The Development of a Model for Herbal Remedy Application for Diseases Related to the Earth Element at the Somdet Phra Phutthachan (Sanit Javanapañño) Herbal Research Center

Abstract

This research article aims to: 1) study the concepts and theories regarding the Earth Element (Pathavīdhātu) in the Theravāda Buddhist scriptures, 2) examine the current state of the use of herbal medicine for treating Earth Element-related diseases at the Somdet Phra Phutthachan (Sanit Javanapañño) Herbal Study Center, and 3) develop a model for using herbal medicine to treat Earth Element-related diseases at the same center. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, integrating both qualitative and quantitative research. The research site was the Somdet Phra Phutthachan (Sanit Javanapañño) Herbal Study Center. The population included 30 participants consisting of patients with Earth Element-related illnesses and experts. Research instruments included in-depth interviews, questionnaires, and assessment forms. Data were analyzed using content analysis and descriptive statistics. The findings revealed that: 1) Concepts of the Earth Element: The Earth Element (Pathavīdhātu) or solid element is one of the four elements that constitute the human body. It is characterized by hardness, coarseness, and solidity, serving as the support of the body. It consists of 20 parts, divided into 5 groups according to anatomical characteristics. Disorders of the Earth Element manifest in three forms: deficiency (fatigue, fragile bones), excess (stiffness, aches), and deformity (abnormalities, distortions). Causes are explained in four aspects: climatic changes (utuvipariṇāma), improper management (visamaparihāra), inherent disposition (āsayavipariṇāma), and karmic consequences (kammavipākaja). These concepts align with Thai traditional medicine, which views the Earth Element as a fundamental component of the body. 2) Current use of herbal medicine at the Herbal Study Center: The study found the use of 30 types of single herbs, categorized into three groups: herbs for pain relief and bone nourishment, herbs for reducing inflammation, and herbs for blood enrichment. In addition, 12 herbal formulas were recorded, such as Ya Prasa Kraduk (bone tonic) and Ya Kaelom Jap Pong Nam Dern (a remedy for circulatory disorders). The treatment process consisted of four stages. Problems identified included incomplete transmission of knowledge, scarcity of certain herbs, lack of specialized personnel, and the attitudes of service recipients. 3) Development of a treatment model: The resulting model, termed the “PATH Model,” consists of five main components: Principles (fundamental principles), Assessment (diagnosis), Treatment, Holistic Care, and Monitoring. Evaluation of the model demonstrated its effectiveness, improving patients’ quality of life by 23.31% and achieving the highest level of satisfaction. This model can be effectively applied to the treatment of Earth Element-related diseases.