“There are always advantages and disadvantages — the pros and cons — in anything you do,” said an insightful Dr Lowell Chai during an interview at his wellness centre. His keen interest lies in functional, alternative, and preventive medicine, which has fuelled his passion for integrative medicine. This passion led to the establishment of LaVie Wellness Sanctuary in Kuching.
The wellness centre aims to complement mainstream medicine by addressing its limitations and enhancing the health and wellness of the community. Its focus is on preventive medicine and improving the quality of life for those with chronic illnesses.
At LaVie, Dr Lowell, who has been a general practitioner since 2018, shared that the centre’s services range from treatment to prevention, including Heart Healer, Gut Cleanser+Detox, HBOT, EXILIS, EMSELLA, FIR Scalar Sauna, and Cellular Therapy.
“Those who come into my centre have problems they want to cure, or they want to prevent any future issues. These services do not harm the body in any way, and they are usually safe,” he said.
In elaborating on the importance of preventive treatments, he shared that many young adults do not know what to prevent until it happens to them or those around them. Dr Lowell emphasised the importance of taking good care of one’s body, regardless of the condition.
“People often say they do not want to get sick when they’re older. But as you age, illnesses and diseases may arise, and you might think, ‘Oh, it’s because I’ve reached a certain age; that’s why.’ It does not have to be that way. I believe we should work to change the perspective of the general population — that being old doesn’t have to equate to having all the bodily problems.”
With that in mind, Dr Lowell explained that he established his centre for this reason: “To improve the quality of life for people.”
Preventing the unthinkable
There is always a drive to prevent, as it is better to have no problems than to have to cure them. When asked about things people should think about and be careful of, the doctor revealed that many do not consider their lifestyle choices.
Explaining further, he shared that poor lifestyle choices can lead to a future filled with health problems. On the other hand, those who are careful with their lifestyle choices tend to have fewer problems.
“Exercise regularly and be mindful of your diet. Many people don’t do this often, and they choose quick meals by consuming ultra-processed foods or fast food.”
Another thing to watch out for is your sleep pattern. A person should get seven to eight hours of sleep per day, he added.
“But as you grow older, the longer you maintain these habits, the more you will see the effects. So, the main things to watch out for are exercise, diet, and sleep.”
In addition, he advised maintaining good heart health and paying attention to posture to avoid pain in the muscles or joints in the future.
