Abstract:
The objectives of this research were: 1) to study health enhancement with Buddhist herbs in Buddhist scriptures; 2) to study health enhancement with Buddhist herbs in the Nakwichai community, Talat Subdistrict, Mueang District, Mahasarakham Province; 3) to analytically study the health enhancement with Buddhist herbs of the Nakwichai community. This study employed qualitative research to collect the data from 30 samples selected by purposive sampling. The tools used in this study were: an interview form and a questionnaire to collect data from the herbal information informants in Nakwichai Community. The obtained data were interpreted by content analysis.
The research results showed many types of herbs in the Nakwichai community, usually planted per the nature of that kind. The area of the Nakwichai community has plots of land which are suitable for growing medicinal plants very well. Herbs can be classified into herbaceous plants grown by cuttings and sedges grown by using tubers or rhizomes. In particular, planting genus Sansevieria must bring scrap iron, sharp things, and put together the holes before planting according to the ancient belief that genus Sansevieria can absorb iron because iron is a cold element able to extinguish all poisonous heat. Therefore, it has more properties in extinguishing poisons. Some species are processed to be stored for one year. The transfer of wisdom and knowledge in herbal planting can be divided into two types: (1) the transfer of knowledge within the household in order to inherit the intent of the ancestors as a transfer between relatives; (2) inheriting knowledge to those who are interested in studying how to use herbs for their careers. The students must learn the process of planting each type of herb to obtain good yields with many properties and extracting important substances from different parts of herbs, which are helpful in the treatment of various ailments.