It used to be that Thailand was a perfect place to lose track of time. Now it promises even better. It is giving back time — years, even.
In cosmopolitan capitals around the world, finding the fountain of youth has re-surfaced as a bioscience rage. Scientists and doctors are making more advances in manipulating, slowing and even reversing physiological ageing through biomedical interventions.
Although Thailand has opened its medical arms to much of the new technology, its anti-aging experts have not let the science overshadow how much of the biological clock can be turned back or slowed through simple changes in diet and lifestyle.
The quest is to help people stay healthier longer by earlier detection and prevention of age-related diseases – and even reversing them. Contrary to popular perception, the focus goes well beyond the cosmetic approach of hiding wrinkles, age spots and balding scalps. Thailand’s many anti-aging experts continue to embrace the health care wisdom taught by their ancestors: balance the mind and the body.
Ageing, explain the experts, is a condition that can be controlled to some extent. Anti-aging is about getting the body in balance and functioning at peak performance, no matter how many candles appear on the birthday cake. For all anti-aging specialists, the most important outcome is quality of life. Lifespan might lengthen in this process, and for some people that is also part of the goal.
But one of the most profound insights of modern health care is the appreciation that lifestyle is a key factor in achieving healthy longevity.
“You can definitely reverse the aging process — I believe it,” says Dr Pakpilai Thavisin of S Medical Spa in Bangkok. “People misunderstand when we talk about anti-aging medicine. Hormone imbalance, vitamin and mineral supplement – most doctors are doing that. For me, it’s all about lifestyle. You age faster if your lifestyle is not right.”
Ageing usually begins around age 25–35. This is generally attributed to free-radical damage, invisible inflammations inside cells and hormone depletion. To a small degree, ‘bad’ genes play a role as well. However, there is divided opinion on the use of hormones, supplements and herbs in terms of slowing the ageing process. Some doctors believe the research is not yet conclusive on hormone therapies so they prefer to focus on natural remedies.
Slowing or Reversing the Ageing Process
Reputable doctors are quick to warn that slowing down ageing is not about waving a magic wand and presto, youth appears. Most people are degenerating at an accelerated rate and thus seem older than they should. Reversing or slowing the damage certainly helps some people look five to ten years younger. But turning back the clock, the anti-aging sages say, requires fundamental changes in lifestyle: moderate exercise, healthy food (no processed elements, lots of antioxidizing ingredients), no smoking and, most importantly, stress management. And good sleep, preferably from 10.00 pm to 6.00 am.
In a country already touted as a medical and cosmetic surgery hub and a Sensual Spa epicentre, more and more doors in Thailand are now opening towards the fountain of youthfulness. In addition to the first university courses in herbal and anti-ageing medicines, anti-aging clinics and services have been popping up in hospitals, medical spas and dermatology centres.
Integrating the Best of East and West
Much of the science is borrowed from the West. However, the small but growing number of Thailand’s anti-aging medical spas and wellness centres aim to combine Western medicine with Eastern therapies to offer integrated healthcare.
The alternative options include acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine , traditional Thai Massage , traditional Thai herbal remedies, yoga and Qi Gong, Reiki and even Vipassana meditation (which has been shown to be effective in combating stress-related illnesses, in conjunction with detoxifying cleanses and/or rejuvenating vitamin and mineral supplement treatments. Many of the anti-aging centres contain a fitness gym, nutrition and cooking courses. If not under one roof, various options are typically just a few blocks away, making Thailand, though mostly Bangkok, an ideal destination for anti-aging possibilities.
Each clinic’s approach varies. Some mix both conventional and anti-ageing science with spiritual or psychological approaches more than others. Some are less concerned with outside beauty than healthy internal functioning.
“Thailand might be at the forefront in the individualizing of treatment and merging scientific and alternative medicines,” says Dr Somboon Roongphornchai, Medical Director of the Vitallife Wellness Center within the Bumrungrad International Hospital in Bangkok. Vitallife offers a fitness gym with a sports medicine doctor on hand and consultations with nutritionists. The centre recently began integrating Chinese and Thai traditional herbal medicines in its treatment recommendations.
Typically, anti-aging clinics provide some type of analysis on how fast a client’s body is ageing, or rather, degenerating, and the potential for disease. This ranges from a computer programme to laboratory tests on antioxidant, vitamin, mineral and hormone levels, inflammatory and oxidant-damage markers, blood counts, fatty acids, urine acids, insulin resistance, liver and kidney functioning and general fitness. Some places offer gene make-up analysis, though the lab tests are sent abroad.
Then consultations turn to what can be done to prevent or reverse damage through diet, exercise, lifestyle changes and hormone or herb therapies and other supplements. According to Dr Thidakarn Ratanabanangkoon, American Board-certified anti-ageing physician and dermatologist who oversees anti-ageing services at Samitivej Hospitals, treatment is three-pronged: detecting disease as early as possible rather than waiting to treat it (the conventional response); preventing disease through diet and lifestyle changes; and reversing age-related disease by supplementing vitamins, minerals and hormones and possibly exercise.
Going Well Beyond Skin Deep
“We can say beauty is a good thing but we have to think about health — have a positive environment. And we have to remember it’s not only physical — the mind has to be good too,” says Dr Orawan Kitchawengkul, a dermatologist who started anti-aging medical centres in Bangkok and Phuket. Her World-Class Anti-Aging Institute includes a heavy focus on mental health as well as inside and outside physical vibrancy: herbal hormones, meditation, acupressure, acupuncture, yoga, Qi Gong, Reiki, hydroareobics, quantum energizing, plasma technology, infrared sauna, nutrition, cooking courses — and even home delivery of healthy food.
Reducing free-radical damage — the roving by-product particles that emerge within the human body whenever cells combust (a normal function that produces energy) or from exposure to chemicals, such as alcohol, toxic metals, emotional stress, smoking and air pollution, among others — is one of the primary anti-ageing goals.
Antioxidants can remove free radicals before they have a chance to do damage. This is typically achieved with food, particularly fruits like blueberries, cranberries, strawberries, grapes and papaya; vegetables like kale, broccoli, spinach, other dark greens as well as and other 'colourful' vegetables; whole grains and pulses rich in antioxidants such as red kidney beans. Processed foods containing white flour, white sugar and saturated fats should be avoided.
Achieving Positive Change — The Natural Way !
Dr Kobkan Phiboonsin is a young general practitioner who left a hospital position to train in acupuncture and join the Balavi Natural Health Center. When she first attended a World Anti-Aging Congress seminar in the United States, she realized that what she was hearing about diet and lifestyle had been promoted at the Balavi centre for more than 30 years. “The principle is do it yourself — change. But you can do it the natural way,” she says.
With centres in Bangkok and northern Chiang Mai, Balavi emphasizes detoxifying, diet counselling, psychotherapy and hypnotherapy, vitamin and herbal therapies. Each Balavi centre contains a fitness gym, yoga classes and cooking lessons.
“Natural takes longer for results,” says Dr Krisda Sirampuj, who recently set up the International Anti-Ageing Medicine Institute (in Bangkok), with support from the Thailand Center for Excellent Life Science, to promote his “3H” model of healthy weight, healthy eating and lifestyle, and healthy minds. Avoiding gadgets and hormone therapies, Dr Krisda believes “it is more perfect to emphasize the mind and encourage mental exercises. It seems idealistic, but it’s not. I say to patients to believe in change and stay mindful.”
Promoting the body’s natural healing ability goes even more holistic and more posh at TRIA, a unit of the Piyavate Hospital in Bangkok which offers integrative medicine – a combination of complementary, alternative, functional (anti-ageing) and conventional practices. The staff entails a homeopath, naturopath, acupuncturist, chiropractor, nutritionist, psychotherapist and counsellors as well as access to medical specialists. “Our aim is to give patients better quality of life — not more years,” says Dr Thirapan Kamchomnan, both a functional and aesthetic doctor at TRIA.
Thailand is still chock-a-block with laser and other technologies for improving youthful appearance, from coping with wrinkles, sagging chins, hair loss, cellulite and impotence. But for anti-ageing doctors like S Medical Spa’s Dr Pakpilai Thavisin, beauty is the marketing ploy. “I think when they’re here they’ll learn something,” she says. She once asked a couple who wanted to lose weight without going to the spa’s gym to walk to and from their hotel for their sessions. By day four they asked to use the gym. She says they kept walking when they returned home and made other fundamental changes in their lifestyle.
Walking in Bangkok may not be ideal for most clients, nor may the few days spent at a day facility be sufficient for making the commitment to behaviour change – despite customized regimens for eating and exercising. There are other options for longer-term wellness retreats, such as the Chiva-Som International Health Resort near the seaside town of Hua Hin. The resort is known internationally for its complete sensual holistic approach to lifestyle change and its celebrity clientele.
Touting the resort’s “unique peaceful environment,” Dr Thumrong Siripoon explains that the Chiva-Som approach is to cut off negative factors such as stress. This means no alcohol, tobacco or mobile phones. The spa cuisine emphasizes wellness but uses ingredients available back home. Equally significant is the resort’s body-mind-spiritual training, which includes exercise and physical therapy that avoids machinery and aims to restore a feeling of youthful vigour. The holistic anti-ageing supplements used are individualized to each client.
“Relaxation and pampering in the spa are top-most factors for anti-ageing,” says Dr Thumrong. “You cannot be younger unless you feel young and happy.”
Although Thailand isn’t the only country to bring its culture of meditation, massage, aromatherapy, good nutrition and traditional herbs to the anti-ageing movement, its blend of complementary, alternative and conventional approaches, combined with the famed Thai service, cuisine and hospitality, and exceptional value for money, make it a unique destination for people who are serious about healthy longevity.
Why Thailand? Coos Dr Kobkan: “The softness, it’s cheaper, it’s convenient, it’s graceful; everything you want you can have all day. People are here to serve you.” And, she adds, the mind of the therapist is focused “on holistic care and this goes to the patient like a vibration — this is important to us.”
What better start to improving the quality of life could there be?
HOLISTIC APPROACH TO ANTI-AGING
Chiva-Som International Health Resort - Hua Hin
Balavi Natural Health Centers - Bangkok & Chiang Mai
LEADING ANTI-AGING MEDICAL SPAS AND CLINICS IN THAILAND
Vitallife Wellness Center at Bumrungrad International, accredited by the World Council on Clinical Accreditation.
S Medical Spa
Tria Integrative Wellness
a unit of Piyavate Hospital.
BDC by Dr Orawan, The World Class Anti-Aging Institute
Samitivej Esthetic Center a unit of Samitivej Hospital.
For More Information on Anti-Aging
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