wujastyk, Dominik, The Roots of Ayurveda, © 2003 Penguin Books, London - A compendium of excerpts from the classic Ayurvedic texts, translated and compiled by one of the leading scholars in the field.

Chinese Medicine

Unschuld, Paul U. Medicine in China: A History of Ideas. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1985 - The classic and most widely-read introduction to Chinese medical history.

Kaptchuk, Ted J., The Web That Has No Weaver, © 1983 Congdon & Weed, Inc. - One of the first, and still one of the best overviews of the contemporary practice and philosophical foundation of TCM on the market.

Ni, Maoshing. The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Medicine: A New Translation of the Neijing Suwen with Commentary. Boston: Shambhala Press, 1995 - The best translation of the fundamental acupuncture classic for the practitioner available in English. Note this is not an exact translation, but an "applied translation," relating the classic to contemporary practice.

Unschuld, Paul U. Huang Di Nei Jing Su Wen: Nature, Knowledge, Imagery in an Ancient Chinese Medical Text. Univ of CA Press, 2003 - Those looking for a more scholarly approach to the Neijing will do no better than this book.

Unschuld, Paul U. Nan-ching--The Classic of Difficult Issues. Univ of CA Press, 1986. Another acclaimed scholarly translation by Unschuld. The Nan Jing is another foundational acupuncture text.