Singapore’s New Generation TCM Physicians

Overcoming the language barrier and communicating effectively

Gone are the days when only Chinese-speaking patients sought TCM treatments. In the past, language was a barrier for many Singaporeans when it came to considering TCM as a treatment option for their ailments. Many were afraid to consult TCM physicians as most of them only spoke Chinese.

There was also a lack of understanding of how TCM can benefit patients with different health conditions. Educational content was not readily available to the public and physicians were not trained to communicate these benefits to their patients.

In order to bridge that gap, ORG licensed physicians are effectively bilingual and can switch between English and Chinese to help patients understand their health condition and treatments better, empowering them to make informed decisions while fully understanding their diagnosis. In addition, ORG physicians adopt a structured treatment plan that is shared with patients to provide clarity on the treatments prescribed and to track their recovery progress.

Physician Kelly Leow shares that ORG’s emphasis on being effectively bilingual, physician-patient communication and patient education have helped TCM become more inclusive and accessible to patients regardless of race and language. And in the past year, ORG has seen a 20% increase in Malay and Indian patients visiting their clinics.

Complementing western medicine with TCM safely

Can TCM be done concurrently with western treatments? You might have gotten a vague answer in the past, leaving you uncertain. The good news is, TCM is no longer what it used to be and a modern TCM physician would be able to advise you confidently on how you can complement western treatments with TCM safely.

Modern TCM physicians at ORG are familiar with western bio-systems and human anatomy. In fact, the majority of them are trained in Biological Sciences and TCM at Nanyang Technological University and Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. During their course of study in Singapore and China, they learn about bio-systems with a focus on biomedical sciences and human biology as well as gain clinical experience. This new generation of physicians is well versed in eastern traditional medicine and western biomedical sciences, allowing them to marry TCM with western perspectives effectively.

As more patients seek complementary holistic care to support their recovery from chronic conditions, ORG has also seen an increase in chronic patients, particularly cancer and fertility patients, consulting TCM physicians with the intention to support western treatments with TCM.

TCM for cancer support

TCM is commonly used to alleviate the side effects of cancer and conventional cancer treatments like chemotherapy. It can be used to support the patient’s immunity, reduce heat flashes, relieve nausea and alleviate other common side effects, improving their quality of life while battling cancer.

Oriental Remedies Group Lead Physician Leong Weizhen has helped hundreds of cancer warriors improve their quality of life with TCM treatments that complement western treatments. She is also a pioneer in leveraging technology to enhance the effectiveness of TCM treatments.

TCM for fertility support

Couples commonly turn to TCM to improve their chances of conceiving naturally or to increase their success rates for In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF). In females, TCM treatments help to balance hormones and regulate the menstrual cycle to ensure a healthy occurrence of ovulation, follicle development and implantation. In males, TCM treatments help improve sperm health and sexual dysfunctions. In cases of IVF, it is common for patients to seek acupuncture to support Egg Retrieval and Embryo Transfer procedures as research has shown that acupuncture can assist in ovulation and implantation. ^[1][2]

Oriental Remedies Group Senior Physician Lim Jing Yang has worked with many couples trying to conceive naturally or undergoing assisted reproductive treatments such as IUI and IVF as well as male patients with sexual dysfunction. During his time at Dongzhimen Hospital, he acquired vast knowledge and experience in integrative approaches used in China to combine TCM and western medicine to achieve the best results for patients.

ORG also partners with western doctors and clinics to provide holistic care for their patients. The TCM Group has collaborated with oncologists and physiotherapists on seminars and webinars to provide patients with different perspectives. In addition, they are currently in the midst of arranging cross-trainings with other western doctors such as male health and eye specialists to strengthen their physicians’ medical knowledge.

Enhancing TCM with Technology

In ORG physicians’ pursuit of better treatment efficacy, they explore the use of technology to enhance the effects of TCM. ORG physicians, pioneers in leveraging technology, provide personalised tech-enhanced treatments that help patients recover faster. One of their most popular tech-enhanced therapy is Electro-Lymphatic Therapy (ELT) using an FDA-registered device.

ELT is a gentle and non-invasive therapy that helps to stimulate proper flow and drainage of the lymphatic system, simulating the effects of a lymphatic drainage massage or tuina without the pain and pressure. Patients with lymphoedema and swelling, chronic pain, autoimmune conditions (e.g. eczema), cancer, inflammation and injuries have experienced ELT and reported great improvements in their general well-being.

ORG is the first and only clinic in Singapore that uses TCM and ELT effectively for a variety of conditions including cancer support, eczema, fertility, and other chronic conditions. According to their Lead Physician and co-founder Leong Weizhen, while TCM and ELT are effective therapies on their own, the combination of both works synergistically to provide even better results.

Other than ELT, ORG also provides Negative Ion Therapy and Far-Infrared Therapy that complement and enhance the effectiveness of TCM.

Electro-Lymphatic Therapy is 8-10 times more effective than conventional methods (like manual massages). ^[3]

Finding a reliable modern physician

Your first step to finding a reliable physician is to ensure they are registered with Singapore’s Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners Board (TCMPB). Certified physicians are required to display their registration certificates at their principal place of practice as a physician. It is also recommended for you to search for clinics that are transparent and willing to share how their treatment works in detail as well as their pricing. Lastly and most importantly, you should head down to the clinic for a first consultation to see if you are comfortable with the clinic staff and physician.

More about Oriental Remedies Group

Oriental Remedies Group’s newest clinic outlet at Upper Thomson, Singapore

Oriental Remedies Group (ORG) is a leading patient-centred healthcare provider offering effective treatments grounded in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and enhanced with medical technology.

From a humble single physician TCM clinic, they have grown into a team of bilingual physicians with 70 years of combined experience. ORG shapes the future of holistic health and wellness by empowering communities to be in an optimal physical condition to achieve their full potential in life.

Oriental Remedies (Jurong East)

253 Jurong East Street 24, #01-227, Singapore 600253

Oriental Remedies (East Coast)

171 East Coast Road, #01-06, Singapore 428877

Oriental Remedies (Upper Thomson)

200 Upper Thomson Road, Thomson Imperial Court, #01-10, Singapore, 574424

Contact at:

+65 8742 2163

www.orientalremediesgroup.com

Disclaimer:

Electro-Lymphatic Therapy using LymphDrainage XP-II is intended for use only for general well-being purposes or to encourage or to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and is not intended to be used for any medical purposes (such as detection, diagnosis, monitoring, management or treatment of any medical condition or disease). Any health-related information provided by this device should not be treated as medical advice. Please consult a physician for any medical advice required.

Sources:

^[1] Bidouee, F., 针灸辅助胞浆内单精子注射人工受精的临床疗效观察. 2010, 北京中医药大学.

^[2] Zhong, Y., Zeng, F., Liu, W. et al. Acupuncture in improving endometrial receptivity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Complement Altern Med 19, 61 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-019-2472-1

^[3] Clinical observations over the last 15 years from ~1000 practitioners, summarised by Dr Jennifer, manufacturer of XP-II device.