Health x Wellness

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in Singapore

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TCM treatment as a complementary health approach

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is an established form of Asian medical treatment, where herbal medicine and acupuncture is used to treat health related issues. Besides making visits to your family doctor, TCM is often used as a complementary health approach.

Since 2001, all TCM Practitioners are required to register with the TCM Practitioners Board through the TCM Practitioners Act. Being a statutory board under the Ministry of Health (MOH), the TCM Practitioners Board maintains the Register of TCM Practitioners in Singapore, including TCM physicians, those who practice TCM and even Chinese Medicinal Material dispensers. It is necessary to register with the TCM Practitioners Board to be officially certified. Customers can go to the website to check the status of any TCM clinic.

Popular TCM clinics include Eu Yan Sang TCM clicnic and even well-known medical groups such as Raffles Medical Group offers TCM services.  Here are some common types of TCM treatment in Singapore if you’re feeling unwell:

Acupuncture

This treatment uses thin and sterilized acupuncture needles to trigger specific acupoints, allowing your body to heal naturally. Such therapeutic effects are beneficial for various conditions such as stroke or hypertension.

If you have a high tolerance for pain, you might find this treatment tolerable during the insertion of the needles. For those who can’t, you might want to look away during the process even though there will be minor discomfort.

Tui Na

This therapy is a combination of massage and acupressure, whereby your acupoints, muscles or even nerves are being triggered to release the flow of Qi (vital energy) that runs in your body. It is similar to acupuncture, except that the needles are replaced with massages.

If you’ve been experiencing body aches or pains in your limbs and back, TuiNa is effective in easing your condition. It also helps to relieve stress-related disorders and increase your blood circulation. However, persons suffering from medical conditions such as severe heart disease or pregnancy should not embark on such treatment.

Gua Sha (also known as skin scraping)

For those who are prone to illnesses, skin scraping might be your cure. Not only does it increase your resistance level towards diseases, it also regulates the Qi (internal energy) and make you feel at ease.

A small area of the water buffalo horn is commonly used to scrape the skin on certain parts of the body, causing temporary bruises. Olive oil or other lubricants will be applied and pressured strokes will be performed consistently until minor purplish patches emerges.

Make sure to drink loads of water and bathe with warm/hot water to prevent the body from taking in wind.

Chinese Herbal Medicine

TCM physicians will customise your prescription according to your medical condition. Besides helping you to recover, these medicines also aim to restore and improve your body’s immune system.

Herbal prescriptions are usually packed in sachets and filled with herbal extracts. Prescriptions for common illness such as flu, might be given in pill form. Your prescription products issued by your TCM practitioner must be approved by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) and fulfill a set of safety and quality requirements.

For any kind of treatment, always follow your physician’s instructions and inform them of any pre-existing medical conditions or drug allergies before proceeding with the treatment.

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