Anantara Phuket has partnered with acupuncturist and TCM practitioner, Dr Rui Pedro Loureiro to run wellness workshops, from 29 December 2019 until 18 January 2020.

Dr Loureiro has 20 years’ experience of clinical practice in London and Portugal and will be offering a Quit Smoking for Life programme utilising auricular therapy – ear acupuncture – to minimise cravings and calm the nervous system. Sessions last 30 minutes and cost 7,500 THB (€222, US$248, £189).

Dr Loureiro said: “Quitting smoking with my treatment is very easy, but there are still routines that participants need to change in the following three days. After the treatment, they may stop craving nicotine but they’ll think about smoking several times during the first day because it’s part of their routine.

“24 hours before, they may have been smoking after meals, or with coffee or before going to sleep or after breakfast,” he said. “So I always advise them to change their routines immediately after the treatment, replacing the smoking with a glass of water or a carrot or a piece of fruit for example.

“People have lots of cravings in the first 24 hours, less in the following 48 hours and almost none in the next 72 hours”.

Dr Loureiro will also be offering traditional acupuncture, holistic facial rejuvenation using 24-carat gold needles and epigenetic testing.

Traditional acupuncture sessions begin with a complimentary consultation, Dr Loureiro will then propose a personalised treatment plan tailored to address individual’s ailments. The 60-minute acupuncture session costs 5,950 THB (€175, US$197, £150) and can target everything from joint pain, backache, acne and arthritis to chronic headaches and migraines.

The Full Epigenetic Test lasts approximately 60 mins and relies on bio-profiling for lifestyle recommendations based on levels of nutrients, vitamins and minerals found in the hair. The treatment has a starting cost of 8,500 THB (£281, €253, £215).

Dr Loureiro said: “The benefits of acupuncture can range from aesthetic to medicinal and receiving treatment while on vacation makes a perfect new year, new you experience.”