The Red Dao herbal bath is the traditional healing bath of the Red Dao people in Sapa. We work closely with SapaNapro, a social enterprise that supplies us with all the herbs for our herbal baths. SapaNapro is a community-owned social enterprise by the Red Dao people in the small village Ta Phin in Sapa, with more than 100 ethnic minority shareholders.
A sacred tradition
SapaNapro was founded in 2006 by a young man in Sin Chai village (Sapa), Lý Láo Lở. Lở wanted to create bath medicine and sell it while preserving the secret that has passed on for thousands of years. The Red Dao people live in the mountains in Sapa. Through hundreds of years they have been living in the high mountains with harsh climates, collecting and using precious medicinal herbs which has become their unique cultural identity.
Each family has their own secret and use of medical plants which have been shaped through many generations. The Red Dao women have passed their secret herbal bath remedies on to their daughters for hundreds of years so it has become a very integrated part of the Red Dao culture. The Red Dao people cultivate, harvest, process and develop all the products, which is being guided closely by the Hanoi University of Pharmacy. The Hanoi University of Pharmacy also does research and development as well as assures the quality of the herbal products. SapaNapro has increased life quality for many of the ethnic minorities in Ta Phin, contributing to poverty reduction in the village.
What do you gain from it?
The herbal bath is a traditional healing bath in oriental medicine, including hydrotherapy and aromatherapy. The herbal remedies are highly effective for relaxing and therapeutic causes as the high temperature and pressure of water can increase blood circulation while relaxing the mind. Medicinal herbs are used to recover health, fight colds, detoxify skin pores and to create a sense of well-being.
It is especially effective for athletes and workers performing heavy physically work. Yet, it is also just for anyone who wants to prevent illness or seek relaxation after a busy day. During the herbal treatment, the medicinal ingredients mixed improves one’s health in various ways. It helps the body to detoxify through skin pores, reduce bone pain, improve blood circulation and recover women’s health after pregnancy.