Dr Orawan’s Holistic Institute in Phuket combines the traditional medicinal practices of east and west to ‘beautiful’ results that have earned it the prize of Asia’s Best Medical Spa 2007-2009 and the most outstanding medical centre for Health Tourism award 2008-2009 from the Thai Government.

Dr Orawan Kitchawengkul graduated from the Medical Faculty, University of Chiangmai in 1981, Board of Dermatology from Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University. She then worked as a Dermatologist in Bhumibol Adulyadej – the Royal Thai Air Force Hospital for 12
years.

She realized very early on in her career, that as medicine was always developing, she too would need to develop and continue studying. She focused on laser and cosmetic surgery and became certified in Laser Dermatosurgery from the Beckman Laser Insitute, UCI and Messachusette General Hospital, Havard University, USA.

She also received certificates in many holistic training programmes from Tokyo, Japan, Switzerland, France, China, Italy and Singapore and graduated in the American Board of Anti Aging Medicine.

It was not until 1988 that she officially founded the Dr. Orawan Holistic Institute. Since then, she has transformed the centre into an internationally-recognised dermatology practice which boasts three offices (two in Bangkok and one in Phuket), a staff of 50, and its own line of beauty and skin care products.

The youthful looking 53 year old whose first name “Orawan” means ‘someone with
beautiful skin’ can be called a dermatologist of sorts who specializes in anti-aging techniques, but that would not fully describe her talents or influences; she also sits on a committee for Thai Anti-Aging, the Regenerative Medicine Association and the Thai Stem-Cell Association.

Dr Orawan said, “Over the last ten years we have realized that laser technology should be the last resort for skin treatment because that is just a cure for the outside and it’s not the cause of the real problem.”

Holistic health is a philosophy that Dr Orawan subscribes to and believes that medical treatment should factor in physical, mental and spiritual aspects of life. Dr Orawan’s holistic approach to healing, views all three elements as being closely interconnected and equally important approaches.

“We have to cure from the inside; we should add things which are useful and effective in helping your body or skin to recover.”

She believes that if a patient is suffering from a certain malady, then the implementation
of a specific diet will aid in recovery.

Dr Orawan views the skin as the mirror of a person’s health, and that Psoriasis, White spot disease, allergic skin, alopecia, can be viewed as symptoms rather than just diseases.

The holistic health care program is rapidly turning into the new choice for patients in
search of the fountain of eternal youth. The institute also treats patients by manipulating their stem cells or the other important white blood cell that kills cancer the “natural killer cells”, this technique Dr Orawan believes to be extremely helpful in repairing aging and treating cancer patients.

Dr Orawan says, “We are the world leader on stem cell enhancement and lots of patients are being cured with us. We try to avoid the use of chemicals or if we can’t we will use it for a while and then replace it with a natural treatment.”

One of the many machines that are used in treatments at the Phuket Holistic Institute is the hi-tech EL-12 machine from Italy. The machine uses infrared beams, LED’s, and an electromagnetic glass bed.

EL-12 uses Chromolight therapy whichcombines three lights; Yellow helps to activate feeling, movement, tightens your muscles and detoxifies. Blue is used to help balance your mind and add moisture to relax the skin. The green light helps to balance hormones, increase metabolism rates, detoxifies, helps to decrease inflammation, allergies, and removes wrinkles.

This machine also works well in conjunction with acupuncture and can be used to increase fat metabolism, reduce cellulites, sooth skin and anti-inflammation.

Interestingly, although Dr Orawan believes that the key to maintaining both a physical
and spiritually youthful outlook is through healthy living and “making small changes -
taking more fruit in your cereal and drinking another glass of water a day.” There are also opportunities to have lipo-sculpture and face lift by Botox.

Doctor Orawan’s Holistic Institute has three branches, two in Bangkok at Sukhumvit 59 tel. 02-392-5555 and The Avenue Ratchayothin tel. 02-9396275, and one in Phuket on the 2nd floor of Bangkok Phuket Hospital Tel. 076-254-579. Email: info@drorawan.com
or www.drorawan.com