Meaningful Language: Language Reflects the Beliefs from Naming Drugs and Disease in the Textbook of Medical aid “Bhaetayasart Songgrah”

Abstract

This article presents language wisdom which is reflecting the beliefs from the naming of drugs and disease in the textbook of medical aid “BhaetayasartSonggrah”. The result of the study showed that the doctor who wrote Thai pharmacopoeias used Pali-Sanskrit and Thai words to name drugs and diseases that reflect the beliefs of gods, auspicious, giants and demons which caused both benefits and harm.  In other words, naming a medicine is a name that conveys the power of the gods and the prosperity that makes patients recover from disease. For the name of the disease that cannot be identified is the name that implies the action of inhumans and demons. The meaningful naming which reflects these beliefs showed that the penetrative beliefs deeply into the people of Thai society is a supernatural power thing, that has an influence on life and can inspire things. Therefore, the study of wisdom of language usage in terms of naming drugs and disease in Thai traditional medicine, according to understanding the meaning of that name, also makes sense to understand human mind-set in the language usage which is related to the beliefs resulting in the treatment of patients both physically and mentally.