In a small village in Khon Kaen province, a 48-year-old woman offers her massage services for a mere 1 Baht (0.028 USD).
Despite the nominal fee, customers express satisfaction with the massage therapy often experiencing noticeable improvements in their conditions.
Ms. Korakhan Khomanee, known as Doctor Tui offers massages to treat various conditions including muscle tension, circulation problems, piriformis syndrome, stiff neck, dizziness, migraines, nerve entrapment, and other tendon-related issues. Apart from her regular massage services, she also offers remote consultations.
Due to her popularity, appointments must be made well in advance, as her schedule fills up almost entirely each month. One of her unique marketing strategies involves displaying a sign outside her home and creating a Facebook page titled “One Baht Doctor”, emphasizing her symbolic fee of 1 baht for consultation, while the massage fee varies based on the patient’s willingness to contribute.
On average, patients pay between 200 and 300 Baht per session, although some have generously paid up to 13,000 Baht.
Her clients come from all walks of life and include both locals and foreigners, some of whom fly in specifically to seek her services. Each day, Doctor Tui sees an average of 8 to 10 clients, spending 2 to 3 hours on each session. Her working-age customers often suffer from issues related to prolonged use of mobile phones. She received positive feedback and satisfied customers often recommend her to others.
Doctor Tui’s dedication to her massage therapy stems from her desire to alleviate suffering and promote well-being, using the knowledge and skill inherited from her ancestors. For over seven years, she has been providing physical relief to her customers and free massage to the less fortunate.
She often donates a portion of her earnings to charities and plans to use her savings to establish a massage school, where she intends to pass on her knowledge to future generations, with fees determined on a similar “pay what you can” basis. (TNA)
