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Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre
Ethnic Groups Research Database |
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Record |
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Subject |
Urak Lawoi, Sea Gypsies, local medical system, universal medical system, pluralistic medical system, folk wisdom, diving career, decompression sickness |
Author |
Somboon Ayarak |
Title |
Folk wisdom and health problem solving: A case study of diving career of the Sea Gypsies in Puket |
Document Type |
Thesis |
Original Language of Text |
- |
Ethnic Identity |
Uraklawoy,
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Language and Linguistic Affiliations |
Austronesian |
Location of
Documents |
SirindhornAnthropology Center |
Total Pages |
- |
Year |
1995 |
Source |
Faculty of Graduate Studies, Mahidol University |
Abstract |
This qualitative and quantitative investigation examined folk wisdom and health problem solving related to diving career of the Urak Lawoi Sea Gypsies in Puket. The data were collected in all contexts of their livelihood with an in-depth study on the career-related sickness called decompression sickness (DCS) by investigating causal factors of the sickness. A comparison was conducted between those who used to suffer from the sickness and those who didn’t. It was found that the factors significantly affecting the sickness at 95% of reliability included years in the career, number of assistants helping the diver, depth of diving, unusual events forcing divers to emerge quickly, length of time for each diving, and distance between an exhaust pipe, air compressor and ventilator. The ethnic group also applied their folk wisdom to solve this health problem, ranging from conducting rituals to using scientific methods, such as providing a primary care to the sufferers. The ethnic group also employed the method, called “adjustment”, in order to make the internal pressure of the body back to normal as well as to massage the sufferers until they became conscious. For further treatment, warmth was given to the sufferers by pressing, massaging, and using local whiskey, warm water and ginger water in the belief that blood circulation would improve. If the sickness worsened, the sufferers would be taken to hospital for modern medical treatments.
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