Jamaica / Special Interests / Health Practitioners

Jamaica is large enough for there to be plenty going on in complementary medicine and there are many naturopaths, as practitioners are known, working on the island. Most are based around Kingston, but there are practitioners island-wide, with specialities in homeopathy, acupuncture and chiropractic services alongside Reiki and reflexology.

If you would prefer the setting of a hotel then some of the hotel spas (included in the list below) use their tranquil setting to help your spiritual regeneration and offer some healing as well as their more traditional treatments, but a couple of hotels have a speciality in alternative therapies and hold retreat weeks. In Negril, Jackie’s on the Reef, is a small hotel/guest house with just six rooms that is set up specifically as a holistic retreat.

Read Stephen Thorpe's review of Healing Herbs of Jamaica by Ivelyn Harris

Complementary health and holistic practioners in Jamaica include: 

Audrey F Cooke, Kingston - Offers reflexology and acupressure. Audrey is also a musician, storyteller who gives lectures and run workshops on personal and spiritual development and energy medicine.

Ted Emanuel, Kingston - A naturopathic physician originally from Antigua and known in Jamaica for his promotion of a macrobiotic and spiritual approach to wellness. He is a skin, body and health care specialist who offers Shiatsu massage therapy, reflexology, magnetic therapy, colon irrigation, both therapeutic and biological face lifting and peeling, weight loss and nutritional counselling and diagnostic evaluations.

Dr Anthony Vendryes, Kingston - A renowned Jamaican doctor who practices a combination of conventional and alternative medicine in Kingston. Promoting prevention and a healthy lifestyle through the radio and local newspapers, he is a regular contributor at various health and wellness lectures, seminars and workshops.

Wholistic Herbal Association, Kingston - A source of information on herbal medicine, natural therapies and registered practitioners.

Zonya Rodney, Kingston - A licensed massage therapist with a BA in Psychology who offers reflexology, Reiki, deep tissue/sports massage, Swedish massage therapy and Nuad Bo-Rarn Thai massage. Also a certified yoga teacher who offers classes and yoga and meditation courses and workshops. 

Harmony Gardens, Ironshore - Located next to Coyaba Beach Resort, Harmony Gardens is a day spa offering natural health care such as acupuncture, chiropractic alignments, reflexology and medical check-ups and consultations like magnetic resonance analysis. They offer Swedish, Ayurvedic, Thai and acidosis massages as part of their wellness spa treatments. Also a health food restaurant.

The Spa, Round Hill Hotel & Villas - Round Hill’s spa is housed in a restored 18th century plantation house and offers reflexology and Reiki along with several forms of massage.

Jackie’s on the Reef, Negril - Secluded Negril Yoga center and perfect for a retreat, Jackie’s offers meditation, Tai Chi (subject to availability), Reiki, star gazing and some more esoteric therapies such as ear-candling and past life regression. Organic produce and dairy free menu, open wood burning stove. A range of spa and massage treatments.

Also see under Yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi...