• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Go to Expat Living Hong Kong
Get our Newsletter

Lifestyle Guide To Moving To & Living in Singapore - Expat Living HomepageLifestyle Guide To Moving To & Living in Singapore - Expat Living

Moving to Singapore and not sure where to start? Expat Living is the essential lifestyle guide to living in Singapore.

Login Pelcro Shop

Menu
  • Living in Singapore
      • Living here
      • Property
      • Neighbourhood Guides
      • Work & Finance
        • soccer school sports - SJI International studentsWhich school sports to choose?
        • Transform borders Singapore immigration lawyer sulochanaTHE Singapore immigration lawyer to get your work permit
        • Driving in SingaporeDriving in Singapore – What you need to know
        • migration to AustraliaIs migration to Australia or NZ on your wish list?
      • View all
    Close
  • Things To Do
      • Things to do
      • EL Events
      • Calendar
      • Competitions
      • Noticeboard
        • Things to do in SingpaoreWhat’s on this week and beyond
        • puzzles octoberPuzzle Pages – answers for October 2023!
        • horoscopes for julyMonthly Horoscopes – October 2023!
        • what's on in sydney theatre wickedA Wickedly Good Time – Things to Do in Sydney!
      • View all
    Close
  • Kids
      • Enrichment
      • Kids Things To Do
      • Mums & Babies
      • Schools
      • Tots & Toddlers
      • Tweens & Teens
        • soccer school sports - SJI International studentsWhich school sports to choose?
        • special needs education clinic TLCNeed special needs education support for your child?
        • Yellow Aliens mascotWhere to rent Halloween costumes & more!
        • White Room photography studio in SingaporePortrait photography in Singapore: here’s some top studios!
      • View all
    Close
  • Homes
      • Furniture & Décor
      • Real Homes
        • Looking for the best outdoor furniture in Singapore?
        • Home News: New furniture, home décor & services
        • solo exhibition in singaporeAmazing 3D-style artwork by Zhuang Hong Yi
        • Where to buy antiques or vintage furniture – Reviews
      • View all
    Close
  • Travel
      • Australasia
      • Rest Of The World
        • migration to AustraliaIs migration to Australia or NZ on your wish list?
        • The Latest Travel News & Hotel Deals
        • what's on in sydney theatre wickedA Wickedly Good Time – Things to Do in Sydney!
        • stamp duty investing in property5 Reasons to Invest in Property in Sunny Spain!
      • View all
    Close
  • Wine & Dine
      • Asian Cuisine
      • Western Cuisine
      • Bars & Clubs
      • Groceries & Speciality Services
      • Recipes & Classes
        • New Nibbles: Foodie news!
        • Oktoberfest 2023 singapore - the places for food and beerHow to celebrate Oktoberfest 2023 in Singapore
        • Deviate wine bar in Dempsey Hill - we chat to owner Joe Keats of Petersons WinesThis Dempsey bar is a best-kept secret!
        • Crossroads cafe at Orchard - where to eat in Orchard Road - alfresco dining SingaporeTry alfresco dining & happy hour at this café at Orchard Road
      • View all
    Close
  • Style & Beauty
      • Fashion
      • Hair & Beauty
        • anti-frizz hair treatmentFrizzy hair? We review keratin treatments and more
        • hairdressers in singaporeBest Hair Salons in Singapore for Haircut, Colour & De-frizz!
        • Fashion News and Sales in Singapore!
        • sensitive skin moisturiser skincare steps productsTried & Tested: Sensitive skin moisturisers, serums & more!
      • View all
    Close
  • Health & Fitness
      • Dental
      • Fitness
      • Medical
      • Wellness
        • soccer school sports - SJI International studentsWhich school sports to choose?
        • dental facial orthopaedic and clear aligners orthodontics in singaporeA star in alignment – orthodontics and charity work
        • mould service in singaporeChoose the right mould removal service in Singapore
        • allergic rhinitis, allergy medication and insuranceFast facts on allergies, symptoms & insurance
      • View all
    Close
  • Shop
    • PRINT MAGAZINE
    • DIGITAL MAGAZINE
    • Close

Exploring Traditional Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture

21st January 2023 by Amy Greenburg 4 Min Read

https://expatliving.sg/traditional-chinese-medicine-singapore-acupuncture/

From acupuncture to herbal medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can offer loads of health benefits. If you’re looking to take a more holistic approach to your health in 2023, here’s why you’ll want to consider adding Chinese medicine and natural healing remedies to your routine.

What is Traditional Chinese Medicine?

TCM is an ancient form of Eastern medicine that dates back thousands of years. Whereas Western medicine is mainly focused on identifying the cause of an ailment and using medication to alleviate the current symptoms, Chinese medicine is more concerned with enhancing the body’s natural defences to prevent disease from reoccurring.

chinese medicine herbs TCM Singapore holistic alternative medicine

An East-West approach

Mainstream Western medicine clearly has its advantages, with surgeries and medications to help reduce symptoms and save lives. Yet alternative medicine like TCM certainly has a place in the healthcare system, too. There is growing evidence to support the effectiveness and safety of TCM use with mainstream treatment.

In fact, more Western physicians over the past several decades have adopted Eastern practices to provide their patients with a “best of both worlds” approach. This concept of synergising the two traditions is called integrative medicine. It includes conventional drugs and surgery alongside complementary therapies with the aim of providing the best possible patient outcomes. For example, a migraine sufferer might require pain medication for immediate symptom relief but find that the frequency of chronic headaches can be reduced with regular TCM treatment.

One Wellness Medical is a holistic healthcare practice in Singapore that provides its patients with this type of integrative care. It offers preventative and family medicine augmented with TCM herbal medicine, acupuncture, cupping therapy and other ancient healing practices.

Here are three reasons to complement your Western healthcare with TCM in Singapore, according to One Wellness Medical.

#1 TCM encompasses holistic care for the individual

PEH WEI JIE is a physician at One Wellness Medical. He says that while Western medicine focuses on treating the specific ailment, TCM looks at the body holistically, emphasising energy and balance.

“TCM treatment strives to attain a balance between one’s health and disease. To calibrate any imbalances within the body, a personalised treatment plan is formulated for the individual.”

This can be in the form of herbal medicine or acupuncture, which uses hair-thin needles to stimulate specific areas of the skin, known as acupoints. It can even be in the form of food therapy or lifestyle changes to improve one’s symptoms and reduce future recurrences of diseases.

Exercises such as tai chi are also incorporated to improve breathing techniques and regulate emotions. This is important, he says, as emotions like anger, depression and anxiety can lead to ailments when unchecked.

“By considering all of these aspects, the recovery of an individual can be swifter and also provide substantial preventive care.”

Chinese medicine acupuncture

#2 TCM utilises natural remedies in its treatment

As a natural healing modality, TCM does not use conventional drugs. Instead, it includes natural treatments such as acupuncture, herbal remedies, dietary advice and exercise to improve symptoms and clear the root cause of the disease.

But, don’t mistake natural for not as effective, says Peh – quite the contrary. “TCM herbs, for instance, have multiple functions and can be effective for almost all conditions when diagnosed and chosen in an accurate manner. A formulary can be devised for the individual to improve his or her symptoms, reduce side effects and boost energy. This can improve their recovery process and quality of life in the long run,” he says. “This goes for even the most complex conditions.”

Also, because herbal medications are natural and mostly plant-based, they leave “little to no traces and side effects in the body after consumption.”

That said, it might be worth exploring TCM as the first line of treatment in certain non life-threatening cases. For example, a patient with insomnia might consider acupuncture and herbal medicine to promote deep relaxation before opting for prescription sleep aids.

As with any kind of medicine, TCM herbal medication is “a personalised and precision-based medication,” says Peh. “It must be tailored to an individual’s symptoms and needs.” That’s why it’s important to seek a licensed certified TCM practitioner for a detailed diagnosis.

#3 Acupuncture is a natural way to relieve many types of pain

Acupuncture treatment is widely known for its effectiveness in both chronic and acute pain relief. This includes everything from back, neck, knee and shoulder pain to headaches, menstrual cramps and even side effects from chemotherapy.

For many patients, acupuncture treatment has “proven effective in relieving all kinds of ailments and pain syndromes, proving to be a sustainable and effective alternative to pain relievers or external applications.” In fact, Peh says that many patients with lower back pain, osteoarthritis, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia and other pain syndromes report improved relief with acupuncture, in conjunction with anti-inflammatory and preventive Western medications. He adds that acupuncture needles can also stimulate the production of endorphins, which helps relieve pain.

To discover more benefits of holistic Western medicine and TCM integrations, visit onewellnessmedical.com.

One Wellness Medical
CBD: #03-14 SBF Medical Suites, 160 Robinson Road | 6904 1671
East Coast: #04-19 i12 Katong Mall, 112 East Coast Road | 6568 0320
FB/IG @OneWellnessMedical

This article first appeared in the January 2023 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe, so you never miss a copy!

To make the most of living in Singapore, read our latest City Guide here for free!

Categories: Health & Fitness Wellness Tags: acupuncture Chinese Medicine Health herbal medicine holistic healing natural healing One Wellness Medical TCM wellness

Amy Greenburg

Originally from Los Angeles, Amy is passionate about Netflix, sipping rosé at rooftop bars, travelling, and all things health and wellness-related. She enjoys learning about different health topics through her writing, particularly critical health conditions, food allergies, alternative therapies, and pregnancy and postpartum-related issues

You May Also Like

Family home cups of water benefits of drinking water

8 benefits of drinking water

8 ways to Improve Your Gut Health

Image of family for health insurance story

8 types of health insurance for expats

Primary Sidebar

  • Competitions
  • Noticeboard
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • advertise
  • Contact
  • Privacy

© 2023 Expat Living Singapore, All Rights Reserved.