The Vomiting Ceremony of Wat Thamkrabok

Wat Thamkrabok is famous for its vomiting ceremony. In fact when this temple detox is mentioned in the western media it is usually this that gets the most attention. This is hardly surprising as the practice is just so unique; there are also those individuals who would even see it as extreme. The vomiting is an important component of addiction treatment at Wat Thamkrabok, but it is only a part of it.

What is the Purpose of the Wat Thamkrabok Vomiting Ceremony?

One of the main motives behind the vomiting ceremony is that it speeds along the detoxification process. The medicine was discovered in the local hills by one of the founders of this Thai temple. Luang Por Yai is the much beloved patriarch of Wat Tamkrabok and she discovered the special herbal mixture and realized its beneficial application. The medicine acts as an anti-emetic and induces vomiting which lasts for about ten minutes; patients drink scoops of water to help speed along the process and remove the herbs from their stomach.

The vomiting ceremony occurs in the evening while kneeling down in front of a gutter and drinking from a bucket of water. There is always a large crowd made up of monks and other patients who come along to offer support and sing songs of encouragement. The medicine is far from pleasant and vomiting this way can be upsetting, but most addicts will spend a large proportion of their life vomiting anyway. This treatment occurs for the first five days spent in the rehab, but some monks have taken it every day for years.

My Experience with the Thamkrabok Temple Detox Vomiting Ceremony

I went through detox many times over the years and always found withdrawals unpleasant. It was my experience that the vomiting ceremony reduced the amount of time it took to go through withdrawals and my symptoms were far less severe than usual. After the first dose of the medicine I was able to eat solid food; it usually took me days into withdrawal before my appetite returned. I took the treatment at the same time as others who were withdrawing from heroin and methadone and they all reported similar experiences. Withdrawals are always hard but the medicine does seem to make things easier.

It is my view that the real purpose of the medicine goes way beyond just hurrying along the detoxification process. It teaches humility and puts addicts into a position of vulnerability where they are prepared to accept help. Many addicts suffer from arrogance and willfulness but it is hard to maintain this attitude when you are required to vomit daily in front of a group of strangers; the vomiting ceremony makes us teachable.

I believe that the vomiting ceremony of Wat Thamkrabok was a vital part of my recovery from addiction. It was part of my escape from addiction and I'll always be grateful to it; that is not to say that I believe it would work for everyone. People do say that the temple is the toughest treatment facility in the world, but it really is as hard as you make it.

Sources

Official Wat Thamkrabok Website
Friends of Thamkrabok