Health Tips from Thailand
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Holistic approach to health - Internal, external and spritual
Traditional Thai medicine (TTM) is an ancient practice. It is a mixture of herbalism, bodywork and spiritual healing. Like Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, the emphasis is on holistic healing. Traditional healers use a range of practices, from medicinal herbs to massage, bone-setting, cupping and divination and meditation practice. It is hence an internal-, external, and a spritual approach.
The principles of TTM are rooted in an ancient view of health that views the human being as a composite of body, energy and spirit (mind/heart). It is vital that all components exist in harmony and receive equal care. Some of the key concepts of TTM are: 1) The threefold division into essences of a human being. 2) The theory of the four elements and their relationship with the human body, herbs and tastes. 3) The theory of the sen lines energy system, similar to meridians in Chinese medicine. 4) The faith in a lineage of teachers and their ability to transmit healing power to their heirs [Source: Thai Medicine Guide]
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Living in harmony with nature
Living in harmony with nature is key to health and longevity in ancient healing systems including Traditional Thai Medicine. Imbalance in one's internal energies, a failure to adjust to natural cycles and a poor diet and habits can all cause disease. In TTM theory, any one of the factors below can make a person sick: 1) Imbalance of the four elements (either a surplus or a lack); 2) Seasonal changes; 3) Growth and aging (life cycles); 4) Diurnal and nocturnal cycles; 5) Climate changes; 6) Unhealthy lifestyle or habits.
Health can be restored through lifestyle changes, massage, herbal treatment and/or exercise. The different branches of Traditional Thai Medicine cover all these aspects in one holistic system.
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The land of smiles - For a longer and happier life
Thailand is the land of smiles. Smiling is simply good for the holistic you. It makes you feel happier and helps you to live longer. The smile is ubiquitous to Thai culture and itself can convey a whole array of unspoken cues. It is said to be 13 different words in Thai for a smile, each attached to different situations ranging from teasing, admiration, disagreement, or politeness. In general, it’s always considered polite to return a Thai’s smile, as the given smile is genuine. Most Thais believe being too serious is unhealthy and can cause illness; hence join the Thais and keep on smiling! Studies also show that smiling can help to heal the body. When you smile, your brain releases tiny molecules called neuropeptides to help fight off stress. Then other neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin and endorphins come into play too. The endorphins act as a mild pain reliever, whereas the serotonin is an antidepressant.
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Muay Thai - A national sport for perfect toning
Providing both aerobic and anaerobic workouts, dedicating 60 to 90 minutes on Muay Thai training can give you 1,000 to 1,200 calories burned in one session. This explains why Muay Thai is a perfect way to get rid of stubborn fat and tone your muscles while improving flexibility and having a stronger core.
Muay Thai - The National Sport
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Positive lifestyle choices - Stay active & Stress less
Avoid stress: Thais live simple lives and try and avoid stress. Thais stay calm no matter how stressful a situation may seem. That means lower blood pressure, healthier arteries and, quite simply, a far more efficiently functioning body.
Remain active into old age: Thais remain relatively active even after retirement. You can often see elderly Thais in their 70s, 80s or even 90s still working in shops, walking around the markets, or even cycling. Regular physical activity and exercise for seniors helps improve mental and physical health, both of which will help a person to to maintain independence as they age.
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Greeting with respect and humility
The phrase ‘hello’ in Thai is สวัสดี /sawaddii/ which literally means peace, goodness, and beauty according to Sanskrit. It is used when greeting one another, to say goodbye, or show respect, gratitude, or apology, the hands are placed together in prayer and raised upwards towards the face, while the head lowers in a slight bow and the eyes are lowered. The meanings associated with the Wai (the name of the Thai greeting) are much deeper and more indicative of the Thai’s high context culture. An analysis shows that the Wai serves at least five functions in Thai society – utilitarian, status, nationalistic, personal enhancement, and religious functions.
The health benefits of showing respct and humility are linked to the way it builds the feeling of trust, safety, and wellbeing. Humility on the other hand, can produce more happiness, positivity, and wellbeing, because a person has a clearer understanding of the self. It’s important to remember that no matter how successful or wealthy we become, we should always stay humble. Humility is associated with wisdom and higher self-control, and wise, humble people are more willing to learn from others. At its core, humility is about putting growth above ego, which is why it’s such a good thing for your health and for eagerness to prosper in different parts of life. So, learn the Wai and show it to people you meet.
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Religion Is Part of Everyday Life
Everything about the Thai Buddhist culture has a way of conjuring up feelings of tranquility and peace of mind. Many words spring to mind when we think of Buddhism and religion in Thailand. How about Zen, serenity and ying and yang? It has been proven that spirituality and religion helps you live longer. It seems to be working for the Thais, being ranked #4 in the world with most people who live longer than 100 years. Religious practice substantially contributes to physical and mental health. Regular religious practice lessens depression, promotes self-esteem, and builds familial and marital happiness. Religious worship also increases longevity, improves an individual's chances of recovering from illness, and lessens the incidence of many diseases. The health savings value of religious practice in 2012 was around $115.5 billion, according to Rodney Stark, Pulitzer Prize nominee and Baylor University researcher.
Good mental health is highly correlated to religious participation. An increase in religious practice was associated with having greater hope and a greater sense of purpose in life. Men and women who attended church weekly have also lower mortality rates. Those who were religiously involved live an average of seven years longer than those who were not. This gap is as great as that between non-smokers and those who smoked a pack of cigarettes a day.
Most studies show that religious involvement and spirituality are associated with better health outcomes, including greater longevity, coping skills, and health-related quality of life (even during terminal illness) and less anxiety, depression, and suicide.
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Massage for life and stronger immune system
Massages are a way of life in Thailand. They are as much as part of the culture as elephants and Thai cuisine. And the art of Thai massage has also been around for millennia. The benefits of massage are obvious in terms of relaxation. But another benefit is that they may also get our bodies lymph systems moving more efficiently, which in turn helps our immune system.
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Mindful eating - Speed, amount, variety and freshness
Mindful eating is not simply about calories, but more about appreciation, moderation and gratitude. There are quite a few traits in how Thai eat their meals.
They eat slow: Thais don’t rush their food, with certain health benefits. Taking the time to eat is easier on your digestive system. Also, eating slowly gives your body the time to tell you that you are already full.
They eat less: At any given meal, Thais tend to eat less. They have smaller portions and eat slowly. The health benefits are many, but we can simply say it will improve your BMI.
They eat a varied diet: The Thai diet is in many ways similar to the Mediterranean diet. There is a lot of garlic, citrus, beans and fish. They don’t have wine, but they do have a range of other super foods including some amazing herbs and fruits, full of antioxidant properties.
They eat fresh: Most Thais cook only fresh food. Very rarely will you find processed, refined or artificial foods in a Thai kitchen. Eating fresh and less processed has many health benefits that will improve your life.
You may have fewer headaches
You'll be able to lose weight more easily
Your hair will be healthier
You'll feel more energized
You'll have fewer mood swings
Your Skin Will Improve
You wont age as fast
They prepare the food healthier: Most Thai dishes use less oil, and they don’t often deep-fry as much as other countries.
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Nasal Herbal Inhaler - For body, mind and soul
Nasal herbal inhaler is a Thai popular home remedies. Herbal inhaler has the properties to induce relaxation, relieve dizziness, decrease headaches and nausea. The herbal inhaler is a cultural phenomenon, and explains why Thai people always keep it handy in their bag. Thai people have been using this type of traditional medicine for thousands of years. It is believed that the first ya dom was created as far back as two thousand years ago. The strong smell of a nasal inhaler serves lots of purposes. From covering up nasty city smells or masking pollution, to help to get rid of blocked nose, anxiety, stress, cold, migraine, sinus, and dizziness.
Many of the products are formulated with 100% natural herbs, and are designed in such a way that they do not include any artificial or harmful chemicals. Typical ingredients are:
Camphor: The synthetic camphor reduces pain related to cold sores It's a common ingredient in remedies applied to the skin for cough and skin irritation. It is also active against fungi that cause infections in the toenails.
Clove: It acts as an expectorant for treating respiratory disorders, including colds, bronchitis, cough, asthma, and upper-respiratory conditions due to its anti-inflammatory and cooling properties.
Menthol: Here Menthol has been used to reduce dyspnea in many respiratory conditions. It naturally clears nose, throat, bronchi, and lung congestion. Apart from respiratory channels, it also eases irritation caused by chronic coughing.It is anti inflammatory in nature.
Black Pepper: It is helpful to get rid of itchy throat. The anti-inflammatory quality present in black pepper helps in reducing swellings in the eyes and other parts of the body.
Nugget: Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country that was never colonized by an European country. In fact, in the Thai language, the name of the country is Prathet Thai which means “land of the free.” Freedom is one of the most important things in the world, and is a necessity for happiness. Freedom is also important for a long and happy life. According the World Health Organization, Thailand is ranked #4 in the world with the highest number of centenarians (people who reach age 100) as a percentage of its overall population.
