The Wisdom of Folk Healers for Female Infertility Treatment : A Case Study of a Folk Healer in Prunai Sub-district, Kohyao District, Phang-Nga Province

Abstract

Local wisdom has received increasing attention in the context of resilience-based approaches to health development. The objective of this study was to investigate the knowledge and practices of Folk Healers in the treatment of female Infertility and to compile the formulas used in the development of herbal remedies. We used a combination of qualitative research procedures, including In-depth interview and non-participation observations, to explore the knowledge, experience, and know-how of Folk healer. We performed descriptive statistical analysis to explore the data and help with its interpretation. The results of the study are as follows: Mr. Haiyob Thainaprew, an 84 years old man who has the beliefs and practices of Islam for 40 years of experience as a folk healer. His long experience practicing in his community had granted him a good reputation, and many people visited him to receive suggestions, diagnosis, and treatment. He had refined his own procedure to diagnose and treat female infertility. He started the process by asking questions. Then he proceeded with incantations accompanied by the offering of herbal remedies. He used a total of 24 species of herbs in his treatment, which was boiled until the recipe became tasteless and easier to ingest for his patient. Patients took the decoction for a few months, and the color of their black menstrual period changed to red. This meant that a normal blood supply would allow you to have children, and there was no prohibition on caring for infertile women.