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Оглавлениеfragrant herbal healing
"Don't overlook the techniques of ancient remedies... the healing power of herbs and plants is far deeper and greater than what you only see on the surface."
—Khun Komon Chitprasert, traditional herbal therapist and owner of Thai Herbal Spa
thai herbal
Traditional herbal remedies were once the secret domain of monks, local herbal healers and midwives. Because few people received a formal education in ancient times, healing traditions were passed down orally through generations within families. Very few records of healing knowledge exist; the ones that do are inscribed on manuscripts known as samut khoi, made of the same type of parchment used to record Buddhist scriptures.
Because much ancient medical knowledge came to Thailand from India through Buddhist monks, temples became the centres of learning with religious texts and manuscripts housed in special libraries. That is how monks gained a reputation as healers. There also existed a strong tradition of local folk medicine and herbal lore that involved animism, spirituality and astrology. Because monks themselves were folk people, some practices of folk medicine were incorporated into temple teachings. But as the vows of monkhood prohibited physical contact with women, midwives were trained in herbal medicine that specifically addressed issues of childbirth.
Local folk medicine contained elements of animism, such as the belief in the powers of rocks and stones for energy, and shamanism, with the concoction of medicines accompanied by chants and blessings. Midwifery was also concerned with the spiritual. An important element in midwifery was the belief that the midwife's role was to help prepare the spiritual path for the new baby that was about to enter the world. This was done by creating a state of Utopia in the mind, body and spirit for the mother, through the practice of herbal cleansing rituals and massages.
Turmeric has long been used by Thais as a powerful skin soothing facial cosmetic. Fresh turmeric can irritate sensitive skins, so often a dried, powdered form is used in facial treatments.
Yaa mong, or tiger balm, is a popular all-purpose remedy for insect bites, itchiness, rashes and skin irritations, and can come in herbal formulas such as this one.
Ancient Thai healing secrets were documented on parchment called samut khoi. This manuscript, in a northern Thai tribal dialect, describes herbal ingredients and remedies, as well as mystic beliefs and superstitions concerning the practice of traditional healing.
There are many traditional beliefs governing the practice of herbal medicine, such as the regulation of the times and places for the collection of herbal ingredients. It is known that evening flowers such as jasmine and ylang-ylang are best collected at night, when their powers are most potent. Healers are required to perform certain chants while picking herbs; they ask forgiveness from mother earth, or Phra Mae Toranee, and receive her permission to gather the plants. The chants are accompanied by the lighting of incense. "The chants imbue the ingredients with greater healing powers than if you buy them from the market," says herbal therapist and owner of the Thai Herbal Spa in Bangkok, Khun Komon Chitprasert, who comes from a long line of healers from Phitsanulok in northern Thailand.
It is also said that certain plants must come from certain locations, due to the type and quality of soil. The soil for the tong pan chang plant, whose bark and flowers are used to treat internal injuries, is best in Sukhothai so the most effective ingredients are known to come from there. The time and date of plucking herbs is also crucial—at full moon is best because the energies of earth, moon and sun are at their most powerfull then.
Thai herbs are often accompanied by stories of their healing properties. Luuk blag mae, or 'mother and daughter', is the name of a youth-enhancing herbal concoction that is said to make a mother look as young as her daughter. Legend has it that a mother who once ate the leaves of its ingredients immediately had fresher, younger skin! Another ingredient, the rhizome of dog thong, was used as a love potion for men because it was believed that it had the power to make girls fall in love.
According to traditional practitioners, herbal healing is a system of belief in the powers of nature and earth. "People are distracted by modern techniques and they overlook the power of ancient remedies," says Khun Komon. "They don't see how far-ranging the benefits of herbal medicine are. People should return to using traditional remedies, because their healing powers are far greater than what you only see on the surface."
Herbal cough syrup from the Chao Praya Abhaibhubejr hospital, Prachinburi province.
Dried herbal ingredients and medicines are still sold in traditional medicine shops in Bangkok.
Some old remedies, such as these herbal breath-freshening tablets, remain popular to this day.
SOAP NUT (Sa pindus emarginatus)
This ancient beauty ingredient derives its unusual name from the foam that is produced by crushing the fruit. For centuries Thai women have used the fruit to darken and thicken their hair. It is also believed to prevent hair loss.
KAFFIR LIME LEAF (Citrus hystrix)
Called makrut in Thai, this leaf is used in Thai cuisine to add a lemony flavour to soups and salads, while the zest is a popular ingredient in herbal compresses and the oil is used in aromatherapy. The fresh fruit is an all-purpose aid to hair beauty—making tresses soft and silky.
DEODORANT STONE
A rock-like mineral, saan som has been used by Thais as a natural deodorant and anti-perspirant for centuries. The 'stone' is wetted and then rubbed under the armpits. Before the advent of modern plumbing, the mineral was dropped into giant rainwater jars in order to 'deodorise' water; it drew sediment to the bottom of the jar, thus leaving the upper levels clear and fresh.
IVY GOURD LEAF (Coccinia grandis)
This attractive creeper is an age-old Thai medicinal ingredient used to soothe skin irritations, and is also a tasty ingredient in clear soups. Thais also found use for its moisturising properties as a beauty ingredient in body wraps and facial gels (it is good for use on normal skins.) The ripe fruit is high in vitamins, but its use is becoming rarer, because the fruit is tiny and difficult to find.
SEA SALT
Seen in glistening white heaps along the salt farms that dot Thailand's long coastal roads, natural sea salt has been adopted by many spas in beauty treatments. Mixed with essential oils, the gritty texture makes an effective body scrub.
LOOFAH (Luffa cylindrica)
Thais use the sweet-tasting young fruit of this gourd in a number of traditional dishes, and eat the flowers blanched, with chilli sauce. The dried mature fruit consists of thick fibres and is used as an exfoliating sponge in the bath.
BUTTERFLY PEA FLOWER (Clitorea ternatea)
For centuries Thai women have used the juices of anchan, a dark purple flower, to promote dark, lustrous, thick hair. It was also rubbed into babies' eyebrows to make the brows grow thick and long. The flower is rich in Bioflavinoid, an ingredient in modern-day hair products that stimulate hair growth.
COCONUT (Cocos nucifera)
The coconut has myriad uses in Thailand. When the fruit is ripe, the hard, white flesh is grated, soaked in water and squeezed to produce coconut milk, an important ingredient in Thai curries and desserts. The ripe fruit contains a juice that makes a refreshing drink in hot weather. Oil of copra, extracted from the dried meat, is used as an ingredient in the cosmetics industry. Coconut oil was used in the olden days to treat stiff joints; the oil was heated with prai (see page 19) and the mixture rubbed in.
RICE (Oryza sativa)
Rice is the lifeblood of Thai life. As the key crop and main food staple, it is highly revered in traditional culture and is protected by a goddess called Jao Mae Po Sob. The monarch officiates at the annual Royal Ploughing Ceremony, which marks the first day of the planting season. In the past Thais used rice to ward off ghosts—chanting monks endowed sacred properties onto rice that was then thrown on unwelcome spirits to chase them away. Many modern-day spas have adopted raw rice as an effective ingredient in natural body scrubs.
SWEET BASIL (Ocimum basilicum)
This fragrant, spicy herb—called horapha in Thai—is eaten raw or used as a flavouring in many local dishes. It has medicinal properties and is used in traditional healing to help reduce mucous in colds and flu, eliminate gas and aid digestion. As an aromatherapy ingredient, the essential oil of the basil plant is used to refresh the senses and relieve tiredness.
MENTHOL
Known as phimsen in Thai, this is a mineral with a sharp, minty smell similar to that of camphor. Its refreshing smell helps ease respiratory problems, coughs and blocked sinuses. Phimsen is an important ingredient in Thai traditional herbal steams.
PRAI (Zingiber sp)
Prai is a rhizome of the ginger family and has been used for centuries as a herbal ingredient in hot compresses that are applied to relieve muscular aches and pains. It is also a natural emollient and has been used by generations of Thai women to tone and soften the skin. Prai oil is also popular as a scalp conditioner and is used in aromatherapy.
GINGER (Zingiber sp)
Thais use both the young and mature ginger rhizome in many foods and beverages. Ginger is known as a stimulant that has a heating effect on the body. Taken as a herbal drink, it helps reduce gas and aids digestion. Traditionally, Thai mothers used a ginger treatment if their baby had an upset stomach. A paste of crushed ginger and rice liquor was rubbed on to the baby's tummy to soothe the stomach discomfort and reduce any gas. In aromatherapy, the essential oil is used to boost circulation and ease stiff muscles.
GALANGAL (Languas galanga)
This rhizome is often mistaken for ginger, but its whitish colour with a pinkish tinge identifies it as galangal, a popular ingredient in Thai soups and curries for its fragrant, tangy aroma. Though too pungent to be eaten raw, the fresh root is used in traditional medicine to relieve digestive ailments and cure skin diseases. Galangal finds its way into modern spa treatments as an ingredient in herbal body wraps.
TURMERIC (Curcuma domestica)
This orange-coloured rhizome is dried and crushed to form a powdered spice and colouring for many kinds of food. Called khamin in Thai, turmeric is one of the key ingredients in Thai healing concoctions. It is used in herbal medicine to treat stomach discomfort and in traditional cosmetics for skin care. When crushed, the oil the rhizome yields is an efficient natural moisturiser and it also has antiseptic properties.
Not pictured:
PAPAYA (Carica papaya)
The ripe fruit contains the enzyme papain, which is known for its digestive properties. The bright orange fruit contains large amounts of Vitamins A and C, and acts as a digestive when eaten unripe, or a laxative when eaten ripe. It is also known to contain AHA, making it a popular and effective ingredient in body wrap treatments to exfoliate and smoothe the skin.
THAI WHITE MUD (see page 101)
Thailand's famous white mud or dinsaw pong (the name means 'puffed-up pencil' because it is a white chalk that expands in water) is a natural cooler. It has a pleasant smell and traditionally was used in the same manner as talcum powder after a shower, to help cool the body in hot weather. It is used as an ingredient in face masks and body wraps for its cooling properties.
NUTMEG (Myristica fragrans)
Though not a commonly used ingredient in Thai cosmetics or cuisine, this spice has medicinal uses in southern Thailand. Here, the oil is extracted from ground nutmeg and is used in massage oil to soothe muscular aches and pains and stimulate the muscles. It has a warm, spicy scent that relieves fatigue.
LEMONGRASS (Cymbopogon citratus)
A signature ingredient in Thai cuisine, this grass-like herb has a sharp, fresh, lemony aroma, making it a favourite flavouring in food, drinks and cosmetics. As a medicinal herb, it was traditionally used to cure skin complaints and headaches, and was burnt to kill germs and repel insects. It is an ingredient in Thai herbal compresses for its soothing, invigorating and antiseptic properties, while the aroma relieves stress. As an ingredient in a traditional herbal steam bath, it helps clear the head and soothe hangovers.
MINT (Mentha sp)
Thais often add fresh mint to tangy salads; it is believed that mint aids digestion. In modern spa treatments it is used as an ingredient in body wraps and foot treatments for its refreshing smell. The essential oil of mint is used in aromatherapy to invigorate the senses and ease nasal congestion.
LIME (Citrus sp)
Lime is another signature ingredient in Thai cuisine: It is usually mixed with chilli and onions in soups and salads. As a spa ingredient, its acidity gives it the same qualities as tamarind (see photograph on right), but it is used in smaller quantities due to its small size. The essential oil is used in aromatherapy to boost circulation and it is an effective insect repellent. All citrus oils are also used as energisers.
TAMARIND (Tama rind us indica)
The incredibly sour tamarind fruit is eaten in a variety of ways in Thai cuisine and it also has a variety of medicinal uses: the bark is used as an astringent, the flowers can reduce blood pressure, and the fruit has a laxative effect. A refreshing tamarind drink can relieve constipation. The leaves are used in herbal steams as the acidity is thought to help the skin absorb the other herbal ingredients faster. Traditionally, wet tamarind was used as a beauty product: its high AHA content makes it an effective natural exfoliator and it was put on the face and body to brighten and smoothe the skin.
CAMPHOR (Cinnamomum camphora)
Extracted and processed from the camphor tree, kalaboon is a white powder-like substance with a cool, refreshingly minty smell used to ease and soothe respiration. The powder is used as an ingredient in Thai herbal baths and the leaves of the camphor tree are a vital ingredient in traditional herbal steams.
CUCUMBER (Cucumis sativus)
This crisp, refreshing vegetable has been used for hundreds of years as a face mask ingredient to help tone and moisturise the skin. Because of its high water content, chilled cucumber slices placed on the face provide immediate relief on a hot day.
ALOE VERA
(Aloe vera syn. Aloe barbadensis) Thais call this plant the 'crocodile tail plant' due to the appearance of its tapering, spiky leaves. When the leaves or stalks are pierced, a refreshing, healing gel oozes out. If applied to the skin, it soothes burns and is also a natural skin softener. Aloe gel is an effective natural sunburn soother and it is also good for moisturising dry or flaky skin.
herbal heat
The unique Thai herbal steam is one of the best known of the traditional therapies. It traces its roots back to ancient times; formulae differ from region to region, as individual healers have their own recipes based on their own knowledge of local plants and their benefits. Furthermore, different healers have formulated specialised treatments to cure various health conditions.
What is common to all herbal steams, though, is that they have fantastic therapeutic effects on your body. All you do is step into a dreamy, misty, heavy-scented room, lie back, and let the steam vapours do their work. As they penetrate the skin's open pores and enter the lungs, the molecules from the medicinal herbs are absorbed into the body. It's a real vitality boost, and also helps you to relax and clears the head. A totally self-indulgent treat is to combine your herbal steam with a massage. The heat from the steam room warms and relaxes your muscles in preparation to be thoroughly stretched by the masseur. A herbal steam is also good before a body wrap, as ingredients put on the body will be more readily absorbed by steamed, softened skin.
Afficionados swear by the Tamarind Retreat steam on the island of Koh Samui. Built into a crevice between two boulders on the spa's hillside property, the cave-like steam room is a dreamy place to soothe the body and clear the head. Guests enjoy alternating warming bouts in the steam room with refreshing chilly dips in their cold plunge pool.
The numerous tamarind trees that are the spa's namesake provide plentiful leaves—one of the key ingredients in their herbal steam. Other ingredients include lemongrass for its antiseptic properties; prai to moisturise the skin, ease sprains or muscular pain; turmeric to relieve itching and cleanse wounds; camphor leaves for their respiratory benefits; Kaffir lime leaves and fruit to clear dandruff; beach morning glory to clear skin inflammations and allergies; and tamarind leaves to speed the absorption of herbal ingredients in the skin.
The folks at Tamarind Retreat claim that their steam treatment aids respiration, relieves sinusitis, bronchial asthma, general stuffiness and stimulates circulation. It is also good for aches and pains and it cleanses the skin's pores. Above all, it relaxes body and mind.
The elegant lines of the black marble steam room at the Aman Spa, Amanpuri, Phuket provide an ultra-stylish setting for steam sessions. But the herbal steam comes with a word of warning: It isn't safe if you have hypertension or heart problems, and it's advisable to drink lots of water before, during and after the steam.
Ready-made preparations of dried ingredients can be bought in health stores around Thailand.
tangy citrus bathing
It's only one step from the traditional Thai steam therapy to the herbal bath, as many locally-grown herbs work well in water too. Inspired by the fabulous healing properties of Thai herbs and their ability to treat the body and revitalise the mind, the Banyan Tree Spa has come up with this herbal bath treatment to relax and cleanse your entire body. Here's how.
The ingredients used in this easy-to-make recipe can be found in any Thai kitchen—all you need is a piece of muslin cloth big enough to hold all the ingredients in a bundle.
| Quarter cup | dried Kaffir lime peel |
| Quarter cup | dried ginger powder |
| Quarter cup | dried galangal |
| One cup | fresh pandanus leaves |
Thai Kaffir lime is inedible, but the fragrant fruit and leaves have medicinal properties used in body and hair treatments. The peel contains oil that softens and moisturises the skin when used in hot herbal baths.
Using a mortar and pestle, crush the pandanus leaves well until the leaves become damp with their own juice. Mix all the ingredients together and wrap them into the muslin cloth to make a herbal pack. Tie the pack tightly with a cotton string.
Place the herbal pack under the running water so that the herbs soak in the water and fill the bathtub to the desired level. Shower and scrub your skin before stepping into the bath, then luxuriate in the scented water for 10-15 minutes. Afterwards, rinse off again under the shower and moisturise the skin with your favourite scented moisturising lotion.
Alternatively, you could try this traditional Thai steam with 3 or 4 Kaffir lime leaves, 2 tablespoons Kaffir lime zest, 2 slices prai, 6-8 stalks of sliced lemongrass, 1 sliced galangal root, a handful of tamarind leaves and 1 tablespoon camphor powder. Clean all the herbs and bring them to the boil in a rice cooker. When the steam starts to form, gently open the lid and sprinkle in the camphor powder and wait a few minutes. When more steam arises, sit opposite the cooker and cover yourself and the cooker with a blanket, all the while inhaling the aromatic vapours. Stay in your steam tent for 10-15 minutes. With repeated use, you'll notice a clearer complexion and less nasal congestion.
The popular herbal bath treatments offered in most Thai spas is a variation of the traditional herbal steam concept, and uses many of the same ingredients, such as lemongrass and Kaffir lime.
deep heat, thai-style
In Thailand, the round cotton bundles containing herbal mixtures were once the secret tools of ancient healers, and up until recently, could be obtained only from traditional healers or from the Thai massage school at Bangkok's Wat Po, or Temple of the Reclining Buddha. Nowadays, though, you can make your own with various combinations of herbs—for deep heat soothing of muscle aches and pains.
The origins of the Thai herbal heat compress are obscure, but it's known that such compresses were used to soothe the aching muscles of war-weary soldiers during the Thai-Burmese battles of the Ayutthaya period over 200 years ago. Such compresses were also popular in neighbouring Burma, Cambodia and Laos, though the formulae differ from region to region, depending on the local plants and herbs.
With the recent back-to-nature trend among stressed and health-conscious urbanites, these herbal compresses are now packaged and sold commercially in Bangkok's many health stores, so you can give yourself a quick-fix heat treatment at home. Some Thai women use these store-bought compresses on their abdomens after giving birth, to help ease the tired, bloated feeling that comes after childbirth. Called prakop in Thai, the herbal compress has been incorporated into modern spa treatments and is offered at a number of Thai spas, such as the Oriental Spa and the Banyan Tree Spa, often in conjunction with massage.
These herbal compresses have now become familiar sights in modern spas for relief of muscular aches and pains.
Ready-made preparations, as either powdered or dried herbs, can be bought in Thai health stores.
Traditionally the bundle was steam-heated over a charcoal burner. Most spas today use an electric rice cooker for quick and easy steaming.
Once heated, the compress is applied on sore muscles in conjunction with massage.
As with other herbal therapies, the ingredients in the compress may be mixed according to specific formulae to address specific ailments. Generally, the compress contains from 10 to 20 ingredients, though there are some standard ingredients that form the base of every compress.
The Oriental Spa in Bangkok has made waves with the way it combines traditional remedies with high-tech, modern techniques. It was the first Thai spa to incorporate this ancient healing method into their treatment menu, with their Oriental Herbal Pack treatment which combines massage therapy with the application of the herbal compress. If you want to make your own compress at home, they suggest you use some of the following healing ingredients:
Camphor: Its cooling and tingling sensation helps invigorate the skin.
Lemongrass: This has antiseptic properties to help clear up the skin.
Turmeric: Its antiseptic properties help soothe and cleanse irritated skin.
Prai: This ginger is a natural moisturiser that relieves muscular aches and pains while softening the skin.
Kaffir lime: These miracle limes help tone the skin.
Take a handful of each ingredient, and place them in a piece of cotton cloth and tie into a firm bundle. Heat the parcel over a steamer or hot pot before applying on to the body. Traditionally, the application was done in conjunction with massage—the sore muscles were worked first, then the heated compress was applied to the problem spots. The heat relaxes the aching muscles and helps to open the pores, allowing for better absorption of the herbal ingredients. Allow the heat to penetrate into your muscles, and feel stress and tension ease away beneath the healing kneading of a firm (but never painful) masseur.
Benefits include the soothing of sore and aching muscles, an easing of respiration with the ingredients camphor and menthol, and the reduction of tension through the heat and aromatic properties of the herbs.
best for baby, best for mum
Herbal therapies devised by Thai midwives have long played a key role in Thai traditional healing. In the past, most births took place in the home, and women took advantage of the healing secrets that midwives passed down from one generation to the next. Here's how herbs can help a mother—before, during and after childbirth.
During pregnancy, most Thai women soothe the backaches and leg pains that come with bearing the weight of the child in the womb with Thai massage. And as antenatal care was supervised by a local midwife, she would mix herbal formulae for all the ailments associated with pregnancy and childbirth. Each mixture was customised to suit the individual patient, according to whether the patient's energy type was of the fire, water, earth, or wind element. Special ingredients, mainly herbal roots, bulbs and rhizomes, were used for post-pregnancy treatments. There are a number of rhizomes known to Thai healers for their benefits to the womb; most are identified by their specific healing properties, such as waan chak mod luuk, meaning 'womb-pulling rhizome', a large, bumpy root that is believed to help tighten the womb.
Most women would have been prescribed yaa-hom, or 'fragrant medicine'; this comes in the form of dusty gold pellets made from a blend of medicinal flowers and herbs including ylang-ylang, jasmine and camphor, the scent of which is inhaled to relieve feelings of nausea or morning sickness. The pellets may also be dissolved in water and drunk as a tonic to soothe feelings of faintness or dizziness.
During labour, a professional midwife was always on hand: her skills were in demand, and after the birth she would cut the umbilical cord with a sharpened bamboo stick. Known for its antibacterial properties, the bamboo stick didn't have to be sterilised; as well as being sharp and clean, it provided the added benefit of sterilising and cleansing the wound.
Immediately after giving birth, the new mother would undergo the famous yuu fai or 'staying with the fire' treatment for a period of three weeks. This intensive post-pregnancy sauna treatment was once so prevalent in Thai life that everyone has heard of it even though it is not often practised today. The treatment required the woman to lie in a room at home where a fire was kept burning in a charcoal stove at all times, thus creating an intensive sauna. The high temperature forced the body to sweat, thereby flushing out the toxins accumulated during pregnancy. The new mother was not allowed to bathe during this period, and the body was wiped down with a wet cloth instead. No herbs were used with the sauna, but yuu fai was supplemented by herbal treatments that helped reduce swelling and encouraged the womb and muscles get back into shape after the rigours of childbearing. Turmeric poultices were applied daily to the abdomen and buttocks, to help cleanse and tone the skin, bringing it back to health.
It was believed that, as well as ensuring complete recovery of the womb, the yuu fai treatment gave benefits in later life too. It was said that women who didn't undergo the sauna would become temperamental and experience mood swings upon reaching their 50s and 60s. And they would be more prone to aches and pains from during spells of cold or damp weather.
The new mother also took a daily herbal steam treatment using herbal mixtures specifically formulated for post-pregnant women. She sat in a small tent where medicinal herbs were steamed on a charcoal stove placed inside the tent. The treatment lasted about 10 to 20 minutes, and it was believed that the greater the amount of sweat, the better the detoxifying effects on the body.
As with other Thai herbal therapies, post-pregnancy healing treatments varied from region to region, with various ingredients and methods of heat and herb applications. Khun Rungratree Kongwanyuen, Spa Manager at the Lanna Spa, remembers a post-pregnancy midwife therapy used by her older sister. Unique to their seaside hometown of Hua Hin, in Thailand's central Petchburi province, it was called mod luuk khao ou or 'womb returning into place'.
It consisted of a series of herbal incense sticks, the size and shape of cigars; each was composed of a special preparation of dried, crushed herbs that were mixed into a paste and moulded around a wick. Each stick was lit and then placed into a flat metal box called a glong fai. The metal boxes were in turn placed in a specially made, sectioned cotton belt resembling a money belt, tied around the new mother's waist. This heated belt was worn all day and night for 15 days; as each herbal incense stick burned out, it was replaced by a newly lit herbal stick. During this treatment, the new mother was able to go about her daily tasks as usual, without being confined to the tortures of a heated room, as in the yuu fai sauna method.
Ingredients used in traditional midwife therapies include certain rhizomes that are known to have specific postnatal healing on the womb. The yuu fai, a herbal sauna treatment, requires the new mother to sit in a heated tent for a period of three weeks to cleanse the body of toxins accumulated during pregnancy.
wrapping it up
Thai herbal practitioners have long recognised that the application of heat on the skin enhances the healing effects of herbs—hence the tradition of using herbal steams, saunas and heated compresses. Inspired by the age-old heat treatments used in Thai traditional medicine, modern-day spas have adapted this concept to create the Thai herbal body wrap.
First, you warm up in the herbal steam, then have a bracing body scrub to exfoliate dead surface skin, and finally a herbal mixture is massaged onto the entire body. You are then wrapped, mummy-like, in plastic and left cocooned under a blanket. Some spas may wrap you in a heated blanket to relax the muscles and induce sweat, while others use regular blankets whose natural warmth helps activate the heating effects of particular ingredients in the herbal mixture. As the body lies in the herbal wrap, the combination of heat and herbs takes effect—the heat helps open the pores, allowing for better absorption of the ingredients into the skin, and the herbal wrap works to detoxify, moisturise and soften the skin, depending on the particular mix of ingredients used.
Just as traditional healers had their own recipes for herbal remedies depending on their locality, the various Thai spas have their own versions of herbal body wraps that offer different therapeutic benefits. Bangkok's Oriental Spa harnesses natural ingredients that have been used in herbal healing for centuries in its Oriental Herbal Wrap Treatment. They use the following ingredients:
Thai White Mud (dinsaw pong)—helps draw out impurities, heals wounds, clears rashes
Turmeric—antibacterial skin freshener
Camphor—cleanses minor infections
Mint—antiseptic and antibacterial
Tamarind—contains vitamin C and calcium
Honey—heals and moisturises the skin
Milk—moisturises and softens the skin.
All the products are applied on the body and you're wrapped in plastic sheet. After 20 minutes it's washed off and the result is smoother, softened skin, with a healthy, radiant glow.
The versatile banana leaf is put to myriad uses in Thai culture, from food wrappers to plates. Some Thai spas, such as the Lanna Spa at the Regent Chiangmai, use banana leaves as part of exotic herbal body wrap treatments.
Healing turmeric root lends the distinctive yellow glow to the Oriental Herbal Wrap mixture shown here.
thai tonics
Looking good is not just a matter of what you put on the outside of your body; good looks come from within. A radiant complexion, healthy hair and skin and general well-being aren't the result of a beauty product or two. While it takes real will power to make radical changes in your diet, the easiest way to make a transition from unhealthy eating habits to a better new you is to start with what you drink.
The key to a good complexion is water—and plenty of it. Drinking lots of mineral water throughout the day not only makes you feel good, but keeps your skin hydrated and prevents it from looking parched. If you are watching your weight, a high water intake makes you feel less hungry. Try mixing a little fruit juice with mineral water and drink it half an hour before meals. Since your body takes 20 minutes to register feeling full, the juice will help cut your appetite by raising your blood sugar level.
Drink plenty of fresh fruit juices naturally rich in vitamins and minerals and avoid chemically concocted, artificially flavoured sodas. In a country abundant with luscious tropical fruits, Thais have been eating raw fruits and drinking fruit juices as part of their daily diet for centuries. And added to this is the age-old custom of drinking fresh herbal drinks and herbal infusions for their health benefits.
Thais have long drunk the fresh green juice of a herb called bua bok, or Asiatic pennywort (Centella asiatica). The sight of bua bok juice vendors ladling glasses of freshly pressed juice from carts piled high with fresh green herbs was once a common sight around Bangkok. The vitamin-rich juice relieves heartburn and many believe it aids the healing of internal injuries if drunk immediately upon the appearance of bruises. The plant has astringent properties and in traditional herbal medicine it is applied topically to heal wounds and burns. Thais still drink it to remedy bruising and as a general health tonic, though these days the roadside vendors have all but vanished in the city.
Herbal infusions have had their place in the Thai diet for centuries. The number and variety of fruit, herb and vegetable drinks found in Thailand is comprehensive, with wide-ranging benefits for the health and complexion. Roselle, bael fruit, ginger, and lemongrass drinks are popular tonics and have a refreshing taste on hot days. Soy milk and chrysanthemum tea were brought into Thai culture by the Chinese immigrants, and now they have become part of the everyday Thai diet.
