TCM and Acupuncture in Singapore
As a full fledged practicing Traditional Chinese Medicine TCM Physician in Singapore and having my practice over 16 years now, I believe I am in the position to give a scene of how the TCM industry and scenery is like in Singapore and the many misconceptions that come with it.
Misconception 1: TCM physicians are PRC Chinese nationals
Many still think that all who practise TCM in Singapore are migrants from People’s Republic of China (PRC).
Take me for example. I am a home grown Singaporean who is highly trained in TCM and Acupuncture. You can read more about me here. The fact that I am so good in my practice is because of sheer hard work, years of it. My Mandarin was finely sharpened within the first few months when I landed in China for my studies and training. But this fine tuned Mandarin got ingrained in my brain and DNA and now when I speak to Chinese and Taiwanese, my Beijing accent and slang will naturally emerge. Hence if you mistaken my origin as from China, I can totally understand.
Many still mistaken me as a doctor who has migrated from China to Singapore. And now you know there are people like me who are born Singaporean but practise TCM.
Misconception 2: TCM is Tuina
TCM comprises of herbology, acupuncture, cupping, guasha, pulse taking, tongue reading and many modalities. Tuina is just one of the many modalities of treatment, not the entire makeup for TCM.
Misconception 3: TCM Tuina is just massage
Originally, Tuina is a kind of treatment method and modality in TCM. There are specific moves and strokes to be learnt and practiced for years in order to master the real Tuina.
In Singapore, however, Tuina has downgraded to being just for relaxation and found widely in massage parlours and displayed in menus on the same level with Thai massage, reflexology, oil massage. And to upsell Tuina in massage parlours, the term ‘TCM’ is used together with Tuina to make it look more medical and professional. But what all that are offered at these places are purely just massage learnt from 3 months courses.
Misconception 4: TCM physicians are expected to be old
Yes, experience is the one big factor for differentiating the good and lousy TCM physicians. However age should not be used to judge the skills of the physicians because there are old people who start learning TCM at their golden years and come out green like a horn. But because of the appearance people thought that they are experienced and good. Read more about this here.
There are also TCM physicians like me who start out young but still look super young even with decades of practise. Most probably because of practicing what are preached and become the real life example where age reversal and anti aging is fully possible.
Furthermore, for TCM especially, not everyone can be a TCM physician because being in the medicine that is so hands-on, healing touch is the X factor for the practice to sustain. This factor that makes or breaks a TCM physician is regardless of age.
Misconception 5: TCM retail clinics are where authentic TCM exist
TCM retail clinics are TCM businesses which businessmen market cookie-cut TCM modalities instead of TCM physicians individualized skills and specialties. One of my past working experiences at a retail clinic reveals how unethical these bankers and businessmen are to use doctors to make money in the name of saving and helping people. One of my older blog posts talks about the commercialized TCM and Real TCM and how to differentiate them.
The next time you walk into a retail shopping mall TCM clinic, ask yourself: Are you looking for treatment or to fall into the trap of business marketing?
For me, my practice is simple and clear cut. To treat, heal and carry my lineage.
Hope you have a better picture of how TCM is in Singapore now.