Over the years, there’s no denying that the wellness industry has thrown several different therapies our way — some highly lauded and backed by scientific research, others not so much. There’s one movement, however, that’s currently being touted as the modern-day answer to everything from healing and pain relief to anti-aging, and now it’s finally being introduced into some truly decadent surroundings. “Stem cell therapy is a regenerative therapy that has been studied for over 20 years both to treat disease and to optimise health and performance,” Dr Lilly-Marie Blecher, chief medical officer at Soneva Soul — the in-house spa at the centre of the fast-expanding Soneva brand — tells MOJEH. With a cluster of resorts across the Maldives and Thailand, it is quickly gaining a reputation as the place to go for a true luxury wellness experience. The Maldivian outposts, Jani and Fushi, are now taking this approach to regeneration and recovery one step further with the introduction of stem cell treatments — the only resorts in the country to do so. “Stem cells can be used systemically or locally, and wherever they are administered, they regenerate tissues and improve metabolism and function,” she explains. “This form of therapy is one of the most important advancements in medicine that is changing the opportunity we have to live longer and better.”
With full approval from the Maldives Food and Drug Authority, these latest treatments are aimed at everyone from working professionals to busy parents wanting to address autoimmune and chronic diseases, decrease inflammation and improve metabolism throughout the body. “Some people do stem cell IVs after a stroke or heart attack because of a diagnosis such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, to prevent cardiovascular disease, to lose weight and to live longer and stronger,” says Dr Blecher who, hailing from New York, has been studying Chinese and naturopathic medicine since the age of 19 and currently co-owns and co-medical directs a large primary care centre in Taos, New Mexico.
As to be expected, each guest will undergo a thorough consultation with the resort’s international team of holistic and integrative doctors before receiving a tailored programme best suited to their needs. “They can also be administered through local joint injections, and this is primarily used to address sports injuries, osteoarthritis or inflammation such as rheumatoid arthritis or bursitis,” she adds. “Local stem cells regenerate joint tissues while, when used in topical injection or microneedling form for hair restoration, they can help prevent or treat aging skin, or to treat skin disorders.”
Soneva Soul is not, of course, your average clinic, and its plush surroundings — whether you choose to reside at the ultra-sleek Jani, or opt to heal within the warm embrace of Fushi’s rich green jungle — are married with a family-friendly focus that make it the ultimate wellness escape for the whole family. There’s even a spa menu for children featuring gentle and nurturing treatments designed specifically for young guests, introducing them to the principles of self-care and wellbeing from an early age. So, if you’re looking for pain relief, relaxation and a family holiday all at the same time, Soneva is most certainly one for the bucket list. Book now
