Classification of Dysmenorrhea among Students at Ubon Ratchathani Rajabhat University, Thailand According to the Màhaachortàrat Scripture

doi.org/10.26538/tjnpr/v6i6.13

Abstract

Dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain) is a discomfort occurring in the pelvis. It may be severe and has an impact not just on individuals, but also on families, societies, and the economy. According to Màhaachortàrat scripture, menstrual blood is caused by four life elements: earth (tart din; in Thai), water (tart nam; in Thai), wind (tart lom; in Thai), and fire (tart fai; in Thai). The present study was aimed at investigating the characteristics of menstruation (menstrual blood based on the four life elements) and classifying the behaviors based on the levels of menstrual pain according to the Màhaachortàrat scripture. A total of 400 female students from Ubon Ratchathani Rajabhat University, Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand were recruited to complete questionnaires. The data obtained were processed using mathematical formulas. The results showed that the water element accounted for 70.7% in terms of manifested menstrual symptoms, followed by the wind, earth, and fire elements, in that order. Self-management behaviors ranked as “sometimes” with personal hygiene being the greatest practice, which also ranked as “sometimes”. The level of dysmenorrhea was described as “moderate,” with 28% of respondents reporting moderate pain. There was no difference in comparing self-management behaviors when dysmenorrhea occurred based on the levels of menstrual pain. The earth element tended to have a lower level of pain than the water, fire, and wind  elements based on the levels of menstrual pain. The findings of this study can be used to develop a menstrual pain treatment model based on the science of Thai traditional medicine.