Panama is currently experiencing
a new wave of immigrants, a large percentage of whom are retirees
from northern countries. They are here attracted by a more tranquil,
way of life, and a healthier lifestyle, seeking to enjoy all things
natural and to avoid the pungent scent of hospitals and tastes of
traditional medicine.
According to Panamanian
acupuncture specialist Dr. Enrique Chial, the arrival of these new
immigrants coincides with a boom in traditional medicine in Panama,
offering a wide range of treatments at a fraction of U.S. or European
costs. Some of the therapies available are acupuncture, homeopathy,
homotoxicology, herbal medicine, complimentary medicine, neutral
therapies, intra-venous kelation, as well as all types of manual
therapies (quiropraxy, Reiki, relaxing and therapeutic massages,
etc.)
Although the exact number
of alternative medicine facilities in Panama is unknown, no one
can deny they are springing up everywhere, from the neighborhood
of El Dorado, in Panama City to the mountain resort community of
Boquete, in Chiriquí.
Medical facilities and
physicians in Panama have always been considered among the best
in Central America, since many doctors have been trained in the
U.S.A., Canada or Europe.
The growth of alternative
medicine in Panama is partly linked to cultural factors. The country
boasts a strong Asian —mainly Chinese— community, which
has produced a large number of physicians who practice both traditional
and alternative medicine. A number of foreign-born or foreign-trained
professionals have also arrived in recent years.
At any rate, the list
of ailments treated by these physicians is outstanding: rheumatism,
osteo-muscular pain, migraine, gastritis, intestinal/stomach ailments
and anxiety, to name a few.
A
group of Panama’s best golfers took part in the Alberto Motta
Golf Tournament, honoring one of Panama’s most prominent business
figures. Organized by Banco Continental, the event was held at Club
de Golf de Panama, in Cerro Viento.
