Baan Hom Samunphrai A small Herbal Health Centre

A QUICK INTRODUCTION (if you're in a rush you can click on what interests you most below)

We're located in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand, and we practice Thai Traditional Medicine, Thai Traditional Massage (Nuad Boran) and Thai Yoga (Rasidaton) combined with Herbal Steam Baths, Herbal Compresses, and Herbal Medicine in general. What's really different about us is that we offer Full Room & Board Accommodations as well as daily massage and health services--our treatments all improve with patience and familiarity and we encourage both our students and our guests to stay here with us. We also offer Traditional Thai Massage Training Courses at all levels, from novice to professional, ranging in size from one-on-one intensives to a maximum of 8 students, and from 5 days to 20 days or more (10 days is a good start for beginners). Do check out our monthly Reduced Rate Thai Traditional Massage Training Courses as well. The next R.R.Course begins on Tuesday, Dec. 2nd. In addition, we host Groups, Conferences and Seminars (up to 20 participants) for those who want to come here with their own teachers and/or special interests--from yurts to yours truly and yoga. Long Stay is possible as well--we're not right for everyone but very right for some, and have had guests in full or partial Retreat for up to 6 months--writers, thinkers, bodies and minds in recovery, lives being rebuilt. Finally, this is also the home of the poet, Christopher Woodman, and we welcome writers, artists, musicians and indeed anyone who is troubled by the muse!

FOR AN UP-TO-DATE THAILAND TRAVEL ADVISORY PLEASE CLICK HERE.

All our therapies and services are as green and simple as this open floor with its hand-glazed tiles.

Baan Hom Samunphrai ("The House of Sweet Smelling Herbs") is the home of Maw Samunphrai ("Herbal Medicine Doctor") Homprang Chaleekanha, 50, a specialist in (Nuad Boran) and Thai Yoga (Rasidaton) and who teaches Traditional Thai Massage, Thai Therapeutic Massage and Herbal Medicine. 'Maw Hom,' as she is called, grew up in a small village on the Burmese border with no road or electricity, the only 'doctor' being her rice-farming grandmother who doubled as the local midwife and herbalist. Maw Hom is now not only licensed by the Thai Ministry of Public Health as a Traditional Doctor but as a Herbal Pharmacologist, a Traditional Midwife, and a Teacher of Thai Traditional Massage. Indeed, she is one of the first teachers in Thailand to have received the 'Nuad Boran' government accreditation. She has also travelled widely in Europe and North America, and is fluent in English as well as Thai, a rare attribute among genuine traditional healers.

Maw Hom is assisted by her husband, Christopher Woodman. A poet and teacher, his interests include Buddhism, History, Current Affairs, Arts, Crafts and Building, all in a free-wheeling 'comparative' context, so you'll always have someone to talk to, don't worry!. He also likes to cook, and should you ever get tired of Thai cuisine he'll come up with a simple green salad, a shepherd's pie, or even, if your nice, some home-baked lasagna! Finally, he's fascinated by the local community and will lead you into it anytime on foot or by bicycle--the river, the rice paddies, the ruins, wats, sacred groves, graveyards & spirit houses.

Maw Hom comparing notes with a Canadian Botanist; Enjoying her friends by the pool; Working with two professional practitioners; Cooking Thai food on
charcoal for her guests.

All the above roots, stems, leaves, flowers and fruit have medicinal value, and Maw Hom will show you all of them if not in her own herb garden then in
her local community or earth market. Herbal preparations are also an important ingredient in all her training courses.