Dai Medicine
01 · Historical Records
The sleep-medicine therapy of the Dehong area shares its origin with that of Xishuangbanna while each has its own lines of transmission, representing the same body of Dai medical theory taking root in different places. On the basis of summing up the traditional medical experience of their own people and absorbing and drawing on classical Indian medicine and Chinese medicine, Dai medicine has formed a traditional medical system with the Four Elements, the Five Aggregates, and the theory of antidotal medicine at its core, and the Four Elements theory is closely related to Buddhist doctrine. The Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture has a humid, hot climate, with many hot springs and river valleys in its villages; the fresh medicinals used in its sleep-medicine treatments are gathered and prepared locally and used as soon as they are picked, and the distinction between cold sleep for heat diseases and hot sleep for cold diseases is entirely consistent in practice in the two places. China's Dai population totals 1.16 million, mainly distributed in the Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture and the Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan Province; both places rely on Dai medicine hospitals and institutes of ethnic medicine for the organization and transmission of the practice.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
Located in the Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province. Dai medicine is a traditional medical system formed by the Dai people on the basis of summing up the traditional medical experience of their own people and absorbing and drawing on classical Indian medicine and Chinese medicine, with the 'Four Elements and Five Aggregates' (earth, water, fire, and wind constitute the Four Elements; form, consciousness, feeling, perception, and volition constitute the Five Aggregates) and the 'theory of antidotal medicine' at its core. The sleep-medicine therapy is one of the traditional external treatments of Dai medicine, used mainly to treat stroke, rheumatic diseases, and high fever with syncope. It is divided into two types: cold sleep and hot sleep. The cold-sleep therapy treats heat diseases, and the hot-sleep therapy treats cold diseases. The cold-sleep therapy consists of selecting the corresponding prescription according to the needs of the condition, gathering fresh Dai medicinals and chopping and pounding them (dried medicinals may also be used), adding an appropriate amount of medicated liquor and eclipta juice, and mixing evenly; the medicinals are then spread evenly on the sleep-medicine bed, the patient lies on them, the remaining medicinals are wrapped evenly around the whole body (except the face), and the whole is bound with cloth. The hot-sleep therapy targets cold diseases: according to the needs of the condition, prepare the corresponding fresh or dried Dai medicinals, place them in a pot, add appropriate amounts of water and liquor, stir-fry until hot, and spread them evenly on the sleep-medicine bed; when the temperature is suitable, have the patient lie flat on the medicinals, wrap the remaining medicinals around the whole body (except the face), bind them with cloth, and cover with bedding, letting the patient sweat for about thirty minutes per session (depending on the patient's constitution and the condition), so as to open the sweat pores, free the flow of qi and blood, expel wind toxin, and stop pain; it is used to treat rheumatic diseases, sequelae of post-stroke hemiplegia, postpartum confinement illnesses, and lower back and leg pain in the elderly. The Dai theory of the 'Four Elements and Five Aggregates' is closely related to Buddhist doctrine.
Cold sleeping with fresh crushed herbs and wine
Fresh or dried Dai herbs are crushed, mixed with wine and Eclipta juice and spread on the sleeping bed for hot diseases.
Hot sleeping: frying with water and wine
For cold diseases the herbs are fried with water and wine and spread on the bed once at a bearable heat, the patient sweating on them.
Body wrapping with the face left free
The rest of the herbs is wrapped around the body, the face left free, then covered with cloth and bedding for about thirty minutes.
Stroke, rheumatism and post-partum complaints
The therapy serves stroke, rheumatism and high-fever coma, with the hot form used for stroke sequelae and post-partum disorders.
Cooling fire and calming convulsions in high fever
The cold form treats persistent high fever, convulsions, delirium, as well as rheumatoid disease, gout and hot swollen joints.
Local materials and application value
With locally available herbs and convenient use, the therapy fits Dai theory and custom and is easily accepted in both prefectures.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
China's Dai population totals 1.16 million, mainly distributed in the Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture and the Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan Province.
Other submitting regions for the same item: Dai Medicine.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
The duration of a single treatment depends on the condition. The therapy has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, reducing fever and calming fright, expelling wind and stopping pain, and protecting the internal organs; it is used to treat febrile diseases presenting as persistent high fever, convulsions, unconsciousness and delirious speech, rheumatoid disease, gout, and red, swollen, hot, painful joints and muscles throughout the body. The sleep-medicine therapy accords with Dai medical theory and popular customs; its medicinals are sourced locally, resources are abundant, and its use is convenient, giving it broad value for wider application and promotion.
06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography
Sources
China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)
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