Saturday October 11, 2008
A good needling by JOLEEN LUNJEW of The Star
Being kneaded, manipulated, prodded and poked by acupuncture needles doesn’t so bad once the benefits kick in.
How does enduring a bit of pain sound to you as you allow your body to be stretched and straightened back into shape? Or, having dozens of needles stuck all over you with electrical pulses sent through them?
As crazy as it may sound, I volunteered to go through all this and more for the sake of better health.
They were just minor discomforts, really. The horrors one imagines as long needles penetrate one’s body are baseless. In fact, I didn’t even know the needles had already been inserted until the Chinese physician said so.
All I felt was a cold dampness as the doctor sanitised my skin, then the touch of his fingers and a slight prick. Once a needle was in, I couldn’t even feel it, so counting the number of needles in my body without looking was out of the question. I had to ask the doctor.
Acupuncture improves blood circulation and chi
He said 14 €” to improve blood circulation and unblock the natural flow of chi in my body.
The acupuncture therapy was recommended by a Chinese physician at Golden Horses Health Sanctuary €” TCM Wellness, a preventive healthcare centre offering a comprehensive range of services based on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).
The centre, in Mines Resort City, concentrates on the prevention and detection of disease rather than cures. TCM Wellness’ founder and president of the Malaysian Health Qigong Association, Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew, said he had always been a true believer in preventive care.
“Over 5,000 years ago, the ancient Chinese discovered a subtle chi in the body, which cannot be seen or felt. This chi travels through invisible channels or meridians, each connecting to a particular organ in the body with specific functions. Any imbalances to these chi levels are considered illnesses,” said Lee.
“The Chinese used various practises to restore balance, some of which are acupuncture, body tuina massage and reflexology. The trend now is moving towards prevention but we must be careful of the practitioners we seek therapy from. TCM Wellness offers a reputable place where you are assured of professional services by certified doctors,” added Lee.
Executive director Candy Yap said the centre gets a fair number of non-Chinese guests.
“As our centre is located in the Palace Beach & Spa Resort, we’ve been getting many international hotel guests. Middle Eastern guests are quite common, and more than 20% of our guests are non-Chinese. We have a lot of Muslim guests as well.
Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew, founder of Golden Horses Health Sanctuar y-TCM Wellness.
“There is a process we follow when we receive guests for the first time. It is best that they go for pulse reading with a Chinese physician so that the doctor can determine their health condition and detect problem areas,” explained Yap.
But what if the person doesn’t have any problems?
“That is where prevention comes in. Most of us do not have a disease, but we do not feel entirely healthy. This is because our chi is not balanced, and we need to put it back in harmony again.
“I have been using TCM in my daily life. Take, for example, the common flu. When I feel one coming, I will undergo a specific treatment and immediately I feel better,” said Yap.
According to Yap, the youngest guest they have had was a five-year-old and the oldest, a 72-year-old. Most, though, are between 40 and 60, but TCM Wellness is encouraging the younger crowds because prevention and detection are especially effective with them.
“Our tuina, a form of Chinese body massage to unblock the flow of the body’s chi, is very popular. It involves brushing, stretching, rolling, pressing and rubbing points along the meridian to unblock chi and get it in balance again,” said Yap.
Tuina is not really a recreational or relaxing massage, as the techniques range from light stroking to deep-tissue massage that may be considered too vigorous or painful.
Although it hurt a bit at times, I was comforted by the thought of my chi being finetuned for a healthier me.
Lee believes the time is right for Malaysia to be involved in the TCM and complementary therapy industry, and he has been working with the Health Ministry to promote it internationally.
“Malaysia has lots of potential for medical tourism. If done correctly, it can create billions of value-added services for the country. I want overseas guests with obesity problems to come to Malaysia to lose weight in a holistic way. I want foreign guests to come to Malaysia to seek better health and, at the same time, enjoy themselves on a holiday here.
“TCM is also good for people recovering from drug addiction. The reason why so many people return to drugs after their rehabilitation programme is because they do not approach it in a holistic way. They concentrate on the physical aspects and neglect their mind and soul. I want to expand the TCM industry in order to benefit society as well,” said Lee.
Lee’s centre has a Herbs and Medicine Preparation Station which prepares and packs herbs and medication recommended by the doctor after therapy.
“We have certain Chinese herbs that have been proven to cure asthma since ancient times but we don’t have documented scientific proof. What we are trying to do is conduct research together with the Federation of Chinese Physicians & Acupuncturists Associations of Malaysia to document the effectiveness of these herbs in curing asthma.
“We are inviting a maximum of 10 individuals with asthma to participate in our research, with no payment required. Just contact our centre to see if you are a suitable candidate,” said Lee.
Whatever therapy you decide on, prevention is definitely better than cure and you’ll feel so much better and healthier. I know I do.
Golden Horses Health Sanctuary — TCM Wellness
Level 3 & 4, Palace Beach & Spa Jalan Dulang, Mines Resort City Seri Kembangan, Selangor.
For enquiries or on member-get-member program, kindly contact David Tan 012-3159527 or visit http://dktan.multiply.com
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What’s it all about?
Acupuncture, a holistic practice originating in China 5,000 years ago, is based on the idea of releasing blocked energy or “chi” in living beings. These energy lines traverse the 12 meridians of the body and work in harmony with the body’s circulatory, nervous, muscular, digestive, urinary and other systems of the body.
According to the Chinese physicians at TCM Wellness, people suffer from diseases when their energy gets blocked in the meridians. Needles are inserted into the specific points along the meridian lines so that a balanced flow of energy is restored.
Diagnosis begins with the acupuncturist questioning the patient about symptoms and current situation. Family history, lifestyle and past medical history are also queried. Once a diagnosis has been arrived at, the physician will insert very thin, stainless steel needles into various parts of the body.
In order to produce better stimulation, he will apply low frequency electric currents to the needles.
“Acupuncture works effectively because the needles stimulate the release of pain-relieving endorphins into the body, influencing the release of neuro-transmitters and enhancing the working of autonomic nervous systems. By influencing the electrical currents in the body, acupuncture also improves blood circulation,” the physician I consulted told me.
“Acupuncture is known to help with head and neck pains, migraines, cervical spondylitis, azoospermia, urinary systems like bed-wetting in children, laryngitis, earache, depression, arthritis, deafness, schizophrenia and skin disorders like acne, psoriasis and hair loss. Acupuncture can also help in curing a cigarette addiction, alcoholism and drugs,” he added.
The number of sessions required depends on the nature of the illness, its duration and how the person responds to acupuncture. They are generally held weekly at first, with the sessions gradually reducing as the condition improves.
