It is not just Chinese sinsehs who are well-versed in
the ancient healing art of acupuncture.
Doctors and dentists are increasingly taking the
certification too - and now make up more than half of the 249
acupuncturists registered in Singapore.
Some medical professionals do this out of personal
interest or for teaching and research, while others use it as part
of their practice.
One of them is Dr Lau Tang Ching, vice-chairman of
medical board (education) at National University Hospital (NUH).
The rheumatologist, who was inducted into the register in 2007,
said he had read about how acupuncture can ease pain in several
conditions, such as neck and back strain, and myofascial pain
syndrome.
"I realised the only way to further help patients was
to go through the training," added Dr Lau.
The growing
interest comes as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners
crossed the 3,000 mark here, based on latest figures provided by
the Health Ministry - a roughly 20 per cent rise from 2010.
There were
2,808 TCM physicians on the register as of end-2015. Somedo
acupuncture. Another 249 are registered only as acupuncturists.
Among them are 134 doctors and dentists- 54 per cent of the
group.
It is a sign
of how, in recent years, the TCM sector has made inroads in the
mainstream healthcare scene.
Today, four
public general hospitals provide needle acupuncture treatment,
subject to a doctor's referral, said a ministry spokesman. They are
National University, Singapore General, Tan Tock Seng and Khoo Teck
Puat hospitals.
"TCM continues
to play a complementary role in meeting the healthcare needs of our
population," said the spokesman.
One avenue
that doctors and dentists can take to obtain acupuncture
qualifications is to enrol in a course at the Singapore College of
TCM.
Started in
2006, the graduate diploma in acupuncture comprises at least 400
hours of classes, taught in English, over a two-year period.
Currently,
there are 12 medical professionals enrolled in the course, said a
college spokesman.
After
completing the course, they have to pass the school's exam to be
eligible for the Singapore Acupuncturists Registration
Examination.
It is only
when they pass this biennial exam, conducted by the TCM
Practitioners Board, that they are licensed to practise
acupuncture. Thereafter, one has to renew his licence every one or
two years.
Dr Lau, 50,
does not perform acupuncture on patients, but the TCM approach he
learnt comes in handy in his daily medical work.
"Sometimes, I
use the principles in communicating with patients, especially those
who are inclined to TCM, to explain how their health can be
improved with exercise, dietary adjustment and better emotional
well-being," said Dr Lau.
He also works
with peers at the National University of Singapore to enhance the
teaching of TCM-related topics to medical students. An example is
potential interactions between drugs and herbs.
Dentist Wong
Li Beng, an accredited acupuncturist since 2011, said an awareness
of TCM can lend an extra edge in delivering better care. This is
because many people here continue to seek TCM treatment, he
noted.
If a dentist
knows a patient is taking Chinese herbs that promote blood flow, he
can be more careful and carry out steps to stop bleeding, such as
suturing the wound site after a dental extraction.
"Knowing a bit
of TCM is better than being ignorant and eliminating it totally,"
added the 37-year-old periodontist at Ng Teng Fong General
Hospital.
In dentistry,
acupuncture can aid in relieving jaw pain, promoting saliva flow to
combat dry mouth, and calming anxious patients.
Dr Wong
currently does not practise dental acupuncture at the hospital,
though there are plans to roll out the service in the future.
"At the end of
the day, we want to find the best way to treat a patient, be it
using Western or Chinese medicine."