Thailand M.D.

Thailand is renowned for its hospitality. The quality of the hotels and the standard of service are equally famous, but what are less well known are the exceptionally high standards of its private health services. Recently Tourism Authority of Thailand organized 1st Thailand Health Travel Mart at Central Grand Plaza Hotel, Bangkok and brought buyers from 10 counties to showcase the range of health care available here.

With highly qualified medical staff and the latest technology, Thailand's private medical care now add the hospital to its world famous hospitality. Overseas-trained doctors and specialist are the norm, while multilingual staff ensures that there are no barriers to communication. Many private hospitals have established partnerships with first class international medical schools and healthcare institutions. Recently I was visiting Bumrungrad Medical Centre for the opening of the first in-hospital Starbucks and what struck was that it didn't feel or smell like a hospital and I kept making the mistake of referring to it as a hotel rather than a hospital. But then that is one of the benefits of private medical care, it is in a nice environment where a patient feels relaxed, calm and happy which will help the recovery process.

Having the feel good factor is great but how do costs compare with having the same operation in Europe, Australia or the States. In Thailand a chest X-ray, Mammography and ultra-sound breast scan costs B3,000 (US$73); a Hysterectomy B39,000 (US$950); a boob job including one night in hospital B73,200 (US$1785); a facelift involving three nights stay in hospital B59,900 (US$1,460) and; the one operation that Thailand is most famous for a sex change with between five and seven nights hospitalization costs B106,600 (US$2,600). Clearly prices in Thailand are more affordable than in most Western cities.

When holidaymakers become ill or are involved in an accident, their travel insurance normally covers the cost of medical treatment in Thailand until they are medivaced back their country of residences. A nurse with British Airways Medical Service who came to Bangkok to escort a patient back to London recently told me " When I told him that I was accompanying him back, he replied No Thanks, I want to stay here, the service is better". Once they have checked into one of Thailand's private hospitals, they just don't want to check out.

Apart from corrective medicine Thailand is also famous for traditional healing by treating the whole person - body, mind & spirit and it can be found in the simplest and the most sophisticated environments.

The healing qualities of hot sulphur springs have been long recognised and Thailand has several mainly in the North. Local people and visitors alike come to ease tired bodies and aching limbs in the rejuvenating waters. A good long soak will freshen up the most lethargic of bodies. The skin feels fresh and tingly, the mind clear and relaxed, ready for some more adventurous action.

According to ancient Chinese theory there is a "yin" and "yang" in aspects of the body that have to be brought into balance. If you are more yang it is likely that you feel confident, enthusiastic and in control of your life. If you become too yang you will be aggressive, impatient, intolerant and frustrated.

Yin and yang apply to all aspects of our daily lives, our diet, the exercise we take and the way we heal ourselves. One natural way of restoring and keeping the balance is to immerse the body in the healing waters of a hot spring.

Traditional Thai Massage- "nuad phan boran" - is a vigorous and euphoric experience dating back over 2,500 years. It combines yoga and acupressure techniques, manipulating the body's internal energy using pressure points and yoga positions. Wat Po is generally regarded as the home of traditional Thai Massage. There can be found stone inscriptions with diagrams of the human body with key points marked. It is the skilled, controlled application of pressure by the masseur's hands at these points, which stimulates blood circulation and so effects cures.

The massage techniques alleviate epilepsy, the early stages of paralysis and speech defects, as well as more common ailments including fevers, headache, backache, stomachache and other pains stemming from tension.

Thai massage should be considered as a spiritual experience with links to the teaching of the Lord Buddha. It should be performed in a meditative state; only then can the masseur read the energy flows in the body. The giving of massage should be the physical application of "metta"- loving-kindness. That is meant in the purest sense without any sexual implications.

Traditional medicine relies heavily on the health giving qualities of forest plants. Most of the ingredients used in Thai cooking carry medicinal qualities. Such a variety of ingredients is not only music to the palate, but harmony to the whole body. The chilies, ginger, lemongrass, bergamot and lime leaves that feature so strongly in Thai cuisine are there not only for their distinctive taste, but to stimulate the digestive system.

The herbs used in daily meals are said to contain the four elements; Earth, Water, Wind and Fire. Earth is acidic, sweet oily and salty; Wind is chilli hot; Fire is bitter; Water is sour. "Nam Phrik" the condiment found on every Thai table, integrates all taste sensations; sour and salty, sweet and savoury, hot a spicy. Thailand's plants, herbs and spices ensure a balanced diet and contain all the valuable nutriments for wellbeing of your body, mind and soul.

Whatever type of Medical care you may be looking Thailand clearly some of the finest at affordable prices.