ANCIENT HEALERS

These luxury wellness destinations tap into the wisdom and practices of millennia-old well-being philosophies to help you restore balance and vitality, discovers Crystal Lee

- Crystal Lee

TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE (TCM)

An extensive medical system with origins dating back some 2,500 years, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) focuses on restoring balance between two polar energies in the body - the yin and yang. Practitioners believe that any disruption to the equilibrium of these opposing life forces can cause disease and illness. Diagnostic methods include symptoms assessment, auscultation (listening), pulse reading and tongue analysis. To restore the body's yin-yang harmony, treatments such as acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, gua sha, tui na, dietary therapy and herbal remedies may be administered.

Plan a visit: The Chinese Wisdom TCM Program at Sangha Retreat by Octave Institute in Suzhou, China, draws on the traditional principles and methodologies outlined in Huangdi Neijing, the earliest and most important scholarly work of TCM. Addressing a wide range of health concerns, such as chronic fatigue, persistent pain, insomnia, allergic and even immune disorders, the six-night programme aims to reharmonise the body's inner flow of energy. It begins with a Vital Qi diagnosis, a physical body composition analysis as well as a mental health check-in, followed by an individualised therapy plan that includes a cooking class, nutritional advice, sleep coaching as well as tai chi to encourage movement and concentration.

MAYAN RITUALS