chiang mai province

GPS Location
N14°03.298’
E101°23.747’
Central Plains
Health
Thailand Tourism Awards
Massage Museum
H o w T o G e t T h e r e
The Hospital is 2.5 km
east from Prachin Buri city
centre and is located on
Highway 3069 by the river.
C o n t a c t
0 3721 1088 ext 3166
(No English spoken)
www.abhaibhubejhr.org,
www.abhaiherb.com
Top: Chaophraya
Abhaibhubejhr manor,
now serving as a
museum of Thai
herbal healing.
Centre: A tray full of
goodies: herbal
ingredients and
scented wax candle.
Right: Flowers and
bag at the pharmacy.
Chaophraya
Abhaibhubejhr Hospital
Heal yourself the Thai way
PRACHIN BURI PROVINCE. You might wonder why we
recommend a hospital as a holiday destination. To be honest,
Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital looks like any other hospital from
the outside, if not a bit unsightly. But once you are inside the gate, you
will notice a stately bright yellow Baroque manor fronted by a statue
among well-groomed shrubs.
The manor was built by Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr, a courtier during the
reign of King Rama V and Rama VI to receive royal visits. In the 1930’s,
his heir decided to donate this building for public use. Prachin Buri
Province Hospital was established and the building was converted
into the unit for admitted patients. Today, it is the Museum of Traditional
Thai Medicines where you can see the antique equipment and
ingredients used to concoct medicinal potions (some of them are rather
disturbing, we have to admit.) Unfortunately, the information is only
in Thai but the interior of the building is beguiling, especially the
exquisitely patterned floor tiles.
The highlight of the visit is to actually experience traditional therapeutic
methods. It is true that you can get a massage basically anywhere in
Thailand, but the traditional healing unit here enhances the wisdom
of old with systematic scientific methodology. The masseurs are
graduates from the College of Thai Traditional Medicines (who worked
with major hospitals of Thailand) and you will need to undergo some
checkup from the resident doctor before actually getting kneaded.
Treatment is the Priority, not Relaxation
The programmes offered include traditional
massage, herbal massage and sauna,
reflexology and acupuncture which
promises to cure you from aches, insomnia,
allergy and many more (these require
revisits.) You will not get a spa-like atmosphere
but rather a serious, professional treatment
since they are more therapy-oriented
than for relaxation. The clinic is next to
the Museum building, and opened daily
from 8:30 AM-3:45 PM (until 7:00 PM
on Tuesday and Thursday). The acupuncture
clinic is in the same complex and opened
only on Tuesday and Thursday from
9:00 -11:00 AM Massage is an international
language but it is better if you go with someone who can speak Thai so
you can get your symptoms clearly explained.
After the rejuvenation, you can visit Abhaibhubejhr shop (in the main
hospital building, opposite the 7-11 outlet) where you can buy herbal
cosmetic and medicinal products such as chili balm, lotion made from
curcumin extract, and cucumber soap which make great souvenirs. •
Discover N
The Traditional Thai
medicine department
of this hospital is one
of the best known
institutes dedicated to
alternative healing in the
country. They are also
famous for their herbal
cosmetic products.
Feel Y
While waiting for your
turn at the clinic, you
can pass the time in
the front lawn where
you can get close to
a throng of living and
sculpted roosters, the
founder's favourite
animal.
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