THE ACCESSIBILITY OF TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL FOOD BY THAIS IN SYRACUSE, NEW YORK

Access to traditional medicinal food can be a challenge for immigrants and refugee populations. This study looks at how and where Thai immigrants and refugees in Syracuse, New York access Thai medicinal food and the challenges if any, that they have when attempting to access Thai medicinal food. Although the definition of traditional medicinal food is not strongly established, in this study I proposed that traditional medicinal food refers to food shaped by the sum total of knowledge, skills, and practices based on the theories, beliefs, and experiences indigenous to different cultures, can relieve hunger once consumed and, at the same time, have properties to maintain health and promote well-being, as well as prevent, diagnose, and improve or treat physical and mental illnesses. The data was collected using mixed qualitative methods, with main focus on in depth interviews. The other methods employed were online surveys conducted with Qualtrics and field observation. The Thai cultural food environment of Syracuse is concentrated in the Northside. Results demonstrate that Thais in Syracuse prefer to get food from physical stores than from online shopping platforms. Yet, interviews revealed difficulties in accessing the concentrated Thai food market without car transportation. Many people obtain small portions of their medicinal food ingredients non commercially from friends or home gardens. Obtaining food from a known social circle is a crucial part of Thai medicinal food access. There is a high demand for fresh plant based Thai Medicinal food; however, the items available in stores tend to be processed plant-based medicinal food. Strengthening the Thai community in Syracuse could contribute to an increase in the accessibility of Thai medicinal food.