Among the common people, traditions were passed down orally, the royal court probably kept ancient reference texts on the subject of traditional Thai medicine. Sadly, most of them were lost when Burmese invaders destroyed the old capital of Ayutthaya in 1767. However, the remaining fragments were re-envisioned as stone inscriptions by King Rama III in 1832, and today, more than sixty of these records depict healing points, herbal remedies and energy pathways and are pictured in a wall in the famous Wat Po temple in Bangkok that can be seen.

The theoretical basis for traditional Thai healing is rooted in the belief that all life forms are an unbroken life force (lom) that is carried along invisible pathways (SEN) that run through our bodies. This power is extracted from air, water and food, and it is believed that disease and dysfunction will follow when there is a blockage along these pathways. Accordingly, Thai massage aims to release this absorbed energy, stimulates the natural flow of life force, and operates a general balance of wellness.