The journey to parenthood may not always be smooth sailing for couples facing fertility issues. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can complement IVF and IUI treatments or serve as an alternative approach to improve your chances of conceiving.
Confinement can be a particularly stressful period as you have to take care of the baby while your body is recovering from the toils of the delivery process. Find out how TCM can help nourish and restore your body’s balance during this crucial period.
Thomson Chinese Medicine is a TCM clinic in Singapore that offers gentle, holistic paediatric massage therapy for children between 6 months and 12 years old. Our treatments, combined with herbal packs for external use, aim to improve your children’s he …
From the TCM perspective, pain arises due to congestion of Qi and Blood or deficiencies in the body. TCM treatments help to ease the blockage of Qi and Blood, triggering your body’s self-healing ability. Say no to painkillers and find out how TCM pain management treatments can benefit you.
Stroke causes oxygen-deprivation in parts of the brain, resulting in damage to brain cells and affecting abilities controlled by those areas of the brain. TCM treatments help to improve blood circulation and boost oxygen supply to the brain and also helps to dissipate blood clots for faster recovery.
Skin-related issues can be a real nuisance and may affect your confidence in social settings. Skin being the body’s largest and most visible organ, is closely related to the Lung and problems usually arise from various internal imbalances. These imbalances are often due to toxin build up, Lung heat, Stomach heat, heat in the Blood, Blood or Yin deficiency.
If you always feel weak and unwell, but medical reports indicate that you do not have any serious ailments, you may be in a state known as “Sub-health”. TCM treatments are effective in restoring your health to optimal levels by treating the symptoms and fortifying your body on a holistic level.
Need TCM treatment but unable to make it to the clinic? Be it for yourself, an elderly or your unwell child, our physicians can now treat you in the comfort and convenience of your preferred location island-wide.
Atopic dermatitis, more commonly known as eczema, affects about one in five children and one in 10 adults in Singapore. While some children outgrow this skin condition, others continue suffering from flare-ups and itching well into adulthood. Some common symptoms of eczema include intense itching, redness, small bumps and flaky skin.
According to Western medicine, there is no known cause for eczema and treatment methods include avoiding trigger factors, keeping the skin moisturised and using topical steroids or taking oral antihistamines.
However, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), has an entirely different view of what contributes to eczema and believes that a holistic approach is capable of managing the symptoms well.
Keep reading to find out how TCM can help with eczema.
How TCM Views Eczema
TCM believes that eczema is caused by a combination of wind, dampness and heat accompanied by deficiencies in the Liver, Spleen and Kidney. Excessive wind in the Liver is linked to stress and hormonal changes, causing flare-ups to occur. Dampness in the Spleen can be caused by an unhealthy diet such as consuming too much cooling or cold food and beverages, resulting in painful blisters in eczema patients. Internal heat also causes eczema symptoms to worsen while deficiencies in the Kidney exacerbate itching, dryness and inflammation.
However, as every individual’s body constitution is unique, it is always important to see a registered TCM physician in Singapore who will be able to understand your condition and recommend an appropriate treatment plan.
How TCM Modalities Help in Relieving Eczema Symptoms
Herbal medications
Herbal medications play a pivotal role in managing and relieving eczema symptoms as they address the root of the problem from the inside to offer longer-lasting external results. A combination of herbs may be prescribed to address any disharmony and deficiencies in the body to alleviate inflammation and reduce flare-ups.
Acupuncture
Inserting fine needles into specific acupoints during acupuncture helps to stimulate Qi flow to correct any imbalances in the body. This, in turn, reduces itching, decreases inflammation and strengthens the immune system to prevent frequent flare-ups. Other than enhancing overall well-being internally, acupuncture can also improve skin health and restore your skin barrier, which could be beneficial for eczema.
TCM’s Tips for Managing Eczema Symptoms or Preventing Flare-Ups
Just like how Western medicine has its own set of advice for managing eczema and flare-ups, TCM also has tips that will work hand-in-hand with treatments for faster and optimum results.
Here are some things to do and avoid, according to TCM.
Avoid certain food
Some food can add heat to your body, causing eczema to worsen and resulting in more flare-ups as well. It is wise to avoid dairy, sugar, alcohol, processed food and warming spices like turmeric and ginger.
Speak to a registered TCM physician to find out more about the list of foods you need to cut down on or avoid based on your body constitution.
Manage stress levels
It is also essential to manage your stress levels to avoid internal triggers like poor liver function which contributes to eczema flare-ups. Learn to take time off from your busy schedule to do something you enjoy to destress.
Keep your skin moisturised
A gentle moisturiser should be your best friend and reapplied throughout the day to reduce flare-ups and skin flaking.
Let TCM Help You Live a Fulfilling Life
Eczema may be common and incurable but there is no need to let it take control of your life. TCM for eczema is an all-natural approach that can work in tandem with Western medicine so there is no need for you to entirely forgo a certain treatment.
If Western medications and approaches do not seem to be helping, consider turning to TCM to fix your ‘internal’ state. Although eczema is not a condition one can easily heal from and takes time and effort, active and effective management will help relieve itching, manage symptoms and prevent frequent and painful flare-ups.
Here at Thomson Chinese Medicine, our team of physicians is dedicated to helping eczema sufferers by customising a treatment plan that comprises acupuncture and herbal medication, further supported by positive dietary and lifestyle routines.
