UNESCO is well-known for protecting important architectural, natural, and artistic works around the world, but it’s less well-known that it also recognizes historic health practices.Indonesian jamuMedicinal drinks are the latest health practice to be added to UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage, which protects unique rituals, festivals, language and music.
From Indonesia to Finland, here are five places where travelers can enjoy a UNESCO World Heritage-listed experience that combines tradition and wellness.
jamu in indonesia
Indonesia’s largest temple features 1,200-year-old elixir stone carvings and is now popular with tourists.Bas-relief inside Borobudur Temple In Java, jamu (a mixture of ginger, lime, turmeric, tamarind, etc.) is depicted being offered to sick people to promote healing.
Jamu is sold in many cafes and food stalls in Bali, The purpose is to treat diseases by regulating body temperature. Cold jamu is served to people with fever, while the heated version is helpful for patients suffering from chills. It is enjoyed by Indonesians of all ages and is mainly made by women, often using herbs and spices they grow themselves.
Jamu recipes vary by region in Indonesia, and manufacturers often customize each dose to suit the age and health status of the drinker. Some people blend just for friends and relatives. Some sell this beverage in shops and markets, or run jamu classes for tourists. Ayana Bali Resort offers his 2-hour workshop led by a veteran jamu maker. Participants learn the history of this practice, select herbal ingredients and brew organic remedies at the on-site farm.
(The Balinese mask tradition brings a connection with the gods.)
indian yoga
From Himalayan mountainside to palm-fringed shores to temple floors, tourists visiting India have long turned their bodies in search of enlightenment, physical restoration, mental repair, and other personal goals. . Each is captivated by his 5,000-year yogic promise.
Originating in northern India, yoga is physical, spiritual, and also philosophical. Practitioners work through a series of physical poses ranging from easy to difficult. They may also meditate, chant, and practice breathing control at the same time to achieve mental calm.
UNESCO noted that yoga is practiced in India “by men and women of all ages without discrimination of gender, caste or religion.” Meanwhile, tourists visiting India can indulge in this practice as much as they like, from exclusive classes at his five-star resorts like Shimla’s Wildflower Hall to immersive retreats at the Himalayan Iyengar Yoga Center in Dharamkot. You can dig deep. Many foreigners are certified as yoga instructors at schools such as the 100-year-old Kaivalya Dharma School near Mumbai.
(Why our fast-paced society loves yoga.)
Nua Thai therapists in Thailand stretch patients’ backs and shoulders as part of an ancient healing tradition. Photo by Brent Madison, Camera Press, Redux
thai massage
With so many massage parlors in Thailand’s tourist destinations, foreigners may perceive this physical therapy as just a money-making business. In fact, Nua Thai massage is a pillar of this country’s 2,500-year-old culture, practiced in many homes, and proudly regarded as a fusion of art and science.
Nua Thai masseuses use their hands, feet, knees, and elbows to skillfully knead, bend, stretch, and squeeze their patients. Their purpose is to unblock her 72,000 in the body and treat health conditions. Sen, Or an energy pathway. In Thai Buddhist beliefs, purifying these roots restores the harmony of a person’s internal elements: water, air, fire, and earth.
Travelers can have their body treated at hundreds of Nua Thai parlors from Phuket to Chiang Mai. Alternatively, you can learn this skill by attending a facility such as the Nua Thai Massage School in Bangkok.
chinese acupuncture
The practice of deliberately pricking human skin began in China about 5,000 years ago, with roots in Chinese philosophy. Acupuncture, as it is now known, is a method for balancing the energies of the human body, especially the dark forces of Yin and the light of Yang.
Similar to Nuatai, acupuncture aims to improve mental and physical health by removing obstacles to the vital force. This energy, known as Qi, probably flows along her 12 channels within our bodies, each tied to a vital organ or bodily function. Acupuncturists typically insert five to 20 small needles into strategic points on a patient’s skin. In doing so, it treats everything from migraines to nausea, muscle pain, respiratory problems, and menstrual pain.
Some studies also show that acupuncture may release endorphins, the “feel-good hormones.”Tourists to China can experience acupuncture at Body’s two stores in Shanghai. & Seoul Medical Clinic.
(Taste China’s sacred sake at its source.)
A traditional Finnish sauna experience involves gently tapping a bushel of fresh birch leaves on your skin as a scrub or massage. Photo credit: Thomas Linkel, laif, Redux
Finnish sauna
After 10,000 years of embracing saunas, Finland is still crazy about it. Amazingly, this Scandinavian country of just 5.5 million people has around 3.3 million such steam-filled spaces. For Finns, 90% of whom use the sauna at least once a week, this sweaty activity does more than just get rid of toxins and stress.
It can also be a social outing and an opportunity to connect with nature. Family and friends often gather in the sauna to spark conversation. Some saunas are located in picturesque locations, such as by a lake, halfway through a forest, or halfway up a mountain.
Tourists can experience this Finnish custom at locations such as Loiri in Helsinki, Arctic Sauna World in the Sapmi (Lapland) region, and Hawk’s Nest Sauna in Nuuksio National Park.
