Chiang Mai : Health

Health


Chiang Mai a city of good health Chiang Mai, the largest city in the north of Thailand, was founded by King Mengrai as the capital of the Kingdom of Lanna on Thursday, 12th April 1296 .
Today Chiang Mai is the tourist, business, educational and health centre for the region.
Chiang Mai has retained many of its ancient traditions and its unique culture. It is blessed with a healthy climate and outstanding natural beauty, surrounded as it is by forests and mountains.
Chiang Mai attracts visitors from such neighbouring countries as Bangladesh, Burma, China, India and Laos and, indeed, from all over the world. Although most visitors come for pleasure, more and more are also taking the opportunity to sample the excellent heath facilities that are so speedily available at such reasonable cost.
The Chiang Mai Health Service Promotion Association consisting of both government and private sectors, ensures standards and quality in the fields of Medical and Dental Care, Traditional Thai Massage, Spas and Herbal Medicine.



Dental Care In 1935 the Minutes of the Chiengmai Gymkhana Club recorded, it was decided that the club should take the initiative in inviting a dentist from Bangkok to visit Chiang Mai at Christmas.
Today there are sixty-five dental practices in Chiang Mai, there are specialist dental hospitals, all major hospitals have a dental clinic and the University Teaching Hospital has a dental faculty that provides undergraduate and postgraduate education and is also a source of knowledge and research for the profession. Contact is maintained with overseas establishments and frequent seminars are held thus ensuring that all dentists in Chiang Mai are kept up-to-date with the latest technology.
I cancelled my holiday when I found that I needed extensive dental surgery that would cost US$10,000. A friend advised me not to cancel but to come to Chiang Mai for treatment. I was met at the airport by the dentist, all my problems were solved and I then had a marvellous two week holiday all for less than US$5,000 Hannah from Israel.



Spas Until very recently a spa (called after a small town of that name in Belgium - a very popular resort in the early nineteenth century) was a health resort at which natural waters or baths could be taken by people suffering from rheumatism and kindred complaints.
Today spas have changed out of all recognition, and nowhere more so than in Chiang Mai. The Lanna tradition of massage and of herbal remedies for the treatment of physical and mental conditions reaches far back in northern peoples memories; methods and recipes have been handed down through matriarchal lineage from generation to generation.
Thai Lanna spas have grafted this ancient knowledge onto the new wave of international spas to create something very special.
Whether you wish to sooth your senses after a period of stress or a long flight. Or perhaps get a jump start to a more healthy life style, or simply to indulge yourself with a little pampering spas are increasingly popular destinations whether for a vacation or a one day getaway.
Thai Lanna spas base their treatments on a variety of ancient and modern practices from water, aromatic and Ayurvedic systems to hot stone and Swedish massage, to achieve good health, healing, complete relaxation and soul rejuvenation. The atmosphere at the spas, the gentle grace and skill of the masseuses make this an experience of a lifetime.



Medical Care Dr. McGilvary of the American Presbyterian Mission arrived in Chiang Mai in 1867 with his wife and two children. The journey up the river from Bangkok took them three months. He was the first to introduce modern medicine to the people of Lanna quinine for malaria and vaccination for the prevention of smallpox.
Today there is an internationally renowned teaching hospital at the heart of Chiang Mai University which provides support and up-to-date knowledge to the sixteen private hospitals in the province.
Many of the doctors who graduated from the university have obtained further qualifications overseas in various fields of expertise. The very latest state-of-the-art equipment is installed in all the leading hospitals.
Emergency care, accident trauma, cosmetic surgery, long-term residential care of the elderly; all aspects of medical care, supported by the famed attention of Thai nurses, are all immediately at your service and the cost is surprisingly reasonable.
Please visit the directory page for contact details of hospitals and clinics in Chiang Mai.


Herbal Medicines For centuries herbal medicines have been used in conjunction with incantations and massage to treat physical and spiritual malaise. Herbs, algae and mushrooms were gathered in the forests and dispensed by monks and village elders.
Today there is a strong movement back to these simple medicines long despised by western science.



Herbal healing traditions have deep roots in Lanna. Herbal heat compresses, steam treatment and Thai massage are derived from folk lore and ancient midwifery techniques. Today, natural products and aromatherapy are respected and widely practiced as one of the most popular complementary medicine therapies.
Many Thai herbs are used in cooking or as drinks green algae found in fresh water ponds is used as a substitute for meat in larb; it is rich in vitamin A and calcium.
Essential oils from plants and flowers are used by spas as a natural adjunct to massage, inhalation and steam baths sweet basil is refreshing, lemon oil is stimulating, lemongrass eases indigestion, the scent of jasmine relaxes the central nervous system.
The herbs found in the mountains and forests of Chiang Mai are good for just about any ailment as well as simply making you feel good.



Traditional Thai Massage The ancient practice of relaxing massage was passed on from generation to generation in the farming families of Lanna.
In the 1830s King Rama III set up a massage and herbal medicine school at Wat Pho in Bangkok. Today it is still the premier school for students and most of the best northern masseuses have graduated from there.
The various types of traditional Thai massage can be categorised as follows:-
1) For general relaxation, the relief of fatigue and nervous tension, to stimulate the blood and improve physical fitness.
2) To cure simple ailments such as muscle pain, stiffness, cramp, low back pain and to help the elderly or paralysed who are unable to exercise.
3) Foot massage which is adapted from Chinese foot reflexology and which helps to stimulate and improve activities of the internal organs.
4) Even though the science of oil massage originated in the west, the people of Lanna have from ancient times used fragrances and herbs to enhance the health giving benefits of massage.
5) Some masseuses are specially trained to massage young babies, giving a warm and loving touch.
Thai traditional massage is often combined with a full spa experience, but there are also many traditional massage parlours and schools where you can yourself learn the art.