Doo-doo-doodloodl-doo-doo-doo-dooo! That’s circus music and you are the juggler!!! You constantly juggle all of the aspects that make a life. Let’s say those aspects are Health-Family-Business-Finance-Social-Intellectual-spiritual. Doo-doo-doodloodl-doo-doo-doo-dooo – you have to find time for all of those to lead a balanced life.

Spiritual aspects could be as simple as having a purpose to your day or you could even find a higher purpose. Intellectual aspects include learning and personal growth. Financial aspects give you the tools to do and have things. Business/career is a necessity for money and contribution. Family and partners need time and attention too – relationships are important! And without your health and fitness you are sick or dead!!! That is a lot of balls to juggle – maybe they need to be prioritised?
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SAUNA AND STEAM BATH
The sauna or steam bath plays an important part in traditional Thai medicine. It is well known that saunas promote general health, relaxation, cleansing of the skin, and detoxification by encouraging release through the sweat pores. In the Thai tradition, specific therapeutic herbs are added to the sauna in order to enhance these effects, and in order to treat many conditions. Herbal saunas are used in treatment of respiratory diseases and infections, circulatory problems, skin disease, eye problems, sore muscles, colds, headaches, stress, and anxiety, among other ailments. Saunas are used daily by Thai mothers in the weeks after giving birth, and there are herbs that are specifically used for this purpose. A regular herbal sauna is also considered to promote longevity.

Many traditional medicine providers in Thailand from hospitals to individual massage practitioners—have a sauna or steam bath which is either used after massage or on its own. These saunas do not necessarily have to be of the cedar-paneled variety we know in the West. One of my massage teachers in Chiang Mai built a small hot-box in her back yard from sheet metal. This “sauna“ had only enough room for a single occupant, who sat on a small wooden chair. Under the chair, a single electric steamer (of the type used for steaming vegetables) provided the steam. Even more simply, I have often used a stove-top steam inhalation for colds and sinus infections. Many of the herbs listed in Chapter VI may
be steamed or dropped in boiling water. Leaning over the pot or steamer with a towel over one’s head is an ideal way to catch the aromatic vapors, although one must be careful to avoid being burnt by the hot steam or irritating the eyes.
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HISTORY OF THAI MEDICINE
Thai medicine, like most aspects of culture in Thailand, is based on indigenous tradition and a colorful blend of Indian, Chinese, and Khmer influences. The historical progenitor of Thai medicine, Jivaka Kumar Bhaccha (pronounced by Thais as “Shivago Komarpaj”) is revered by almost all practitioners as the “Father Doctor” of Thai medicine. Jivaka was an historical figure, a contemporary of the Buddha, and personal physician to the Buddha’s order of monks and nuns over 2,500 years ago. He was a renowned Ayurvedic doctor in his time and is considered by Thais to be the original teacher of the Thai massage system, as well as the source of Thailand’s complex herb and mineral pharmacopoeia.

The Father Doctor plays a central role in the spiritual beliefs of Thai healers to this day. Most herbalists, masseurs, and traditional doctors maintain a shrine which includes statuettes of the Buddha and the Father Doctor side-by-side, and prayers such as the one at the beginning of this book are chanted daily to invoke the spirit of the Father Doctor to assist in the healing of patients.
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The vast array of supplements, all promising to benefit your health, physical performance or mental power, presents a confusing choice for regular exercisers. Many are advertised in fitness publications alongside impressive testimonials or sports celebrity endorsements, which can make the product’s claims appear very convincing. But, despite the hype, many have little, if any, scientific backing. In this chapter you’ll find an independent evaluation of the most popular supplements marketed to regular exercisers. Read the rest of this entry »

When it comes to losing weight, those who exercise regularly have a head start. Whether you wish to lose a few pounds or have a bigger goal, exercise provides a healthy way to burn off extra calories. The problem is that even if you work out daily, it is hard to lose weight through exercise alone. Studies have shown that the secret to successful weight loss is regular exercise together with a healthy and careful calorie intake. Follow the eating tips throughout this chapter to help you drop those unwanted pounds.
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