Tamarind: Tamarind is used in many Thai foods, but its health giving qualities make it an important part of any beauty regime. It contains vitamins B and C as well as potassium and magnesium, which can help give your skin a healthy glow. In Thailand, tamarind is often used in facials and body scrubs and is said to help fight fine lines and wrinkles.
Mango: Lovely fresh mango is ubiquitous in Thailand, so you’d expect that it plays a big part in the spa industry. Mango can reduce dark patches on the skin and fight acne and pimples. Used in hair treatments, mango can act as a natural conditioner and treat dandruff.
Papaya: This exotic fruit has some amazing qualities when it comes to health and beauty. It is most often used to make a simple face mask with a little fresh lemon added. It acts as an anti-oxidant and can ward off wrinkles.
Lemongrass: Lemongrass is the quintessentially Thai ingredient and its smell evokes everything from a fine Thai meal to a bustling market. It plays a huge role in Thai beauty too and boasts anti-bacterial and antiseptic qualifies. It is used as a skin lightener and toner, and its distinctive smell makes it a good ingredient in home-made deodorants. Remember though that lemongrass is astringent; make sure you only use a small amount if you are putting together your own beauty treatments.
These are just a few of the many ingredients that can be incorporated in your Thai beauty regime. There are many others; such as, guava, seaweed, bananas etc. that can help you look and feel great. So next time you’re seeking a new spa treatment, check the menu for these ingredients and you know you’ll get a treatment that has been tried and tested for centuries.
Eat your way to beauty
Of course, the occasional spa visit, while fun and beneficial, is just a small part of any beauty regime. Your diet plays a major part in how you look. Eat well and you will always look vibrant and healthy. It is Thai food and the Thai approach to eating that has perhaps had the greatest influence on the beauty of the people here. So it’s a good idea to pick up some diet tips while you visit the kingdom.
Thai women eat a lot of fruit and vegetables as snacks or part of main meals. Also, fish is more often eaten than red meat, which, it is felt, can clog up the body’s pores and passageways. Healthy spices are used in all dishes be it large amounts of garlic, turmeric and fresh chili, which helps you sweat, improving circulation and cleansing the pores.
Many of Thailand’s native fruits offer more than nourishment and can be used medicinally and in beauty treatments, including (clockwise from bottom) Tamarind, Mango, Coconut, and Papaya
In addition, Thai people who feel hungry between meals are more likely to reach for a piece of fruit; such as, mango or papaya rather than a chocolate bar or potato crisps. These are habits well worth picking up if you want to enjoy a healthier Thai lifestyle. If you’d like to learn about some of the amazing and healthful dishes and how to choose the best ingredients, there are cooking classes offered all over Thailand, lasting from a morning to several weeks – perfect if you’re looking to eat your way to beauty.
Meditation
Everyday stress and worry eventually starts to show on your face in the form of wrinkles and frown lines and sometimes even acne and hair loss. One theory as to why Thai women seem to age more slowly is because Buddhist traditions and regular mediation enable them to stay a centre of calm, whatever stresses and frustrations life might throw at them.
Research says stress causes blood vessels to constrict so that blood, essential minerals and vitamins can’t get to the skin’s surface so easily. Also, when you’re stressed, the body diverts some blood flow away from your skin to give your muscles more energy. Meditation helps you to relax, so your body releases chemicals to counter stress. What’s more, the breathing techniques used in meditation help to spread oxygen throughout the body and eliminate toxins.
There are many meditation courses on offer in Thailand, and you don’t have to be seeking spiritual enlightenment to enjoy the health advantages. Most hotels and health centres in Thailand offer courses to give grounding in meditation basics, or you can go on a retreat to experience the huge benefits, spiritual and health based, if you want to enjoy a deeper understanding of Thainess.
Everyone can benefit from the wisdom of generations of women. So if you are heading to Thailand, make sure you make time for a little indulgence. You’ll not only look and feel better, but a little spa time or a makeover gives you the chance to relax, enjoy some gossip and make new friends, and experience an ancient aspect of Thai culture.
More information
In August 2016, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is running a new campaign aimed at women travellers. Women’s Journey will focus on all aspects of travel and health, and many spas, hospitals and clinics are taking part offering a range of special services at good prices.
To learn more, please visit http://womensjourney.tourismthailand.org/
To ensure women travellers get to most out of the Campaign, TAT has also released a mobile application that enables them to navigate the offers and promotions and to plan their schedule accordingly. The products, services and events are listed under five categories: Beautiful Look, Beautiful Shape, Beautiful Mind, Beautiful Retreat, and Beautiful Experience. The app, called Women’s Journey Thailand, can be downloaded from Play Store and iStore.
For high-resolution images of some of the fruits and herbs of Thailand, please click to visit the TAT Newsroom Photo Library – Food, Fruits & Herbs: Fruits and herbs of Thailand.