Complementary Integrative Medicine

Acupuncture is a holistic healthcare system which seeks to regulate and balance the flow of energy ('qi') within the body, triggering the body's natural healing response.

With a highly specialised and refined practice of inserting extremely fine, hair-thin needles into specific acupressure points of the energetic pathways relating to the organs, muscles and nerves of the human body's surface, acupuncture aims to restore the body's equilibrium.

In the late 1970s, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognised the ability of acupuncture to treat nearly four dozen common ailments, including

neuromusculoskeletal conditions (such as arthritis, neuralgia, insomnia, dizziness, and neck/shoulder pain)

• emotional and psychological disorders (such as depression and anxiety)
• circulatory disorders (such as hypertension and anemia); addictions to alcohol, nicotine and other drugs; respiratory disorders (such as sinusitis, allergies and bronchitis)
• gastrointestinal conditions (such as food allergies, ulcers, chronic diarrhea, constipation, indigestion, intestinal weakness, anorexia and gastritis)

There are 2 types of acupuncture services provided:

• Traditional acupuncture based on TCM theories, performed by TCM physicians
• Medical acupuncture based on understanding of anatomy, physiology and disease pathology from modern Medicine perspective. This is performed by Western physicians who are also trained in TCM acupuncture

Cupping is an ancient technique that has found its place in the modern world of healing.

Based on the meridian theory of the body, cupping aims to relieve stagnation in the body and aid the regular flow of energy ( 'qi').

Affecting up to four inches into the body tissues, cupping causes the tissues to release toxins, activate the lymphatic system, clear colon blockages, stretch marks, improve appearance of varicose veins and promote overall blood circulation.

Cupping involves the use of warmed glass jars to create suction on certain points of the body affected by pain.   

It is useful in the treatment of respiratory conditions such as bronchitis, asthma, and congestion, arthritis, gastrointestinal disorders and certain types of pain.

In the theory of TCM, food can be viewed as the medicinal herbs that we take three times a day and is classified according to its energetic effects.

Some foods are termed as warming and nourishing while others are seen as cooling and eliminating. Thus a person's underlying constitution, including the strength of their digestive system, determines what foods are most appropriate. Being aware of what we eat and how it should be prepared to effect its optimum potential can help to maintain internal balance and prevent disease on a daily basis.

Medical Acupuncture

Acupuncture performed by Western-trained physicians based on understanding of the patient's medical conditions from the perspective of Western Medicine.

Wellness therapy using combined Eastern and Western approaches

Laser Acupuncture: The main foundation of acupuncture is to stimulate specific points on the body to regulate and balance the flow of energy ('qi') within the body, stimulating the body's natural healing response. This stimulation is now available through intense, low-level light lasers which stimulate the same points with light the way an acupuncture needle would. This would be a useful alternative for patients who have phobias for needles. Laser acupuncture is used to treat the same conditions which traditional acupuncture treat. However, it is usually the chosen procedure for effective treatment of painful conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, arthritis of the knee, stroke patients who experience paralysis of the face, weight loss and smoking cessation.

Conditions may benefit from CIM intervention:

• Pain-related Conditions
• Arthritis (including gout)
• Chest pain (including intercostal neuralgia)
• Elbow pain (including tennis and golfer's elbow)
• Facial pain (including trigeminal neuralgia)
• Headache (including migraine and tension headache)
• Heel pain (including Achilles tendinitis)
• Dietary Medicine
• Knee pain (including osteoarthritis)
• Low back pain (including back sprain and sciatica)
• Shoulder pain (including rotator cuff tendinitis and frozen shoulder)
• Neck pain (including cervical spondylosis)
• Pain of unspecific cause
• Neurological Conditions
• Stroke and its related complications
• Facial paralysis (Bell's palsy)
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Parkinson's Disease
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Ear and Nose Conditions
• Rhinitis
• Sinusitis
• Tinnitus
• Eye Conditions
• Dry eyes
• Ocular paralysis
• Others
• Post-chemotherapy nausea and vomiting
• Dysmenorrhoea
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Urinary incontinence
• Fatigue
• Smoking cessation