– by Pirunrat Nathchayanonth (Yori), Client Coordinator
It has a been more than a year since Covid19 introduced itself and it seems to refuseto leave. We are all struggling, coping and pushing through. So how are you? How have you really been doing? Check in with yourself and touch base with your feelings. Are you overwhelmed? To be completely honest with you, I find myself anxious a lot of times.
In a world where the pandemic is preventing everyone from socializing and connecting freely like how we used to, depression levels have increased distinctively due to isolation and freedom limitation. It is already hard for anyone to cope with curfew, lockdown, and quarantine. Imagine how much harder it is for those with existing mental issues.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the mental health of people of all ages. Now, more than ever, it is critical to reduce the stigma around mental health struggles, because that stigma often prevents individuals from seeking help.” – Mental Health America (https://www.mhanational.org/mental-health-month)
If you are facing emotional changes that you feel it’s out of your control, we want you to know that you are not alone. This year more than ever we have to help each other get through the challenge hands in hands. And as we celebrate Mental Health Awareness this month, we would like to introduce you to our newest partners specialized in the area.
Coach Bharati is a Certified Positive Psychology Coach and a Certified Positive Educator. Her ability in creating a safe space and her empathic and gentle coaching style makes it easy for clients of all ages to open up to her. Her presence, active listening skills and nonjudgmental outlook is key in establishing a connection and building a rapport in a short span of time. Using evidence based approaches and Positive Psychology principles and intervention tools, Coach Bharati works with clients to facilitate constructive and sustainable changes that supports improved mental and emotional well being.
Penelope Booth, Counselor – Niraamaya Center
Penelope (Penny) Booth grew up in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England. She moved to London to pursue a Nursing degree. After backpacking through Europe for almost three years, she settled in Sydney, Australia for 32 years. In Sydney, she studied Naturopathy at the Australasian College of Natural Therapies, completing three advanced Diplomas in Herbalism, Nutritional Medicine, and Naturopathy (including Homoeopathy). After graduating, she set up a successful clinic in Sydney, specializing in Women and Children’s Health.
She moved to Bangkok and started working at the Niraamaya Centre in 2016, and has treated many clients for various physical and mental issues such as anxiety, depression, digestive issues, infertility, and hormonal imbalance. Additionally, Penny also specializes in treating health issues in children such as ADHD, anxiety, digestive issues and more. Through a combination of herbs, homeopathy, acupuncture, nutritional recommendations, and counseling she treats and supports her clients journey to complete wellbeing.
Remember, there is nothing wrong in seeking professional help if you have already exhausted all other alternative options. You are not defected in any way. You are just being mindful about yourself and that is a good thing! It means you are aware of your situation and you’re doing what’s best for you.
Here at Enliven, we are here to help connect you with the right specialist for your specific needs, to make sure that your journey will always be full of support with ease and focus on your peace of mind. When you are ready to reach out, we will be here through every step of the way 😊
– by Pirunrat Nathchayanonth (Yori), Client Coordinator
Are you looking to get your medical treatment sorted in Thailand during Covid, but afraid that it will not be possible?
Let us tell you that it is! With a well-structured system created to support foreign tourists, you can still travel to Thailand for affordable treatments with excellent services.
But what to expect flying into Thailand now?
Here’s what our client has experienced and shared with us.
“We arrived on May 1st from Bangladesh on a chartered flight arrange by Thai embassy. There are about 5 steps you have to complete before you get to your Alternative State Quarantine hotel (ASQ).
After disembarkation, it will be quite a walk and you’ll arrive at the receiving hall where they will seat you 6 feet apart. A staff will come to check your documents and you will be given a slip. Then at the Health Section, your temperature will be taken and you will be asked about your quarantine time whether it is for 7,10 or 14 days (not applicable after May 6th, everyone will be quarantined for 14 days as before). Your address in Thailand and other documents will be checked again before you proceed to immigration and to collect your luggage.
Once you come out, you’ll find your ASQ driver waiting for you wearing a full PPE. Your luggage will be sprayed thoroughly and once you get in the car, you are separated completely from the driver with a clear divider.
It is very impressive, we had seamless experience hence the worry we had before coming over was unfounded. All precautions were systematic and very wellexecuted. Though I haven’t travelled much during Covid but I haven’t heard about another country where it is systemized so well like this. From what I have witnessed,Thailand’s immigrationis well-maintained and efficient. All these worries prior to arrival were for nothing, once you arrive it’s pretty easy.”
Mr. Arman Haque – Bangladeshi Medical Tourist
Through Enliven, Mr. Haque reached out to us to help connect him with a nutritionist and other specialists for his family. Not only we were able to connect him to the experts he requested for, we also helped him with his accommodation and other domestic travel arrangements. At Enliven, your health and wellnessare always our priorities and we can also facilitate other things as needed. We understand that with all that has been going on, your options seem limited, but rest assured that Thailand is taking extraordinary precautions to still be your choice of Medical Tourism destination.
As Dr. Mark Hyman (one of the most renowned functional medicine physicians) says in his latest podcast (pasted below for your reference), “The impact the gut has on the entire body should not be underestimated, but unfortunately in conventional medicine it often is. We are shuttling pounds and pounds of food into this tube we have called the digestive system several times a day and we don’t give it a second thought—it’s pretty crazy when you think about it. The gut is responsible for our ability to turn food into fuel; to absorb and even create certain nutrients; to rid the body of harmful toxins on a daily basis. We rely on it to do so much for us.”
Luckily we have a gut health expert in Bangkok itself. Her name is Laura Martin and she’s wonderful. Have a look at our interview with her below.
Tell us a bit about yourself and why you are so passionate about gut health.
My name is Laura Martin. I’m a certified nutrition and lifestyle consultant and creator and founder of Healing to Happy, which is an online program that focuses on healing the mind from the inside out approach. The story behind Healing to Happy and gut health is long, but a quick little version of it is that from an early age I struggled with depression, anxiety, constipation, disordered eating, and just overall a toxic lifestyle which ultimately resulted in me getting very ill. After unexpectedly losing my mom, I found myself wanting to make more out of my life. Food had been something I was struggling with so I started with nutrition (to make peace with my enemy) and moved forward from there. I realized over time that as I was eating better, my digestion began to improve but so did my mindset. I started to feel happier overall and making better decisions, which in turn helped to create a healthier life outside of what was happening on my plate. So, I decided to go back to get certified as a gut specialist so I could learn more about the microbiome, specifically the gut-brain connection and how we can use nutrition and lifestyle to help heal depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses.
What is the gut?
The gut helps you take in and digest your food and utilize the nutrients to fuel your cells. It’s the organ that is in direct contact with the outside world through our digestive tract – starting at the mouth all the way to our anus. So what you put in is incredibly important to your overall health and wellbeing.
What is the microbiome?
Your microbiome is made up of trillions of different bacteria that grows into a 3 lbs mass. This mass controls everything about you! From the way you digest your foods, to the genes that are turned off and on, to the weight that you hold, to the way your hormones work, to what’s happening on your skin, to how you feel. We naturally are made up of these bacteria but it’s our job to make sure that your gut is in balance so that you don’t see flare-up in any of these areas.
How does someone know if their gut is healthy or not?
Do you have digestive issues (constipation, diarrhea, IBS, SIBO, candida, etc)? Do you have skin flare-ups? Do you have cravings and mood swings? How are your hormones and what’s your PMS like? Do you suffer from an autoimmunity or are you constantly falling ill? Do you suffer from depression or anxiety? Those are all good indicators that you have an imbalance in your gut. Majority of people nowadays are suffering from some type of gut dysbiosis, it’s just a matter of how extreme it is or not.
What are some of the lab tests they can take to find out?
Honestly, I think there is no better test than yourself which is why I provide my clients with a Gut Diary so they can track themselves. I’ll usually start clients off with elimination diets, but without the scare behind it. I work with people that are working through food fears so we have to be mindful of that approach. If that doesn’t work or if their symptoms are more extreme, I’ll suggest that they go meet with their functional medicine doctor and either do some stool, urine, blood, or breath tests.
Why do you call the gut the second brain?
I’d arguably say that it’s the first, actually! Like I said earlier, the gut is made up of trillions of different bacteria but it is also home to over 100 million different neurons and over 30 different neurotransmitters, along with controlling 85% of your immunity. It holds as much power as your spinal column and brain. Your gut houses 90% of your serotonin levels, that’s your happy hormone! Along with 50% of your dopamine levels (your reward hormone). So it makes sense that after a long day at work, coming home and having a bowl of ice cream and pizza helps to give you that dopamine and serotonin boost. This is also why I’m a huge nerd for using foods to help navigate through depression and anxiety and understanding how inflammation can impact our mental wellbeing.
How does our diet influence the gut microbiome?
Like I said earlier, our gut is in direct contact with our outside world. It starts at our mouth with the food we put in and goes all the way through. So, it’s pretty important that we be mindful of what we’re consuming, right? If we have a diet that is highly inflammatory, meaning foods that are loaded with sugar, overly processed, or that don’t agree with our body, it can offset the balance of good to bad bacteria in our gut. We will never have 100% good, but we do want to ensure that we have a healthy balance between the two.
What impact does sugar have on the gut?
Yes, sugar is one of the main culprits but this doesn’t mean fear all sugars such as fruit and the like, our cells need glucose to function properly. I’m talking about processed sugars. These feed the bad bacteria, set off an alarm response in the body, and throw the system totally out of whack. These are all things that can lead to leaky gut which will then result in a flare-up of the symptoms I had mentioned earlier. This is why in my programs we focus on a leveling up the diet to one that is rich in whole, real foods. I don’t care what diet you follow, the base of any of them is to eat mostly plants and to avoid the center isles of the grocery stores. You want a diet that is rich in fibers to feed the healthy bacteria along with vibrant colors to boost the diversity of the food for the gut. You’ll also want to make sure that you’re getting quality proteins and healthy sources of fat so that you keep your blood sugars levels stable, which in turn keeps your moods stable. And also, fermented foods!
What are prebiotics?
So, prebiotics are the indigestible fibers that only your gut bugs can munch on. Prebiotics occur naturally in many plant-based foods such as garlic, leeks, root vegetables, asparagus, green bananas, and legumes.
What are probiotics?
Well, we’ve been talking so much about the good bacteria- those are probiotics! Probiotics are tiny living microorganisms that live in your digestive tract and are considered the “good guys”. Picture them like the superheroes of your gut. These bacteria aid in keeping the digestive system running smoothly by limiting and fighting off the growth of bad bacteria. Probiotics help in digesting food, destroying harmful pathogens, and producing vitamins we need to live a healthy and balanced life.
If there are 3 tips you would give to your clients for maintaining their gut health, what would you tell them and why?
Eat your vegetables. If you hate them, figure out a way to make yourself like them. Hide them in your favorite dishes, blend them into smoothies, put them on your pizza- heck, they even make pizza out of vegetables these days (just check out Pizza Massilia!) Your body, your mind, and your gut will love you for them.
Sleep! We live in a world that thinks it’s cool to sleep 4 hours and glorifies the fact that we’re overworked. Your body goes into repair and recovery mode while you sleep. It’s essential to repair the gut lining and also to repair your brain. If you’re looking to do anything or start somewhere, start here.
This pairs nicely with stress. I’m sure you were thinking of food things, but the key to maintaining a healthy gut comes from maintaining a healthy lifestyle outside of the plate. If your body is on high alert and stressed out, digestion is the last thing it’s worried about. When you’re stressed blood flow is sent to your muscles and brain, not the gut. Digestion is a hard task for the body to do! This is why in my programs we take an inside out and outside in approach. End of the day, meet yourself where you’re at and be realistic about it. Don’t go off running and thinking you need to cut out everything and anything and spending your next paycheck on the best probiotics on the market. That’s going to set yourself up for failure and just continue that diet cycle we’re trying to break away from.
Any final thoughts?
Be realistic, pick one thing and start from there. Maybe it’s more vegetables, maybe it’s getting a quality probiotic supplement, maybe it’s getting an awesome nerdy gut coach to walk you all through it. Who knows! But seriously, keep it simple and keep it real – those are all the tips you need when it comes to gut health and real life.
Thank you for your time, Laura!
If you are concerned about your gut health please do reach out and it will be our pleasure to connect you with Laura so she can help you.
Interview led by Devi Bajaj Founder and Director of Enliven Health Concierge
For more information about gut health, below are some articles from our partners and other informative health resources:
Enliven is your personal consultant and concierge desk for health, wellness and age management in Thailand. Our team helps you find the best options available tailored to your individual needs and personal goals.
We arrange consultations and treatments with single or multiple medical and wellness professionals, in a seamless fashion. All this is offered for no extra cost or fee. Completely transparent and all payments are made to the healthcare facility itself. The Enliven Team takes care of the details, so you can focus on the most important aspect: You!
Our network of professional experts and executives provide extensive experience in health, wellness and age management, as well as hospitality and transportation teams. Enliven visits and evaluates the services of every institution and establishment within our network, before making unbiased client recommendations.
The Enliven health, wellness and age management services range from the most basic options to complex customized packages, for discerning individual clients and business leaders with hectic schedules, as well as for groups and families that wish to experience health and wellness collectively. Some of our services include free consultations, tailor-made medical plans utilizing such treatments as western, functional, ayurvedic (to name a few), setting up doctor appointments for you, finding you extensive treatment plans and costing before getting treatment and translation services.
Enliven consultancy and concierge services take an integrative approach to health and wellbeing. Detox at a luxury resort, make a total lifestyle transformation in private seclusion, tend to health issues, alleviate stress, or see to an array of concerns for possible future illnesses with the advanced technological predictive genetic testing, as just some of the options available.
The Enliven team provides you with the best choices for these services and more, within Thailand, a renowned world-class destination for medical tourism and wellness. We can advise and schedule your appointments in a flexible manner, to accommodate even the most demanding of schedules.
Reach out to us via email info@enlivenyou.org if you have any health concerns and one of our team members will be ready to help you.
Written by Devi Bajaj Founder and Director of Enliven Health Concierge
We’ve all heard of heart disease and diabetes, and there is a whole lot of research that has gone into finding the cause and treating these conditions, but there is a wide range of conditions that are not as fortunate to have as much research done on them.
These conditions (over 6,000 different ones) are characterised by a broad diversity of disorders and symptoms that vary not only from disease to disease but also from patient to patient suffering from the same disease. Relatively common symptoms can hide underlying rare diseases leading to misdiagnosis and delaying treatment. Quintessentially disabling, the patients quality of life is affected by the lack or loss of autonomy due to the chronic, progressive, degenerative, and frequently life-threatening aspects of the disease. The fact that there are often no existing effective cures adds to the high level of pain and suffering endured by patients and their families.
The first Rare Disease Day was celebrated in 2008 on 29 February, a ‘rare’ date that happens only once every four years. Ever since then, Rare Disease Day has taken place on the last day of February, a month known for having a ‘rare’ number of days.The campaign targets primarily the general public and also seeks to raise awareness amongst policy makers, public authorities, industry representatives, researchers, health professionals and anyone who has a genuine interest in rare diseases.
Key Figures about Rare Diseases
There are over 300 million people living with one or more of over 6,000 identified rare diseases around the world, each supported by family, friends and a team of carers that make up the rare disease community.
Each rare disease may only affect a handful of people, scattered around the world, but taken together the number of people directly affected is equivalent to the population of the world’s third largest country.
Rare diseases currently affect 3.5% – 5.9% of the worldwide population.
72% of rare diseases are genetic whilst others are the result of infections (bacterial or viral), allergies and environmental causes, or are degenerative and proliferative.
70% of those genetic rare diseases start in childhood.
A disease defined as rare in Europe when it affects fewer than 1 in 2,000 people.
As mentioned, due to the broad diversity of disorders and relatively common symptoms which can hide underlying rare diseases, initial misdiagnosis is common. In addition, symptoms differ not only from disease to disease, but also from patient to patient suffering from the same disease.
Due to the rarity and diversity of rare diseases, research needs to be international to ensure that experts, researchers and clinicians are connected, that clinical trials are multinational and that patients can benefit from the pooling of resources across borders. Initiatives such as the European Reference Networks(networks of centres of expertise and healthcare providers that facilitate cross-border research and healthcare), the International Rare Disease Research Consortium and the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Horizon 2020 support international, connected research.
Rare Disease Day is a great example of how progress continues to be made, with events being held worldwide each year. Beginning in 2008, when events took place in just 18 countries, Rare Disease Day has taken place every year since, with events being held in over 100 countries in 2019.
Here are some links related to Rare Disease Day in Thailand:
If you or any of your loved ones have a rare disease, know that there is an entire community to support you. We at Enliven are here and will do our best to help you find a treatment as well. Always remember, “alone we are rare, but together we are strong!”
Information compiled by Devi Bajaj Founder and Director of Enliven Health Concierge
Below are links to more details related to the information above:
Here at Enliven one of the most common inquiries we receive is related to Women’s Health. Along with that comes the wish of many women to conceive and start a family. It is not always possible or easy for women to conceive naturally, thus we have done our research with regards to conception via in vitro fertilization (IVF) and gone into partnership with Safe Fertility Center, founded by Dr. Wiwat Quangkananurug – one of the most renowned doctors in this field in Thailand.
To learn more about IVF, Dr. Wiwat and his facility, have a read of our interview with him below:
How long have you been an IVF doctor?
I started to do IVF since 1999 and at that time worked in a hospital but after 9 years set up my own IVF center in 2007.
What exactly is IVF?
IVF is essentially a test tube baby. We retrieve the egg out from the body, fertilize with the sperm, cultivate and culture before putting it back into the women’s body. In the past, they were put back into the women during the same cycle, but since 2011 we moved to frozen embryo transfer (FET). The US, Japan and Australia adopted FET since 2010, we started only 1 year later.
Do you prefer fresh or frozen embryo transfers (FET), and why?
Definitely, FET because the success rate is higher, especially in women older than 35. It’s safer and there’s less chance to get ectopic pregnancy (which is a complication of pregnancy in which the embryo attaches outside the uterus. Signs and symptoms classically include abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding) and abnormal placentation. The baby’s weight is generally better and bigger.
Do you recommend performing embryo transfers on the 3rd or 5th day?
Since 2008 we moved from 3rd day to 5th day and found the success rate is much higher.
What makes someone a candidate for IVF? When is IVF recommended?
If someone is married 1 year without contraception and unable to conceive. Women older than 35 years old. Men with low sperm count and/or poor sperm quality. Essentially anyone experiencing infertility.
How does someone prepare for IVF?
You have to make the body strong by exercising and having a good work-life balance. Also, you must check your body’s micronutrient levels and supplement what’s missing.
Why choose SAFE as your destination for IVF?
We’ve been in the IVF industry for 20 years. We have a robust process in all parts of the clinic starting from registration, personnel, laboratory, doctors, equipment, safety and success rate.
How does SAFE differentiate from other IVF centers in Thailand?
The key is that we are a dedicated and luxury center focusing on the client’s privacy along with high success rates. All our clients will have a personal assistant to accompany them pre and post-treatment and be available to them at all times.
What accreditation and awards has SAFE received?
We are the first IVF Clinic in Thailand:
to receive accreditation by the Reproductive Technology Accreditation Certification (RTAC) of the Fertility Society of Australia (FSA) and New Zealand since 2015
to use the Embryo Scope in our own laboratory since 2012
for chromosome testing technology (illumina-NGS) since 2014
for Kyromapping since 2016
to be certified by the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) since 2014
What are the success rates at Safe?
If the patient comes under 40 years old, the success rate is 90% (3 times), 80% (2 times), 70% (1 time). 9 out of 10 will get success with us.
Now if anyone is interested in conception via IVF, Dr. Wiwat and his team are the way to go!
Contact us for more information.
Interview led by Devi Bajaj Executive Director of Enliven Concierge
