Making the physical personal
Published in Living in Thailand on 1 January 2002
When you own a car, you generally get a professional to give it a periodic check once you’ve clocked a certain mileage. But do you do the same for your body?...more

Battling breast cancer
Published in Living in Thailand on 1 July 2001
Twenty-eight year old Penkhra Jitjamnong found the lump in her breast when she was on a cold Phuket beach two years ago. "I touched it by accident, and knew something was wrong," she says. "I had also been eating a lot, but not putting on any weight." Despite her doctor telling her she was probably far too young to have cancer - most women diagnosed are aged over 40 - her test results showed otherwise....more

Selecting a shampoo
Published in thaifin.com on 30 June 2001
We've all sat in hair salons and smiled nervously as our stylist has suggested buying an expensive salon shampoo. We've thought about that Bt80 bottle of pleasant-smelling shampoo sitting at home in our shower recess and wondered, "Is the extra price for that really worth it?"...more

Protecting your hair
Published in thaifin.com on 21 June 2001
Hot, polluted and humid: Bangkok is your hair's worst nightmare. Add blowdryers, curling tongs and hot hair rollers to the equation and your hair's going to need all the help it can get if it's going to remain strong and healthy. Thankfully, an increasing range of protective products are now hitting the shelves - but you don't necessarily have to spend up big to keep your hair looking beautiful....more

Makeup can help you save up
Published in thaifin.com on 21 June 2001
Buying a new lipstick or a new eyeshadow can be a great pick-me-up, but if you tend to impulse buy makeup too frequently, it can also eat into your budget. A good way to save cash while also keeping up with the latest trends in makeup is to get a complete makeover when the urge to spend bites. ...more

Vitamin C: Helping in the defense of your skin
Published in thaifin.com on 4 June 2001
Your skin will be smoother and more fresh looking; fine lines will disappear; your skin will be brighter and lighter. These are the various claims cosmetic companies make for vitamin C, and in theory the vitamin can indeed help your skin in several ways. ...more

Sharp ways to stay healthy
Published in The Bangkok Post on 30 April 2001
While many in the West consider acupuncture to be an "alternative" medical treatment, it has been practised for up to 5,000 years in China. It's perhaps ironic then, that Samitivej hospital physiatrist Dr Chirapan Vinaikulpong finds that it's her western patients who request acupuncture rather than her Thai patients. "This might be changing, but most of my Thai patients are afraid of needles. Europeans are afraid of chemicals."...more

Alpha hydroxy acids: Good for the skin?
Published in thaifin.com on 20 April 2001
Alpha hydroxy acids, or AHAs, have been used in low quantites for cosmetic purposes for centuries - Cleopatra bathing in milk is one legendary instance of the use of lactic acid - but they only reached the mass Thai market in the mid-90s, where they're still going strong. ...more

Lend an ear and stay in tune
Published in The Bangkok Post on 2 April 2001
According to experts, up to ten per cent of the population in Thailand may have some sort of hearing problem. Adults with a history of ear infections, long-term use of antibiotics, or diabetes are particularly susceptible to hearing problems and should get regular checkups. Anybody who experiences a diminished ability to hear, who has an attack of giddiness, or who hears ringing in their ears should also seek medical attention....more

Give your baby a healthy start
Published in thaifin.com on 2 April 2001
You may not be planning on falling pregnant soon, but if you're of child-bearing age it's still worth knowing about folate, one of the B vitamins. In the US, over half of all pregnancies are unplanned, and as folate is needed both before and during the first weeks of pregnancy to help prevent birth defects, women planning pregnancy should ensure they are taking enough....more

Plastic surgery for the body
Published in thaifin.com on 2 April 2001
Plastic surgery is not limited to the face. Two of the most popular procedures carried out on the body are liposuction, a procedure which removes fat from certain locations on the body, and augmentation mammoplasty, the surgical insertion of either saline or silicone implants to increase the size of the breasts....more

Plastic surgery for the face
Published in thaifin.com on 2 April 2001
If you're not happy with the face and body that nature has given you, plastic surgery might make improvements that are more to your taste. As with all surgery, there's a risk involved, but for some people the outcome can mean greater confidence and a changed outlook on life. According to plastic surgeon Dr Amorn Poomee, more people are opting for surgery these days. "Many people already look good, but they want to be happier with the way they look, and more self-confident." ...more

Swim for fitness and fun
Published in The Bangkok Post on 26 March 2001
In a city as steamy and polluted as Bangkok, what could be more pleasurable than jumping into a cool, fresh pool to do some exercise? Besides burning off the calories, you'll feel refreshed and re-energised afterwards as well....more

Colour yourself beautiful
Published in thaifin.com on 19 March 2001
Like the length and style of your hair but tired of your look? Colouring is an option, and the choices available have never been so wide. ...more

Challenge your mind and your body
Published in thaifin.com on 19 March 2001
Based on various beliefs from China, Japan, Korea, Thailand and other countries, the martial arts are about more than physical exercise: they involve intellectual and spiritual components to help develop the individual as a complete person as well. Objectives may include connecting the mind with the body, or the individual with the universe, and physical practice helps to achieve this. Here's a list of what's available in Bangkok....more

Shop around for that special delivery
Published in thaifin.com on 10 March 2001
With the coming of the economic downturn, more hospitals have developed so-called baby or maternity packages, so that customers have a better idea of what the final price of delivery might be. Usually three packages are offered: for normal delivery, normal delivery with an epidural, and caesarian section delivery. The quoted price usually includes the delivery team and necessary medications, and a limited length of stay....more

Cervical cancer: The importance of screening
Published in thaifin.com on 5 March 2001
Doctors say that cervical cancer, which begins in the lining of the lower part of a woman's uterus, is the most common form of cancer in Thai women, and the cancer that causes the most deaths. This form of cancer, however, is easily detected and treated if found early. In Thailand, the National Cancer Institute estimates that for 1993 to 1997, the average incidence of cervical cancer was 18.6 cases per 100,000, but this is probably a considerable underestimation, given shortcomings in reporting. ...more

How to keep that smile in shape
Published in thaifin.com on 5 March 2001
Studies repeatedly find that even though people around the world are aware of the importance of oral health, they avoid going to dentists - and there's no reason to suspect that Thailand is any different. "In every country there is a section of the population who will put a priority on their health, and will have check-ups, while some people don't. It's the same everywhere," says Dr Kiertichai Pongpairoj....more

Aromatherapy massage: Your nose knows
Published in thaifin.com on 19 February 2001
It may have been popular thousands of years ago - Cleopatra, the last of the ancient Egyptian queens was a famous devotee of it - but aromatherapy has only recently enjoyed a resurgence around the globe. In Thailand, aromatherapy massage in particular has become a standard offered by spas to customers seeking a reduction in their stress levels, and an improvement in their overall health....more

The oral contraceptive pill
Published in thaifin.com on 19 February 2001
Oral contraceptives, known commonly as "the pill", have been available in Thailand since the 1960s, and have long been the most popular contraceptive due to their availability - unlike in many other countries it can be bought over-the-counter - and low cost. In addition, when taken correctly, the pill is 99 per cent effective....more

Cha cha your way to health
Published in thaifin.com on 19 February 2001
Latin dancing has taken Thailand by storm over the last few years, and although the trend has slowed, there is now an entrenched dancing scene in town. Before you dust off your dancing shoes and join in, however, you might like to find out about what the style of dancing is, where some of the dances come from, and what your options are when it comes to taking classes....more

No more squinting
Published in thaifin.com on 5 February 2001
Whether you wear glasses and put off going to get your script checked, or you've never worn glasses before in your life, it's worth considering whether a trip to an optician or opthamologist might be beneficial. ...more

Protein makes perfect
Published in thaifin.com on 5 February 2001
With lifestyles changing and hair colouring being more popular than ever before, your hair could benefit from adding a regular salon protein treatment to your hair care routine....more

Pedicures for punished feet
Published in thaifin.com on 5 February 2001
They're easy to forget about, but your feet deserve some special attention occasionally: the average person walks more than six kilometres per day, or an astounding 184,000 kilometres in a lifetime. And bearing the brunt of this are those two complex but compact anatomical networks at the end of your legs, containing 26 small bones and more than 150 ligaments....more

Throw away your glasses
Published in thaifin.com on 5 February 2001
More and more Thais are gleefully throwing away their glasses, thanks to developments in the refractive surgery industry. Technology is improving, and prices are falling as competition among centres increases. ...more

Breast cancer in Thailand
Published in thaifin.com on 15 January 2001
Worldwide, it affects millions of women: It killed 385,000 women globally in 1997 and one in nine American women will have it by the age of 85. But there is some good news on breast cancer: with an increasing awareness of the disease, and more sophisticated technology, the early detection and treatment of breast cancer is becoming easier and is improving women's chances of survival....more

Support for breast cancer sufferers
Published in thaifin.com on 15 January 2001
"It was like the end of my world," says twenty-eight year old Penkhra Jitjamnong, of being told two years ago that she had breast cancer. "I had so many questions, like why me? There were no right answers. I didn't know what to do, and I didn't know what to say when people would ask me 'Are you going to die?' "...more

Getting a good cut from your stylist
Published in thaifin.com on 15 January 2001
It's happened to nearly everyone: a haircut that's failed to live up to your expectations or even had you in tears by the time you've arrived home....more

Tended talons
Published in thaifin.com on 15 January 2001
It can be a marvellous spectacle to watch a woman with very long painted nails at work, using a telephone, taking notes. But for the ordinary woman, it can be troublesome enough just trying to keep her nails healthy and respectable looking. The key? ...more

Soothe away stress with a bath
Published in thaifin.com on 15 January 2001
You're home. It's been a long and hectic week, or just a stressful, never-ending day. The last thing you feel like doing is heading outside your sanctuary again to get a treatment. Why not treat yourself to a luxurious bath in the comfort of your own home to help you unwind?...more

Are skin whiteners safe?
Published in thaifin.com on 15 January 2001
It's difficult to avoid seeing those advertisements for skin whiteners plastered across billboards, those images of smiling Thai women with snow-white skin shown on TV and in cinemas, in magazines and newspapers. ...more

The benefits of yoga
Published in thaifin.com on 15 January 2001
Do you sometimes feel like you're operating at half-speed? Are you stressed out? Or perhaps you're feeling like you just don't get enough exercise, but the thought of working out at a gym utterly bores you to tears....more

Where to do yoga in Bangkok
Published in thaifin.com on 15 January 2001
Although the history of yoga stretches back some 5,000 years, in Bangkok yoga has been taught formally for only around 40 years - rather surprising if you consider that some scholars assert that yoga practice is central to Buddhism. There are many different styles of yoga, with the main differences stemming from what component is emphasised. This can include the alignment of the body, the coordination of breath and movement, or maintaining a smooth flow from one posture to the next. What's important is finding a style and a teacher that you like. ...more

A breath of fresh air: Yoga for expatriate women
Published in planetexpat.com on 6 September 2000
The air might usually be filled with thick traffic fumes in Bangkok, but that doesn’t mean you should hold your breath. In fact, you’d be doing your body and your mind a great service if you were to learn to breathe properly in Bangkok – or anywhere else. ...more

Just breathe
Published in Bambi magazine on 1 September 2000
Canadian Lesley Hogya, an Iyengar yoga instructor currently teaching pre-natal classes in Bangkok, certainly makes yoga during pregnancy sound like a treat....more

Pre-natal poses
Published in The Nation on 26 August 2000
“Yoga poses can nurture the pregnant woman in a way that other forms of exercise won’t. Lying on bolsters and having pillows and blankets all around you – I mean, how luxurious!. And then being told to just lie there and breath…”...more

Walking tall
Published in Bangkok Metro Magazine on 1 May 2000
Around the globe there are a whole lot of fitness-freaks slowly coming to their senses. These are the people who maybe started aerobics in the ‘80s but have now had it with jumping around interminably on carpets stinking of sweat; or they’re the joggers of the ‘90s who are tired of being injured or just sick of mindlessly pounding the pavement. ...more

Spiritual moves
Published in Living in Thailand on 1 May 2000
Yoga has been around for longer than any archaeological records; by its very nature, it leaves nothing behind to point to its existence except for tales of the amazing powers possessed by some of the best yogis. ...more

Finding balance
Published in The Nation on 21 April 2000
Petcharapan Sangsawang used to suffer from allergies. Nearly every morning, her nose ran, she would sneeze and her head would be uncomfortably congested. ...more

Yoga bare
Published in Bangkok Metro Magazine on 1 April 2000
Want to learn how to stand on your head? Maybe your shoulders? No, not for a party trick, but to improve both your physical health and that of your mind as well? ...more

All material copyright Samantha Brown 1997-2005