Holistic remedies help thousands of people worldwide to overcome problems ranging from more serious diseases to the common cold. Holistic Therapist Nitchara Yimsuk answers some frequently asked questions, and tips us off about a versatile treatment called moxibustion.

What does holistic mean?

In holistic treatments we look at the whole person – physical, emotional and spiritual – rather than just treating the symptoms of the problem. We consider a person’s mind and body, diet and exercise, lifestyle and relationships, work and leisure, achievements and problems. Imbalances in any of these areas can contribute to illness.

Where do holistic treatments come from?

Holistic medicine is also known as alternative, integrative or complementary medicine, as it complements conventional practices. It may include, but is not limited to, the following disciplines: spiritual, religious, newly developed approaches to healing or pre-modern medical traditions. Chinese medicine, for instance, follows the holistic principle.

How do they work?

There are many approaches, from energy healing to the use of natural and plant products. The Taoist principles, on which Chinese medicine is based, stress the oneness of everything, the inseparability of solid matter and energy, the fact that there is a common source of all phenomena and experience.

What are some of Chiva-Som’s most popular holistic treatments?

The Detox Retreat is popular. It includes the Cleansing Diet, Colonic Hydrotherapy, Chi Nei Tsang and Acupressure Reflexology. Also high on the list are Flower Essence, Homeopathy and Moxibustion.

What is Moxibustion?

It’s a treatment from Traditional Chinese Medicine in which the herb Moxa Punk is burned on or above the skin at acupuncture points. Sometimes we use other herbs.

How does it work?

The heat warms the blood and the qi (the life force), which improves the flow within the energy channels of the body. Sometimes Moxibustion is recommended as a stand-alone treatment, at others it has a synergistic effect with acupuncture.

Why is it so effective?

The Moxa leaf is bitter and acrid and its nature is pure Yang. Depending on the amount used it produces a gentle warmth or a strong heat and expels cold and dampness.

What is Moxibustion recommended for?

It’s varied. It may be used in the treatment of acute diseases, cold syndromes, diseases of the channel and exterior syndromes, or chronic syndromes and diseases of the viscera (the internal organs). It’s frequently applied in treating arthralgia due to wind-cold-dampness. Also Yang collapse syndrome; Chronic Dysentery, Asthma, Phlegm Retention and Flaccidity Syndrome. It’s also good for some external syndromes, such as carbuncles and the common cold. Additionally, it can work in general health maintenance and disease prevention.

We hear it’s also useful in pregnancies?

Yes, Moxibustion has been used for centuries in China to turn breech babies. The theory behind this practice is that the heat travels up the bladder meridian, which is linked to the uterus. Additionally, it’s useful in treating some Gynaecological Diseases – such as Dysmenorrhea, Prolapse of the uterus, and Leucorrhoea – and Infantile Diseases, including Enuresis and Diarrhoea. Moxibustion is very versatile.

What are the latest holistic treatments that Chiva-Som is offering?

Vacuum-Cupping Massage and the Emotional Freedom technique are both new, and also Maya Massage, which is part of the Detox Retreat offered in the Spa.

How can people find out more about these remedies?

They can consult the website (www.chivasom.com), where there’s a list of holistic treatments and a brief description of each, or they can visit us here at Chiva-Som. All guests are welcome, and we are willing to make initial consultations for every individual who comes.

Our team of Naturopath Doctors and Practitioners work in a very secluded and peaceful environment.

Many of us would like to lose some weight. We would look and feel better, and it’s well documented that being the optimum weight has significant health benefits. The problem is, it’s not easy, either to lose the weight or to maintain the loss. But there are measures that can help. The key is organisation and understanding the processes involved.

Chiva-Som’s approach to weight management involves a multi-faceted programme designed to achieve positive changes to body shape with lasting results.

You can only lose weight by eating fewer calories, burning more calories, or, best of all, through a combination of the two. Because each person is different, the first step is a personal consultation with our naturopaths, who assess your individual dietary profile. They will determine your optimum calorie intake and can recommend appropriate supplements or complementary herbal formulas.

We then establish your body composition and degree of flexibility, strength, and cardio-endurance. This comprehensive physical analysis and fitness assessment ascertains which exercises will benefit you most as an individual.

Healthy, long term weight loss is achieved by losing body fat and gaining muscle tissue through exercise. Because muscle is very metabolically active, it burns calories throughout the day. This combination means your total weight drops considerably and you’re also protected from regaining it in the future.

Additional issues such as stress, food craving and emotional eating can also be a barrier to long term weight management. Chiva-Som’s custom-made programmes can help you overcome these through annexed treatments like EFT, acupuncture or hypnotherapy.

It sounds easy. And it can be, if you have the right weight management structure in place to help you. It’s certainly worth the effort: your body will re-shape, becoming toned and tight, and your health will improve – two things that significantly increase levels of happiness and self-esteem.

For more information please visit Chiva-Som’s weight management site.

Chinn Neo – a previous guest at Chiva-Som – is very happy. “[Ken Rosen] treated my husband Robert Lau for his nicotine addiction,” she says. “And after having smoked for the past 20 years, he has stopped! This is AMAZING!!”Chinn not only now has a healthier husband, she also has no unpleasant smoke odours hanging around the house. True: nicotine is incredibly addictive. But with the help of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), you too can stop smoking.Ken Rosen is Chiva-Som’s Practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine. “At Chiva-Som,” he says, “we offer a complimentary half-hour stop-smoking treatment that follows the NADA (National Acupuncture Detoxification Association) protocol. “The treatment consists of four or five needles placed painlessly at specific points in each ear. After three to ten half-hour sessions, most people quit, and many report back a year later saying they remain smoke free.”But how does it work? Ken explains: “The ear is a nexus of energy in the body. During the treatment, the body’s nervous energy tries to push the needles out and tunes into itself for healing. When the needles come into equilibrium with the body and mind, the nervous system has been reset in a very profound way. Sort of like restarting a computer.”Another method to stop smoking is offered by renowned therapist Paul Emery. He uses a powerful combination of EFT and other psychological techniques, NLP for instance. “I can often reduce cigarette cravings in a matter of minutes,” he says. “And I provide guests with a quick tool to use if they need to reduce future cravings or stress.” EFT is based on 5,000 year-old Chinese principles. “It’s a psychological version of acupuncture, but without needles,” Paul reveals. “Instead, I tap specific meridian points. The treatment helps guests to quit smoking physically and psychologically, breaking links with associated activities such coffee breaks and meals.”TCM and EFT can be used for any addiction, including drugs, food, and work stress. They both have a deeply relaxing effect on the whole person, complementing other therapies at Chiva-Som.

Pregnancy can be one of the most fulfilling times in a woman’s life. The joy of bringing another human being into the world creates a tremendous feeling of contentment and anticipation, but it is also a time of great physical and emotional upheaval. So the Spa at Chiva-Som has designed a range of new treatments to help pre and postnatal guests enjoy a secure and tranquil experience.

Together with exercise, good diet and rest, these treatments can play an important role in helping you cope with the stresses of nine months of pregnancy and postnatal recovery.

The Pre and Post Natal Body Treatment combines soothing massage with the therapeutic benefits of E’SPA products, and has been carefully designed to improve the tonicity of the skin. It’s performed on a bed designed for comfort and safety during pregnancy.

After deep skin cleansing and a gentle body polish, you will have a luxurious body massage with E’SPA’s specially developed Nourishing Body Oil. Some essential oils such as basil and marjoram should be avoided during pregnancy, so the silky Nourishing Body Oil is based on Jojoba, blended with Calendula, Grape Seed and Sweet Almond Oil.

We then envelop your body in warm Marine Mud to nourish the skin, and end with a deep acupressure point scalp massage.

The Spa at Chiva-Som offers many other treatments for pregnant and nursing mothers. These include Floatation, which induces a deep state of mental relaxation and helps to eliminate stress and tension.

With Oriental Foot Massage you recline in the Chiva-Som Music Therapy chairs as the therapist works reflex points in the feet and ankles to balance the entire body, stimulate the circulatory system and alleviate muscle tension.

For ultimate pampering, try the Bath Of Chiva, performed in the candlelit luxury of your own room as tension is soaked away in a hydrating milk bath with rose petals and chamomile flowers.

Please ask at reception for more details of all these treatments.