Today was a very busy day, but it also allowed for some great photos. I'll give a run down of all our activities, with a liberal spattering of pictures so that everyone can see what we've been up to instead of just making a mental picture.
Our first stop of the morning was the Suan Prung Psychiatric Hospital, which is the oldest psych hospital in Thailand to observe the processes there. We heard lectures from different pharmacists who work in the inpatient and outpatient departments, as they described their routines. The pharmacy was even nice enough to bake us cookies with an herbal extract that is supposed to boost your brain power, and they gave us samples of the new calcium formulation they have come up with! After lecture we toured the inpatient and outpatient pharmacies, as well as one of the male wards. Since the hospital wants to protect their patients we couldn't take as many photos as we usually do, but our host, Pam, allowed me to take some in the inpatient pharmacy.
Each inpatient has a unit dose med box, which contains 1 week of medications, sorted by day and administration time (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and bedtime.)
Listening as Pam describes the inpatient pharmacy workflow.
After we finished at Suan Prung, we headed off for an tasty buffet lunch at a local hotel.
We then headed back to Chiang Mai University for a quick lecture on Traditional Medicine before taking a trip to the Thai Traditional and Chinese Medicine clinic. While there we learned about the services they offer, and some of us got to try some in a few hands on demonstrations.
Tom having his pulse read before his accupuncture. In Chinese medicine, diagnosis is often made by reading the pulse and it's qualities.
Dr. Tanzer trying out cupping
A Thai massage bed
Herbal balls waiting in the warmer
Herbal steam sauna are also used in Thai medicine.
A statue of the father of Thai medicine
When we finished at the TTCM, we headed back to CMU to make our own herbal massage balls. These balls are used in Thai medicine after a patient has had a Thai massage, with ingredients that help to soothe the body, reduce inflammation, and promote healing. They are steamed before use, then used on the patient for 15-20 minutes after their massage treatment. Everyone was happy with their finished products, which our friends at CMU sealed up for us so that we can safely take them back home.
The herbs used in massage balls
Tonight we wrapped up our evening at the Old Chiangmai Cultural Center for a dinner and show. We all sat on the floor, and ate off traditional small tables, with the dishes served family style. When we finished eating we got another taste of Thai culture as they put on a show demonstrating traditional dances and music from the northern region of Thailand. Although we were tired from our busy day, everyone enjoyed the evening, and we even got to see some of our classmates show their Thai dance moves on the stage!
Peter showing off his dance skills
Kayla was so excited to try out dancing
This 2 person dancing goat costume was definitely one of the highlights of the night
I want to add a quick lesson in Thai to the end of my blog posts for the rest of the week, so that you can learn a little language along with us. Our hosts yesterday taught us our new favorite word for bargaining at the night market: Pang. I'm not sure how you spell it exactly, but you draw out the a and n sounds when you say it. This word means "expensive." Kayla tried it at the market tonight, and successfully bargained for her new flip flops, so I think we are using it correctly!
Hanging next to the gorgeous lotus flower mosaic outside of the psych hospital was this reminder. It seemed especially appropriate where it was mounted, and is something I will try to remember when the going gets tough in the future.
Until later,
Amanda
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