What is TAIM? A Look Into Traditional Arabic & Islamic Medicine

TAIM, short for Traditional Arabic & Islamic Medicine, skillfully blends an ancient indigenous healing philosophy with modern science. It is a system of wellbeing originally practiced in the Arab world and is based on the body of knowledge formalised in the Canon of Medicine, written by physician and philosopher Ibn Sina, also known as Avicenna, in AD 1025. The Canon of Medicine emphasises restoration and life balance through the pillars of physical movement and recovery, mindfulness, diet, optimal digestive function, and adequate rest. In its contemporary form, TAIM is distilled from over a millennium of evidence-based wellness practices into a range of treatments and programmes aimed at supporting health in the 21st century, with an emphasis on restoring life balance through herbal medicines, spiritual therapies, dietary and mind-body practices.

Over 250 medicinal herbs are used in contemporary TAIM practice, and at Zulal Wellness Resort, some of these include al sidr and neem tree pastes to camel milk enrichers and tadleek oil. Holistic treatments such as hijama cupping, massage and energy balancing, clear blockages and remove toxins from the body, relieve long term tension, and repair the mind-body connection.

Why are they choosing this approach?

Managed by Chiva-Som International Health Resorts and designed with a focus on supporting guests to make sustainable, lasting lifestyle changes under expert guidance, Zulal Wellness Resort is a place where guests can truly transform their approach to health, taking home lessons and motivators that last long after their stay.

As at the original flagship in Thailand, Chiva-Som Hua Hin, Zulal Wellness Resort combines holistic wellness approaches that draw on local culture and heritage, with modern scientific developments. The resort’s deep respect for Qatari culture and customs is woven through all that it does.

What kind of treatments are offered?

The majority of services at Zulal are TAIM inspired, ranging from treatments such as:

• Massage Al Batin (Abdominal massage)
• Hijama (cupping therapy)
• Massage Al-Ra’s (head massage)
• Massage Al-Ra’s wa Al-Qadam (head & foot reflexology)
• Traditional Qatari Hamiz (deep tissue)
• TAIM is also represented in the wellness cuisine offered at the resort

In late 2023, Zulal Wellness Resort launched its Genomics Testing services, provides guests with unprecedented insights into their unique genetic code, enabling a deeper understanding of how lifestyle, environmental, and nutritional factors can impact their short and long-term health.

Retreat experiences

• Therapeutic Cleanse: Designed for those seeking a dietary transformation or fine tuning, this retreat expertly guides guests toward their ideal diet and supports maximisation of the benefits of the detox process
• Stress Reset & Burnout Recovery: Drawing on the core principles of TAIM, this retreat offers a holistic approach to stress management
• Optimal Physio-Fit retreat: Tailored for those looking to improve their current performance levels or return to physical fitness following a break
• Discovery Reconnect: Designed to balance active family time with the space for individual members to focus on their own wellness journey, this retreat catalyses intergenerational connection and long-term health

Retreat stays begin with a consultation with a Health and Wellness Advisor, and optionally, a further discussion with a TAIM specialist. The specialist uses a TAIM-based diagnostic approach to guide guests’ selection of programmes, discussing the most appropriate therapies, herbal remedies and dietary choices, as well as activities that work best to sustain balance for health and wellbeing.

What to expect at the resort

True to Chiva-Som’s philosophy of delivering holistic solutions to health issues, Zulal Wellness Resort offers a range of spiritual therapies that help guests connect with themselves, their families and nature. These include fasting, prayer and dhikr chanting led by visiting practitioners and spiritual counsellors.

The Zulal Wellness Resort experience is built upon six modalities of wellness: Nutrition, Fitness, Spa, Physiotherapy, Holistic Health and Aesthetics. TAIM is infused throughout each, together restoring body, mind and spirit to optimum health in a sustainable manner.

Distinct from the resort’s adults-only Zulal Serenity offering, Zulal Discovery features family-friendly accommodation and is home to the Discovery Oasis, which offers dedicated family wellness facilities and age-appropriate spaces for four specific age-groups.

Zulal Discovery embodies the resort’s family wellness philosophy, centered on the belief that individual wellness is intrinsically linked to fulfilling family life and the ability to build meaningful relationships. Here, holistic wellness also means wellness for the whole family. By encouraging an active lifestyle, normalising good nutrition, and introducing and developing mindfulness, breathing techniques and meditation, children are inspired to engage with and explore healthy and sustainable lifestyle habits.