Medicine - Yaa (ยา).

 The most frequently used therapy in Traditional medicine of Thailand is medicine made of herbal, animal or mineral origin, called „yaa“ (ยา). The common word „yaa“ in Thai language refers to any medicine which is applied to a patient externally or internally. Pharmacological treatment is usually used in combination with other therapeutic approaches. Treatment of any disease commonly begins with drug therapy, either external medication, internal medication or both. The formulation and application of medicine vary depending on the severity and the extent of the disease, age of the patient, preference and knowledge of the doctor, availability of the medicinal substances and financial resources of the patient.

The medications are divided into external medicines and internal medicines with regard to their methods of application. The most common external medicines are liniments, embrocations, ointments, poultices, fomentation and herbal compresses. The most frequently used internal medicines are oral remedies, nasal inhalants, ophthalmic remedies and ear drops.

The „yaa“ is also divided into household remedies and more complex medications which have to be administered by a trained doctor. The household remedies are used to alleviate the initial symptoms, for example after the insect bites, they usually have only one ingredient or a very simple formula and can be applied by a layperson. The highly refined medicines for serious treatment of diseases are complex concoctions that must be prescribed with the correct ingredients and prepared following a correct procedure. The doctor has to be trained to accurately diagnose a patient’s disease and to be knowledgeable of the ingredients and formulas of various medicines. These complex medicines are regarded as strong ones, each with particular properties to treat particular diseases – they can be harmful if prescribed incorrectly based on a wrong diagnosis. Even for a very experienced doctor it is a challenge to prescribe the right medicine for the right patient, in the right amount and at the right time.