South Africa Wellness Hubs

Wikipedia defines « Healing, assessed physically, as the process by which the cells in the body regenerate and repair to reduce the size of a damaged or necrotic area. Healing incorporates both the removal of necrotic tissue (demolition), and the replacement of this tissue. »   It also says that the replacement can happen in two ways:

• by regeneration: the necrotic cells are replaced by the same tissue as was originally there.
• by repair: injured tissue is replaced with scar tissue.

Most organs will heal using a mixture of both mechanisms.

It acknowleges that this definition can be applied to other areas as well and states that « healing, assessed spiritually, emotionally, mentally or otherwise, is a process which involves more than just the action of cells. According to the Bible, Abraham, the father of Judaism, Islam and Christianity, healed a man named Abimelech, his wives and his maidservants throught prayer. The words heal, healed, and healing occur 132 times in the King James Version (KJV) of the Holy Bible. The Qur’an and the Torah also refer to the power of God to heal, as do the scriptures of other faith traditions. There are also non-believers who hold that healing is the result or more than just the action of cells on their own, and may be the result of thought, energy, etc. Those who believe in healing through more than purely physical means don’t generally use the term faith healing in reference to the practice, but some information about it’s advantages and criticisms may be found at the link below ».

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The following are a sampling of inter-disciplinary essays, stories and recollections dealing with « healing » in the context of South Africa:

Healing of Memories… You mentioned in your Christmas letter, Fr Michael, that healing of … HIV incidence in South Africa, and by Extension, in the world. … www.healingofmemories.co.za/ - 

Healing South Africa  South Africa’s apartheid regime has been dismantled, but not its legacy of suffering, particularly among survivors of the violent crimes committed in its … query.nytimes.com/gst/ fullpage.html?… 

Healing Nature … Natural healing. Conservation is as much about protecting people’s … With one in five people in South Africa living with HIV and Aids, … www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/oct/ 08/conservation…. 

HEALING ‘Truth This month South Africa embarks on a far…journey, as the Truth and … If the Truth Commission can…great service for South Africa and its future…to … www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1- 168443126.html - 

Day of Healing  Government of South Africa declares day of healing. In the present circumstances we may need a full year of healing to soothe the wounds of political division following the dismissal of former President Thabo Mbeki.  http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/racism/48726 · Printer friendly version … www.pambazuka.org/en/category/racism/ 48726 – 

Holistic Healing George Berkovits offers massage, meditation, reiki, chakra balancing, lymphatic drainage, hypnosis, mind power, herbal medication. Johannesburg, South … www.soulhealer.co.za/ 

Healing & Recovery Groups The Witches’ Voice offers the latest (updated daily) in news and networking for the Modern Witch, Wiccan and Pagan Community. www.witchvox.com/vn/gr/ zaxx_grh.html – 

Traditional Healing Traditional healing and human rights in South Africa. Richter ML; International Conference on AIDS (15th : 2004 : Bangkok, Thailand). Int Conf AIDS. … gateway.nlm.nih.gov/MeetingAbstracts/ 102280481.html 

Healing Traditions:  Healing Traditions: African Medicine, Cultural Exchange, and Competition in South Africa, 1820–1948 provides a long-overdue historical perspective to these. www.ohioswallow.com/book/ Healing Traditions.

 Metaphysical Healing  “The Healing Association of South Africa“. … Thanks to his pioneering work in the field of spiritual healing, thousands of … www.ulcseminary.org/metaphysicalhealingcourse.php 

Integrating Spiritual Healing Approaches Emphasis on integrating spiritual healing techniques into psychotherapy does not invalidate…. Indigenous healing in South Africa: A neglected potential. … www.psychwww.com/psyrelig/ sollod2.html 

Sexual Healing Scam  in South Africa, the state says it has information that the same person is known as ‘Dr M.S … Sexual healing claims lands Janus-faced ‘charlatan’ in court.  www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=1&aid=9&dir=2008/ April/Thursday10 

Nutritional Healing Doctors have been using honey in healing for centuries. … Researchers in South Africa have discovered that honey can be more beneficial than sugar in.  … naturescradlefoods.com/ index.php?option=com_content&… 

Heal South Africa  A project dedicated to uniting & empowering the people of South ….CRYSTAL HEALING THE ASSOCIATION OF CRYSTAL HEALERS INTERNATIONAL.  … www.healsa.co.za/associations.htm - 

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Dr. David Walker, the Scottish GP from Lanarkshire has  provoked with his medical colleagues, the media and the chocoholic fans, mostly women across the entire UK and beyond a messy row about to have have or not to have  a Chocolate Tax.  They are furious at the scotsman for his proposal at this weeks British Medical Association (BMA) conference in Clydebank,West Dunbartonshire, to introduce of all things, “a chocolate health tax”. All of this with the justification that it would cut rising levels of obesity amongst the British population. Needless to say that the Conference roundly shot down this mischievous  proposal categorized by his colleagues, the industry, the media and die hard choco fans as “utterly idiotic”, “stupid”, “ridiculous” etc.

In what it calls a “bittersweet victory”,  The Herald reports that for Scottish Family doctors - ‎”It was as tempting as a box of chocolates.” And they  “almost succumbed to the quick fix of a health tax on chocolate as a means of tackling the increasing ill-health resulting from over consumption”. Find below a sampling of the tsunami of responses provoked by the Scottish GP’s proposal:

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The Scotsman reports that CALLS for a “chocolate tax” to  fight … rising levels ofobesity in the UK were narrowly rejected by doctors yesterday. David Walker, a GP in Lanarkshire, led calls for an increase in the price of chocolate to tackle weight-related ill health such as …

Emily Moulton of the Belfast Telegraph in article entitled Taxing Time for Chocolatesays that: Doctors’ leaders in Northern Ireland would rather see price promotions for fruit and vegetables as a means to curb the growing rise of obesity in the province rather than a tax on chocolate …

Times Online characterizes A Tax on Chocolate? (as) Utterly Idiotic … and says that … Dr David Walker, a GP in Lanarkshire, is a brave man indeed. Risking the wrath of most of the female population of Britain, he has dared to suggest that chocolate may not be very good for us. Worse still, he proposes that it be taxed in the same way as ..

The Telegraph.co.uk. by contrast in an article titled, Chocolate should be Taxed to control Obesity supports the proposal that “Chocolate should be taxed in the same way as alcohol to control Britain’s obesity epidemic, a medical conference has heard. By Simon Johnson Dr David Walker said chocolate used to be a treat, but has become a harmful addiction, causing weight problems, …

Sky News titles that Scottish Doctors Reject Chocolate Tax Call to help Britain get to grips with its obesity epidemic. Dr David Walker earlier called for the tax because he said he believed that chocolate was a “major player” in the problem of the …

The Press Association in a report titled Doctors Reject Chocolate Tax Plan depicts it as “A controversial proposal to campaign for a tax on chocolate to help curb obesity which has been narrowly rejected by doctors. Lanarkshire GP David Walker led calls for an increase in chocolate prices as a way of tackling weight-related conditions like

AFP - ‎LONDON announced the story as Call for Chocolate Tax Sparks Debate in Britain…. Chocolate should be taxed like alcohol and tobacco, to help rein in a growing obesity problem, a British medical conference was told Thursday. People generally understimate the health dangers of chocolate, family doctor David Walker told …

BBC News also lead with the story entitled GP’s Vote Against Chocolate Tax in a proposal for chocolate to be taxed in the same way as alcohol and cigarettes to tackle increasing levels of obesity. Dr David Walker, a GP in Lanarkshire, warned that chocolate had lost its status as a “treat” and had …

The Los Angeles Times also chimed in from the other end of the world with an outraged headline, “You Want to Tax What?“ ” Dr. David Walker, a general practitioner from the town of Airdrie, said the candy has become a harmful addiction for too many of his countrymen and is …”

The Mirror.co.uk warns in its lead article entitled Tax Chocalate to Beat Obesity, say Doctors, that Chocoholics face a fight with daft doctors who want to slam heavy taxes on their favourite treat. They say too much chocolate makes us fat and it should be priced up – like booze and tobacco – so we buy less. But the sweet-toothed masses and industry …

The guardian.co.uk - uses the controversy to ask in true British democratic tradition that readers express their opining regarding the question: Should We Tax Chocolate to Tackle Obesity? chocolate used to be …

CBS News did not stay out of the fray and reports that a UK Doctor Wants Chocolate Taxed as he is so concerned that Britons are taking after their American cousins in the waistline department that he’s recommending the government tax chocolate. Dr. David Walker, a family doctor and nutritionist, warned in an interview with the …

Even the usually serious Management Today comments in sarcastic headline “Chococolate Tax: Doctors Don’t Bite that “‎Scottish GPs have voted against a tax on chocolate, which was proposed to help fight obesity. The plan, which suggested hitting chocolate lovers with a tax similar to those which infuriate smokers and drinkers, was proposed by Dr David Walker, …

The Belfast Telegraph hits the nail on its head with the Unwrapping an Obesity TimeBomb headline in which it states that “The call by a Scottish doctor to impose a tax on chocolate was probably more an expression of frustration at the UK’s eating habits than a serious suggestion of how to combat obesity. David Walker’s proposal – he said the revenues raised could be used …”

The BirminghamMail.net reports the chocolate maker ‎CADBURY’s understandable rejection of “a call to control obesity by taxing chocolate, arguing that the food stuff is already hit by VAT” … read Cadbury Rejects Plan to tax Chocolate in Obesity Fight…

The Tabloid Paper, The Sun’s staff reporter  challenged the  family doctor assumptions under the headline “We should Milk Chocolate Sales” by saying “GP David Walker says our favourite treats should be taxed because chocolate is “a major player” in Britain’s obesity epidemic. But sweet-toothed Peggy Griffiths is proof that chocolate can be good for you – she’s just turned …”

‎Is this a perfect example of a storm in a chocolate cup - or has the doctor opened up a can full with taboos that we don’t want to face up to. Weigh in and share your opinions on the issue.  don’t forget to Digg. Don’t forget to check back soon.

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Wellness Holidays in South Africa is fast catching up and replacing traditional reasons why people were coming to South Africa. The booming health and wellness services infrastructure and wellness travel offers in all the provinces, cities and rural areas of the country provide ample proof for it.

What is interesting is that though these establishments are at present still targeting foreign visitors paying in US Dollars and Euros, the trend is catching on with South Africans as well. Thanks in large measure to joint incentives offered  by travel industry operators like  South African Airways and the Spa Industry Association to allow for example SAA Voyager members to convert their miles into vouchers for use at various Spa Industry Association affiliated Spa resorts.

Warning though - a pampering weekend or day out at the Spa can be addictive - that at the least is what the industry hopes for as locals catch on regular wellness lifestyle practices and thus eliminate the seasonality of the industry depending on major european and north american holiday seasons.

For Europeans the latest trend is to front or back load their trip to South Africa with a few days in a health resort to unwind at the start of their holiday. Though the same time zone north-south flights eliminates jet-lag  a short wellness break allows them transition from the stress of work and daily routines in Europe to the  new  african settings at their holiday destination.

What can Europeans, Americans, other Africans and South African locals expect from a wellness holiday in South Africa?

What about a Beauty Make-over or Sculpel Holiday including a special weight-loss diet regimen which you can continue aftre the holidays. A regimen coupled with  personal fitness training sessions to firm up and tone the muscles in critical areas. Not to forget the dental and cosmetic surgery by the best in the world to charm your entourage with your new hollywood smile, remove the wrinkles, amplify the breast and shave off the nagging belly fat with a quick lypoplasty session.

All of this mixed up with daily visits to the skin, nail, toe and hair care estheticians and massage, saunas sessions as well as game viewing,  shopping and dining trips in the breathless  natural beautifull settings of world class resorts having nothing to envy to the best in the world.

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Not impressed you say - that’s for the girls - what about things for men?

Well what about a team building active wellness holidays including rafting, hiking, mountain biking and mountain climbing under the guidance of fitness and personal development coaches without sacrificing at the end of the day the relaxing Spa with massages, aromatherapy, Swedish body massages, skin and body treatment and the exclusive dinners and chats around a wilderness camp fire with inspirational though leaders. Yea the real food the mind, body and soul in enchanting Africa within audible distance of the lions and the hyenas pursuing their nightly prey.

Check out as well the Medical Wellness Holiday, Youth Learning Holiday as well as  Cultural Solidarity Holidays sponsored by companies in Europe and North America to allow individuals to share their skills with grassroots communities in developing countries. However, make sure to book your trips with specialized wellness tour and travel operators across Europe and in South Africa to avoid unpleasant surprises.

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Wellness Hub South Africa has for decades been one of the premier global tourism destinations with annual arrivals exceeding the 6million mark in 2007. Approximately 1million of these visitors came from Europe, 220,000 from the US, 155,000 from Asia with the bulk of the remaining visitors came from Africa in general and sub-Saharan Africa in particular.

What makes Wellness Hub South Africa stand out head and shoulders above established and emerging wellness hubs in Africa and elsewhere? Is it the scenic country with varied panoplies of breathtaking landscapes along the coastal regions and the majestic inland mountains, resorts and game lodges on the savannah plataeu?

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Or, is it the culturally fascinating travel destination representing a melting pot of African, European and Asian cultures which crystallized over a century in Nelson Mandela’s vision of a rainbow nation? Or, is it may be even the much talked about, favourable exchange rate with the rand currency, which makes it possible for visitors to enjoy a holiday of a lifetime at a fraction of its cost in Europe, North America and Asia? Your guess would be as good as mine.

My take is that the figure of the approximately 4,5 million  annual African arrivals provides more than a clue about the reasons behind the emergence of South Africa as the premier medical tourism hub on the African continent and amongst the best in the world. A closure examination of the statistics show that the bulk of the medical wellness tourist are the business and social elite from various African countries and the european and asian expatriates posted as diplimats or business persons in sub-saharan african. This is to be expected due to the under funded public health infrastructure in these countries.

However, an equally important portion of the African visitors is accounted for by American, European and Asian expatriates deployed in the mining, trading, financial services and the diplomatic sector in sub-Saharan African countries. They have always viewed and continue to regard Wellness in Hub South Africa as their nearest value for money choice when it comes to affordable world class healthcare, education and leisure. The infrastructure and services standards are second to none and the exchange rate offers an unbeatable advantage.

One of the driving forces behind the success of Wellness Hub South Africa is without doubt the global network of South African Tourism Offices with its current signature advertising campaign: “South Africa – It’s Possible”. Other equally important driving forces are the numerous members of the South African Travel, Hospitality and Wellness Trade and most notably, South African Airways, the country’s flagship international carrier. As the company CEO, Khaya Ngqula said in a recent interview: “SAA fully supports the drive from the alliance to further build on its presence in Africa,” he said. “As SAA, we see our primary role in the Star Alliance network as bringing customers from around the world to Johannesburg, the financial capital of the continent, and then taking them into the rest of Africa.”

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