FAQ
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is an ancient healthcare framework that has been practiced for over 2,500 years. It encompasses various therapies, including acupuncture, herbal medicine, dietary therapy, and exercises like tai chi and qigong. TCM is based on the concept of Qi (vital energy) and emphasises a holistic approach to health, focusing on balancing the body, mind, and environment.
TCM can be effective for a range of conditions, for example:
Stress and Mental Health: Herbal medicine and acupuncture can help reduce stress levels and improve mental well-being.
Women's Health: TCM is often utilised for hormonal imbalances, menstrual disorders, and fertility issues.
Chronic Pain: TCM therapies like acupuncture have been shown to alleviate chronic pain conditions, including back pain and arthritis.
Digestive Disorders: Herbal remedies in TCM are frequently used to treat issues such as indigestion and irritable bowel syndrome.
In Hong Kong, practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) must adhere to specific qualifications and licensing requirements as stipulated by the Chinese Medicine Ordinance.
There are two main categories of TCM practitioners in Hong Kong:
Registered Chinese Medicine Practitioners (CMPs): These practitioners have completed the requisite education and passed the licensing examination.
Listed Chinese Medicine Practitioners: This category includes those who were practicing before the implementation of the ordinance in January 2000, and who may not have completed formal education or passed the licensing exam. They have limited rights compared to registered practitioners.
Our practitioners at Bloomsbury Chinese Medicine Clinic are Registered CMPs, and have a wealth of experience treating urban ailments and disorders related to stress imbalances.
During your first appointment with a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioner, you can expect a comprehensive and holistic approach to your health assessment. Here’s what typically occurs:
Initial Assessment
The initial assessment gathers comprehensive health information through a health questionnaire, visual observation of the patient's appearance and tongue, auscultation of voice and breathing patterns, olfaction of body odours, and palpation of pulse at various wrist points. These methods aim to provide insights into the patient's medical history, current symptoms, and overall internal health.
Discussion of Symptoms
Following the assessments, the practitioner will engage you in a detailed conversation about your symptoms:
Expect questions about pain levels, sleep quality, energy levels, digestive health, and any other relevant issues. This inquiry helps the practitioner understand your unique health pattern.
Treatment Recommendations
Based on the findings from the assessment and discussion:
The TCM practitioner will suggest a tailored treatment plan that may include acupuncture, herbal medicine and/or cupping therapy.
You might be advised on lifestyle changes or dietary adjustments to support your healing process.
Please be prepared to allow for 60-90 minutes for the initial consultation, as our practitioners take the time to provide personalised care and attention to each patient.
Our practitioners would typically take a detailed, personalised and empathetic approach in understanding our patients in order to ensure treatment effectiveness:
Current Health Concerns: Describe any symptoms or health issues you are experiencing, including their duration and severity.
Past Medical History: Share any previous illnesses, surgeries, or significant medical conditions that could impact your current health.
Family Health History: Provide details about any hereditary conditions or diseases in your family, as these can influence your health risks.
Lifestyle factors such as Diet: Outline your typical eating habits, including food preferences and any dietary restrictions.
Sleep Patterns: Note the quality and duration of your sleep, including any issues like insomnia or excessive fatigue.
Physical Activity: Describe your level of physical activity and types of exercise you engage in regularly.
Emotional Well-being: Discuss any mental health concerns, stress levels, or emotional issues that may affect your overall health.
Medications and Supplements: List all medications (prescription and over-the-counter) and supplements you are currently taking, along with their dosages.
Allergies: Mention any known allergies to medications, foods, or environmental factors.
TCM practitioners typically perform specific physical examinations, including checking the pulse and examining the tongue. These methods are integral to TCM diagnostics and provide valuable insights into a patient's health.
We offer the key types of TCM treatments – for example:
Chinese Herbal Medicine: Utilises a variety of herbs in formulas tailored to individual health needs.
Acupuncture: Involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body to balance the flow of qi (energy).
Cupping Therapy: Uses suction cups placed on the skin to promote blood flow and relieve muscle tension.
Ear Acupoint Therapy : Suitable for those who do not prefer needles, ear seeds made of Chinese herb are placed on your ear to serve as tiny acupressure devices. The continuous stimulation on the ear acupoints can help to improve pain, insomnia, mental issues ranging from anxiety to grief and weight loss. The seeds are held in place by waterproof tape and stay for up to 3 days for continued effect.
Plum Blossom Needle Therapy : Uses Plum Blossom Skin Needle technique by tapping specific somatic areas and acupuncture points to stimulate skin and effectively promote blood circulation, this technique is proven effective to enable qi and blood to flow more smoothly in order to promote hair growth and pain relief.
The number of recommended treatment sessions varies based on several factors, including the nature and severity of the condition being treated, as well as individual responses to therapy.
Generally speaking:-
Acute Conditions: Typically 3 to 6 sessions are recommended for the conditions to be healed. Patient might start noticing benefits after just the first treatment session.
Chronic Conditions: For chronic issues, the recommendations generally are:
6 to 10 sessions for noticeable improvements.
10 to 20 sessions may be advised for more substantial and lasting changes.
The timeline for seeing results from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treatments, including acupuncture and herbal medicine, can vary significantly based on several factors, including the nature of the condition being treated and individual patient responses.
For acute conditions (e.g. headache), many patients experience noticeable relief almost immediately after their first acupuncture session.
For chronic issues, such as long standing pain or stress-related conditions, patients typically start to notice changes within 2 to 6 weeks of consistent treatment. The general guideline suggests that patients may require 4 to 6 sessions before they see substantial improvement.
The frequency of sessions may decrease as symptoms improve, transitioning to maintenance visits every few weeks or months.
Our practitioners take pride in creating highly personalised treatment plans, ensuring that any treatment is carried out only after thorough discussions with our patients.
If you experience discomfort during a TCM consultation, for example during acupuncture or cupping, it's important to communicate openly with your practitioner.
In TCM, making lifestyle and dietary adjustments may significantly improve treatment effectiveness and overall health. Recommendations often emphasise consuming nourishing foods that correspond with seasonal variations and individual body types.
Other recommendations may include maintaining regular meal times, practicing mindful eating, and drinking warm beverages to enhance digestion. Furthermore, prioritising sufficient rest, relaxation, and stress-reduction techniques like meditation can bolster mental well-being.
Our TCM practitioners will review your individual needs carefully to provide personalised guidance for optimal health outcomes.
In Hong Kong, the regulation of Chinese medicine granules falls under the Chinese Medicine Ordinance (Cap. 549). This legislation establishes a comprehensive framework for the licensing and registration of Chinese medicines to ensure their safety, quality, and efficacy.
Our clinic utilises herbal medicine granules sourced from medicine producers/ importers that are licensed by the Chinese Medicines Board (CMB), established under the Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong (CMCHK).
Please refer to our PRICE LIST for each consultation and treatment types.
FAQ
望診 : 看病的人面色丶氣色，初步掌握其身體情況 聞診 : 辨別病人的氣息語調，進一步了解健康狀況 問診 : 通過詢問溝通，掌握病人的病情病史 切診 : 透過病人脈象得到更多資訊 其實望、聞、問、切同樣重要，臨床上中醫師需要四診合參，互相結合參證補充，才能全面了解病人病情，以準確辨証，再制定適合的治療方案。
中醫理論內其實不存在熱底或寒底這個概念，臨床上，大部份病人體質屬混合型，不是只有寒或熱，同一個人身上可以同時見到寒象及熱象，如「上熱下寒」就會出現口腔生飛滋但同時有宮寒經痛。
「治未病」出自中醫經典古藉《黃帝內經》，提出了人類應當順應四季自然規律以養生防病。假如等疾病發生後才醫治，對身體已造成一定損害。所以在疾病未出現前，注重養生，保持健康方為上策。
雖然中藥本身是天然物，但中藥的活性成分很複雜，寒熱屬性也各有不同，一般中醫師開藥時，都會同時提醒病人該注意哪些飲食宜忌，病人應該遵照醫囑服用中藥及戒口，以達到最佳治療效果。
無論服用中藥或西藥，均需要過一段時間才會由代謝系統排出體外，病人自西醫及中醫師處取得的藥物都是經過仔細調配，以確保藥物在體內不會產生交互作用。因此，遵守西醫與中醫師的指示服藥很重要，若有同時使用中藥與西藥的需要，兩者應間隔至少兩小時以上。