Abstract

This dissertation entitled “The Use of Herbal Medicines in Buddhist Integration” is of 3 objectives: (1) to study Thai traditional herbs to decrease and cure the diseases in Buddhist scriptures, and (2) to study the herbs in Thai traditional medicines at present, and (3) to integrate the use of Thai traditional medicines with the Buddhist teachings. It is a documentary research searching all documents from Tipitaka and related subjects.

Research study are as found :

             Medicinal herbs have their full value and advantage, either brought to be used or natural stand in the forests. However, medicinal herbs are still necessary side by side human’s life from the past time.  Herbs have been taken from natural sources, especially from various kinds of plants and trees. Many of them were mentioned in Vinayapiṭaka, for example, longa, ginger, tamarind, and assafoeteda, etc. To this regard, Jivaka Komarabhacca was a well-known doctor attacted to royal court extended to the Buddha and his disciples at that time. To this particular, comparative tables showing the use of herbal medicines in Buddha’s time and the present days have been provided.

In Thai traditional physicians, medicinal herbs have been used and succeeded down generation to generation even today. Most of the herbs used as medicines are roots, leaves, fruits, guttapercha, puckering, salt, minerals, oils from animals, the five medicines in Buddhism, i.e. butter, cheese, oil, honey, and sugar juice, etc. All these herbs are Thai traditional medicines from past to present in curing disease. Dosage has been used by taking, liniment, collyrriums for disease of the eyes, snuff, and smoking, etc.

However, there are mental diseases caused from love, greed, hatred, and delusion, etc. which make mind impured. Thus it is necessary to decrease and get rid them with Dhamma medicines by ways of Buddhist chantings, such a case of chanting a sutra of Bodhipakkhiyadhamma; considering this very compound body as its true nature of impermanence, suffering and non-self. Apart from these, the practice of samatha and vipassana meditation in order to release or get rid of sufferings due to the fact that happy mind resides in a happy body. As a whole there should be integrate how to cure both physical and mental diseases in parallel with Buddhist teachings.

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