AUGUST 2022

HEALTH & FITNESS

of Worlds Best Both

BY AMY GREENBURG This primary care practice combines Eastern and Western medicine to deliver an integrative, best of-both-worlds approach. Here’swhatyoucanexpect as a patient at the holistic healthcare practice, and what integrative treatment might look like for three common health concerns. While Western medicine is mainly focused on identifying the cause of an ailment and using medication to alleviate the current symptoms, Eastern medicine is more concerned with enhancing the body’s natural defences to prevent disease from reoccurring. Integrative medicine is a combination approach that includes conventional Western medical practices – including drugs and surgery – and complementary therapies that are not part of traditional Western medicine. This includes Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and other Eastern therapeutic practices. What is integrative medicine?

An East-West approach in action This concept of synthesising the best of both traditions to achieve the greatest possible patient outcome is what One Wellness Medical is all about. With two locations now open in Singapore, the practice offers preventative and family medicine enhanced with TCM herbal medication, acupuncture, cupping therapy and other ancient Eastern healing practices. But, what does this integrative approach actually look like when put into action? Here, DR PENNY TAN and physician PEHWEI JIE share three common health concerns and walk us through typical Western and Eastern treatments, plus how they work hand-in-hand to bring each patient a personalised, East-West combination approach. Patients are asked to keep sleep diaries, detailing sleep disturbances and other information that can help with a tailored treatment plan. Treatment also involves making the appropriate lifestyle changes to ensure good sleep hygiene – the habits and activities that promote good quality sleep. This includes keeping the bedroom dark and quiet, exercising daily, not watching TV in the bedroom, and avoiding caffeine and alcohol within six hours of bedtime, among other measures. Eastern approach A combination of acupuncture and TCM herbal medication is often used, explains Peh. There are certain acupuncture points – particularly near the ankles and wrists, and below the earlobes – that can promote deep relaxation, while sour date seeds can be used to nourish the two organs responsible for sleep – the heart and liver. An integrated approach would likely include trying lifestyle changes, acupuncture and TCM herbal medication before sleep aids are prescribed. #1 Insomnia Western approach

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AUGUST2022