Chinese medicine health spa

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

I have just started an exciting new project and would appreciate any ideas,

advise and what else comes to mind.

I am opening a holistic health spa, attached to a 4-star hotel in a very

pleasing beach resort in the South of Brazil (my new home). We are having

Spa guests on a one-week, 2-weeks, etc. basis (though also considering to

implement a short 3-day programs), who have a hotel suite, special diet and

7 days / week spa activities (consisting of phytotherapy, acupuncture,

massages, physiotherapy, Yoga and / or Tai Chi, mediation, herbal baths,

art therapy, etc.) with additional sauna, jacuzzi, pool, beach etc.

facilities.

 

Clinically and practically speaking, this is of course in many ways

different from running a herbal medicine or complementary health practice -

overall treatment over a shorter period of time (though there is a

possibility to provide continuing herbal medication for some time after the

program), but very intensive residential care and treatment protocols with a

great deal of control over diet, lifestyle, etc.

I think there is a real chance of proper integrative multi-disciplinary work

here, obviously with tailor made individual treatment plans. The philosophy

and treatment approach of the spa is a mix of Oriental and holistic western

tradition.

From a selling point of view, and in line with the demand within the

health-tourism sector, the spa activities will be primarily marketed via the

hotel's tourist operators as weight reduction work, well-being / anti-stress

and detox programs.

I would prefer a more 'medical approach' such as arthritis / rheumatology,

dermatology programs, etc., though this would be more difficult to sell and

could lead to problems with medics and their professional bodies. We will

see how to tackle this in the future. At the end of the day, the latter is

only a marketing and legality issue, as clients of course will be treated

according to their individual / constitutional needs.

Many possibilities and a huge amount of work still to be done, but this

could really take off, even internationally, as we can offer the package at

a very competitive price.

O.K., long introduction...

 

I would be very interested to hear (on- or off-list) about anything that

could be relevant: Treatment programs that work; good detoxes; simple and

effective treatments that we don't get to do in our practice (or to learn at

our colleges) - the kind of thing you can (for practical constraints) only

do at home or for your friends and loved ones; herbal baths and packs;

books; internet resources; places that do this kind of work in other parts

of the world; solid advise on running and advertising this kind of business;

lateral thinking... you get the idea.

Sorry for the length of the email.

Much obliged & kind regards,

Dirk

 

 

Dirk Gerhard Petzsch, BSc (Hons) Herbal Medicine Lic. O.H.M. Lic. Ac.

MNIMH MRCHM MBAcC

Fitoterapeuta & Acupunturista

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Well if you're marketing a spa, how about some cosmetic acupuncture

thrown in?

 

There's someone I knew who had an idea he was trying to eventually do

related to the integrated ideas you're throwing around, which may

work given you will see people for a week or so but not have them

return as maintenance patients.

 

The idea is that many people go from one type of practitioner doing a

specific kind of therapy to another doing something else until they

find the thing that fixes their problem. As alot of us know, this can

be hit and miss, and thousands of dollars can be spent in the process

of finding out what works.

 

So his idea was to have a patient come in to a setting similar to

what you're proposing and have them try out a host of different

modalities, with each practitioner giving their input as to whether

or not they think it would be beneficial in the long run, based on

what's going on with the person and how they respond. The patient can

also see what they like / identify with the most. The end result for

the person is a lifetime maintenance plan put together and discussed

by all practitioners involved that says what types of therapy would

work best for them along with lifestyle recommendations. Then you

discuss the plan with them and send them home along with contacts in

their local area.

 

Even if you charge a thousand dollars for a week of this it would

save people money in the long run. It could also provide the more

medically oriented perspective you're looking for.

 

--brian