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A Thai Herbal
Traditional Recipes for
health and Harmony
C . Pierce Salguero
Thai 02-5
7/4/03
3:30 pm
Page 15
Chapter II
The Theory of Royal Thai
Herbalism
THE foursomesome em personify ELEMENTS
T
he physical body, in the Thai system, is made up of the same four
elements that permeate the entire populace: nation, Water, Air, and
Fire. The traditional Thai conception of these elements is roughly
parallel to Ayurvedic cosmology. The Thais do not believe that there is
literally a speck of earth, a drop of water, or a flame of fire in each atom
of the universe; each element refers not to physical substance, but to
the qualities of that substance. Substances that are solid can be said to
have the qualities of the Earth element. Substances that are liquid are of
the Water element. Movement is the quality of the Air element. Heat is
the quality of the Fire element.
According to this conception, the organs of the human body can be
broken down into categories.
THE FOUR BODY ELEMENTS, THEIR QUALITIES,
AND THE ORGANS THEY AFFECT
Element
Quality
Organs
Earth
Solid
Skin, muscle, tendon, bone, viscera, fat,
other solid organs
Water
Liquid
Blood, eyes, phlegm, saliva, lymph, urine,
semen, other liquids in the body
Air
Movement
Respiration, digestion, excretion, motion of
the limbs and joints, sexuality, aging
Fire
Heat
Body temperature, circulatory system,
metabolism
Thai 02-5
7/4/03
3:30 pm
Page 16
16 A Tai HERBAL
The constant interaction of the four elements gives rise to the
processes of the human body and is the impetus behind physical life. It
is of vital importance, therefore, to keep the four elements balanced
throughout life. The elements can become unbalanced due to a variety
of reasons. Environmental factors can affect the body, as for instance,
when hot wear causes excess of the Fire element or rainy weather
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