One of my favorite Thai spas isn’t in Thailand but in British Columbia’s Cariboo – better known as cowboy country.

Now just what cowboys and facials have in common will be addressed in a future article but for now, here are some home spa recipes that I love.

They are, in actual fact, derived from traditional Thai medicine which, like Chinese medicine or Ayurveda, is thousands of years old and usually handed down between generations. Like many indigenous and familial practices, many recipes and wellness practices are changed or diluted for the western market and the more it changes hands outside of their cultural context, the less connected a particular treatment becomes to its original intention.

With the rise and success of allopathic medicine over the last 75 years, many indigenous practices morphed into the background, until the spa movement started to evolve them into the mainstream consciousness once again.

Today, alternative approaches to wellness is big business with far-reaching ramifications. Under the radar legislation is gradually restricting our access to vitamins and other natural health supplements; the organic label is a huge misnomer, and governments in both Thailand and India are re-evaluating of the potential of what their respective cultures can offer the alternative wellness industry.

For example, India is trying to tackle the task of streamlining Ayerveda as a marketing commodity – a seemingly impossible endeavor when you consider that practices vary wildly north to south, region to region and even by neighborhood, almost like a language dialect. Conversely Thailand is trying to protect its indigenous health practices to retain their integrity. While world-renowned massage schools such as Wat Po take in foreign students, but since only Thai Nationals can earn a recognized degree which earns them the right to become registered practitioners of Thai Massage and other modalities, foreigners never get the depth of training that is part of the integrity of delivering a healthful Thai Massage.

With several Thai Nationals on is staff, Echo Valley Ranch & Spa is one of the only spa destinations I know of where Thai Massage – and more importantly, the ultra-skilled Royal Thai Massage, is offered.

But lest I digress still further …. Enjoy these Home Thai Spa Recipes.


ECHO VALLEY RANCH & SPA - HOME SPA RECIPES

Thai Herbal Facial Mask
A mask to soften, smooth and rejuvenate the skin
Ingredients:
- 1 tsp Turmeric
- 1 tsp Honey
- 1 tbsp Thai white mud
- Fresh milk
Cleanse your face. Mix ingredients together, adding just enough milk to create smooth paste; apply on your face for 15 minutes. Rinse off with warm water, and moisturize.


Thai Body Scrub & Mask
A refreshing and gentle exfoliation
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp Plai (Ginger family)
- 1 tbsp Turmeric
- 1 tbsp Lemon or Tamarind
- Fresh milk
Wash your body. Mix ingredients together, adding just enough milk to create smooth paste. Apply all over your body; after 10 minutes, gently scrub off. Rinse with warm water, towel dry and moisturize with body lotion.


Foot Scrub
A pampering energizer
Ingredients:
- 1 cup (100 g) peeled Ginger or Plai
- 1 tsp Camphor
- 1 tbsp warm water
Mash ingredients together. Rub into feet and scrub gentle. Rinse with warm water. Moisturize with foot or body lotion. Note: Add additional water to the mix for an ultra-relaxing foot bath.