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SCMP Reporter

The tranquil islands of southern Thailand are home to many resorts that offer alternative health treatments

WWW.HPS-ONLINE.COM

E-mail: info@hps-online.com

Website owner Joshua Cravitt  stumbled on The Spa Resort  en route to another resort in Koh Samui.  He had intended to get a regular massage and was introduced to cleansing. Since then, he has undertaken thousands of cleanses  and has never looked back from his health regime.

Based on his own cleansing experiences, Mr Cravitt designed a four-level Seven Day Wonder cleansing programme, aimed at teaching    the full gamut of maintaining health through a simple fasting and cleansing regime.

The programme promotes healthy eating habits as part of an ongoing post-cleansing   maintenance programme, and emphasises  integrating the maintenance programmes in daily life.

Treatment programmes and prices

Four levels of seven-day online cleansing programmes, each tackling a specific part of the body or health issues, plus recommendations of herbal supplements and reference books. (US$330 for each level, not including cleansing equipment and herbal supplements.)

Health Oasis Resort

26/4 Moo 6, Bangpo, Maenam Beach

Koh Samui 84330

Website: www.healthoasisresort.com

The resort was set up by owner Mel Loverh  at the end of 1997 'as a result of a powerful vision' while in Australia. It claims to be the only detox resort that offers the entire range of healing practices, including Chinese medicine, Ayurvedic  treatments, Thai medicine, bodywork and energy healing, training courses and health practices. It claims the detox programmes  on offer are  a result of 'deep and hands-on research' by Mr Loverh, incorporating pioneering techniques in fasting, colon  cleansing, oxygen therapies, organ cleansing, energy healing and use of health devices. The founder also claims to offer a unique service of Vortex Astrology, which uses birth dates and birthplaces 'to determine the two places on the planet where one's energies merge'.

The enterprising founder is  franchising the business concept worldwide.

Treatment programmes and prices

Cleansing packages (one to nine days) - (1,500 baht to 27,000 baht or HK$292 to $5,271)

Pampering packages (2,800 baht - 9,000 baht)

Weight control (4,000 baht - 13,000 baht)

Smoking withdrawal support, three days (3,500 baht - 6,500 baht)

Stress release (3,000 baht - 21,000 baht)

Constipation (3,500 baht - 9,000 baht)

Energy boost (2,800 baht - 9,000 baht)

Accommodation

36 resort bungalows at 675 baht to 4,000 baht a night

Dharma Healing Centre

63 Moo Tee 1 Ang Thong, Koh Samui, 84140

Telephone: 66 7723 4170

E-mail: fasting@dharmahealingintl.com

The centre was preceded by a one-bungalow fasting operation in Sawai Home Bungalows 17 years ago by a friend of the  current owner Hillary Hitt. She was  teaching yoga, meditation, nutrition, water exercise and  Thai language in the bungalow resort at the time.

After training with the fasting teacher for six months, the teacher returned to her home country and Ms Hitt and her ex-husband took over her bungalow and started the healing centre, offering a set of fasting programmes.

Emphasising personal attention for individual cleansers, the operation remains small, taking in only  up to 30 fasters per month.

Treatment programmes and prices

Seven to 21-day fasting and detoxification, cleansing, liver detox and fasting for weight loss programmes with colonic irrigation, plus classes on alternative therapies such as yoga, chi gung, water exercises, Buddhist philosophy, foot reflexology and iridology diagnosis. (17,000 baht)

(Each extra day within two weeks is 2,300 baht per day. The third week is 16,000 baht.)

Accommodation

Bungalows range from 400 baht up to 600 baht per night.

Long-term stay for  more than a month: 10,000 baht up to 18,000 baht per month.

Spa Samui Resorts

P.O. 1, Lamai Beach, Koh Samui, 84310

Tel: 66 7723 0976

Fax: 66 7742 4667

E-mail: thespa@spasamui.com

Owner Guy Hopkins's mother was terminally ill with cancer and handed him a copy of a book on curing cancer with Vitamin C. His mother's illness was a wake-up call for him to  take responsibility for his own health. The former operator of a restaurant and bar in Hawaii then did a Swedish massage course and embarked on the road to investigate the roots of illness,  and what could  be done to stay healthy. 'I found by getting back to basics ... cleaning out the body, exercise, relaxation, proper diet and proper breathing, one could enjoy optimum vitality, rid themselves of disease and feel great.'

In 1992, a friend of his suggested opening a health resort in Lamai where he has a lease on a piece of land. So, after living in Thailand for nine years, he opened The Spa Resort on Lamai, which he now runs with his  wife Toi, offering a range of cleansing and other treatment programmes.

Treatment programmes and prices

3 1/2 day fasting and colon cleansing (US$175)

Seven-day learning programmes (US$260)

Liver flush programme (300 baht/day)

Meditation and insight teachings of Buddhist philosophy

Classes in yoga, chi gung, reiki, meditation, raw food and  Thai massage herbal steam room (250 baht/hour)

VIP steam room and massage (650 baht)

Thai massage (250 baht/hour)

Classical Thai massage, two-hour session (600 baht).

Back neck, shoulders and stomach massage 1 ? hours (600 baht)

Hand and arm massage, one-hour session (300 baht)

Massage with 'Dtoh'  massage teacher  (800 baht/two hours)

Ear coning, clear the ears of debris and help relieve sinus congestion. Available in five herbal blends (700 baht)

Wild mint oil relaxing massage (350 baht/hour)

Aloe Vera body wrap, healing clay facial (300 baht - 350 baht/hour)

Thai herbal facial  (300 baht - 350 baht/30 minutes)

Yoga (200 baht), chi gung, Thai massage classes (700 baht)

Reiki (500 baht - 900 baht)

Meditation classes (free)

Accommodation:

A total of 57 beach or  hillside bungalows or villas from 350 baht to 4,500 baht/night

Sanctuary Resort KoH Phan Ngan

Haad Tien, Koh Phan Ngan, Thailand

E-mail: info@thesanctuary-kpg.com

Website: www.sanctuaryfasting.com

Describing itself as a boutique resort rather than a retreat centre, the resort opened in 1989 and aims  to offer a peaceful and tranquil environment for 'like-minded people' to pursue 'self-growth and healing therapies' or to just relax in the natural environment. Its Spa and Wellness Centres offer sessions and group seminars on a range of alternative practices such as reiki, cranial sacral treatments, rebalancing, hypnosis, astrology, inner child therapy, sound work, belly dancing, massage, shiatsu, tai chi and yoga. The Wellness Centre is designated for fasting and cleansing, and is a non-eating area to eliminate temptation for residents. The resort also has a large New Age esoteric library with  more than 3,000 titles.

Treatment programmes and prices

Seven-day cleansing complete, (US$350, $50 per additional day)

Gentle cleanse, one- to seven-day introductory cleansing programme (US$220, $40 per additional day)

3 ?-day mini fast, (US$200, $50 per additional day)

One-day quick cleanse (US$60)

Accommodation:

Sanctuary Wellness Centre bungalows (for cleansers), US$15 per night

Other bungalows US$10-$50 a night

Thai hut with no bathroom, US$5

New Body and Mind Retreats

41/1 Moo 2 Lipanoi 84140

Koh Samui, Surat Thani, Thailand

Telephone: 66 1894 4513

Website: www.gosurvival.com

E-mail: contactus@newbodyandmind.com

The retreat offers a cleansing programme in combination with yoga, meditation, breathing exercises, herbal cleansing, shiatsu massages, herbal steam, food education and fasting for a one-week to two-month duration. It emphasises the use of organic or  herbal products in the detox programmes. It also offers a fasting and colonic cleansing programme without the use of colonic irrigation for people who like to fast, cleanse and detox but don't like the idea of colonic irrigation. The retreat monitors  blood pressure, and body mass index daily during the cleansing.

Treatment programmes and prices

One-week fasting and colon irrigation package (US$800)

One-week rejuvenation package (US$850)

Three-week substance abuse treatment (US$1,250)

One-week spa pampering package (US$900)

(Prices include accommodation)

Accommodation

10 bungalows



Thai havens