A Thai Herbal is a practical and entertaining guide to the traditional Ayurveda of Thailand. The author's mission is to convey the traditional natural wisdom of ancient Thailand to the modern reader, and to do so in an accessible way. It contains a brief overview of the history, theory, and spirituality of traditional Thai medicine, but the focus of the book is largely on the application of these ancient ideas in modern Western life. A Thai Herbal is informative, attempting to translate ancient ideas into a modern context. It is practical, continuously falling back on useful considerations for the beginning practitioner in the West. But most of all, this book is fun, offering easy recipes for home remedies, beauty products, and cuisine that will make the world of Thai tradition come alive in our homes.

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In this book you will find....

• 150 Herbs listed in detail
• 19 healthy recipes based on medicinal herbs and foods
• 14 recipes for using herbs in health and beauty
• 7 recipes for using herbs in the home
• 7 compress recipes
• A full discussion of the following methods of preparing herbs:
1. Tea
2. Decoction
3. Powder
4. Topical application
5. Steam inhalation
6. Other Methods
7. Essential oils
• Photos and illustrations to guide the reader through the practice of Thai herbalism
• Acupressure atlas of the human body including 17 acupressure point charts
• Full color inserts

From the Back Cover

Based on the holistic principles of Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine, Thai herbalism is a vibrant ancient tradition that was preserved over a millennium in the monasteries and temples of Bangkok, and which continues to be practiced in villages throughout Thailand to this day.

Of interest to herbalists and massage therapists alike, A Thai Herbal introduces the basic principles of this unique form of healing in simple and clear terms, and presents over 150 individual herbs with their uses in Thai, Chinese, Ayurvedic, and Western herbalism. This book is informative and practical, translating ancient ideas into a modern context and providing helpful tips and recipes for experienced and beginning herbalists. Best of all, this book is fun, offering easy recipes for home remedies, beauty products, and cuisine that will make the world of Thai tradition come alive in your home.

A Thai Herbal also places the popular practice of Thai Massage in its native context, as an integral part of a holistic healing system. The book also introduces the traditional practice of Thai herbal compress massage, a treatment that is enjoying increasing popularity in Western spas. Acupressure charts provide guidance for Thai energy meridian work, and suggestions for treatment of specific ailments.

Pierce Salguero studied Thai massage and traditional herbalism from 1997 to 2001 under Lek Chaiya, Baan Nit, the Shivagakomarpaj Traditional Medicine Hospital, and other renowned teachers in Chiang Mai, Thailand. He is a certified teacher of traditional Thai massage in the Shivagakomarpaj linage, and taught courses on traditional medicine at the Shivagakomarpaj Institute in Chiang Mai. Having spent 4 years studying and researching Thai medicine in Chiang Mai and Bangkok, Thailand, he returned to the U.S. in 2001 to found the TaoMountain School of Traditional Thai Massage and Herbal Medicine in Charlottesville, Virginia.

10% of the author's proceeds from sales of this book are donated to charities and NGOs working with healthcare in Thailand.

Summary

A Thai Herbal is written for the beginning herbalist, or the general reader with a curiosity about the fascinating topic of holistic health and Eastern medicine. Because Thai herbs are sometimes unfamiliar to herbalists from the Western, Chinese, and Ayurvedic systems, this collection may also be of interest to experienced herbal practitioners who are looking to expand their knowledge of the subject of herbal medicine. Whether just beginning or more experienced on the path of herbal medicine, this informative book will be a valuable addition to the reader's library.

The work is divided into six main chapters, plus Appendices and cross-referenced Indices. Below is a brief summary of each:

1. The Tradition of Thai Medicine: a brief history of Thai medicine, including its ancient Indian and Chinese influences, the Buddhist and shamanic spiritual traditions surrounding its practice, and its place in modern Eastern and Western culture. This portion of the book is based on the author's study of Southeast Asian culture and religion both as an anthropologist and through his travels in the area.
2. Every-Day Herbs: over 40 recipes for food therapy, healthy Thai cuisine, herbal cosmetics, and household products from the author's collection of traditional and modern recipes.
3. Herbs in Traditional Thai Massage and Sauna: a discussion based largely on the author's studies with a renowned Thai herbalist, Lek Chaiya, who specializes in hot herbal compresses and herbal saunas. This section includes recipes for herbal compresses, and directions on how they are traditionally incorporated into the Thai massage routine. It also incorporates a discussion of acupressure and an atlas of 17 acupressure point charts.
4. The Theory of Royal Thai Herbalism: an introduction to some of the basic concepts of holistic Thai medicine. This chapter is based largely on the lectures the author gave as a teacher at the Shivagakomarpaj Institute Traditional Medicine Hospital in Chiang Mai, Thailand, as well as his own study of traditional medicine with teachers in Thailand, India, and China.
5. Herbs in Medicine: methods of preparing herbs, a discussion about dosage and contraindications, and 16 special recipes for therapeutic remedies for common complaints.
6. Herbal Compendium: approximately 150 herbs with English, Thai, and Latin names, listed with their primary therapeutic uses, methods of preparation, contraindications, and engaging stories about the use of these herbs in Thai culture.

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