alternative therapy
NOVEMBER, 2018 | THE HEALTH
29
East
meets
West
The role of Chinese traditional
medicine in managing diabetes
Anthony Wong preparing a herbal remedy for one of his patient.
T
HE current rate of
diabetics in Malaysia
is high which poses a
problem not only to
health but economically
as well. Data also shows
that by 2020, one in five
will be diabetic. This goes to show that
the rate is increasing. However, what is
the role of Chinese traditional treatment
in the management of diabetes?
Xing Lin TCM Centre Lead Chinese
Physician Anthony Wong emphasised
that the role of Chinese medication
in the management of diabetes is not
to cure, but to better manage the
condition.
“Chinese traditional medication
is a complimentary treatment to the
patient’s current conventional treat-
ment. Diabetes is not new to Chinese
medicine. If you look at the ‘Yellow
Emperor Classics’ which was written
during the warring states period (475
- 221 BC) - it describes diabetes and its
condition, although the diagnosis is
done at a very much later stage.”
“Currently, in today’s medicine and
technology, diagnosis is done early with
a blood test prior to showing signs of the
disease. This is contrary to ancient times
where you have to wait until someone
showed typical symptoms polydipsia,
polyphagia, polyuria and weight loss.”
According to Anthony, Chinese medi-
cine is also slightly different whereby,
Chinese medicine is more of a dynamic
treatment tailored for each individual
by analysing each individual’s clinical
symptoms to come up with a syndrome
differentiation diagnose.
He then cited the example of those
who have diabetes mellitus and diabetes
insipidus.
“These two comes with the same
typical condition and symptoms. So in
Chinese medicine, we named it as Xiao
Ke (consumption and thirst) syndrome.
The recordings in the ‘Yellow Emperor
Classics’ which meets up to today’s
understanding states that those who
mainly are obese in the abdominal area
and not overall are prone towards these
two types of condition. Throughout
history, the principal doesn’t change
much.”
“Nevertheless, we still look at the
clinical symptoms and we treat accord-
ing to that.”
Chinese
herbs should
not cause
heat, says
physician
Individualised treatment
Anthony Wong
Anthony Wong
emphasised
that the role
of Chinese
medication in
the management
of diabetes is not
to cure, but to
better manage
the condition.
Anthony Wong placing the individually prepared traditional herbal medication into
the machine.
“Chinese medicine is very individu-
alised. We look at the disease that has
different symptom groups and we
categorise them into syndromes, so
the treatment would differ for each
individual.”
“In Chinese medicine today, we look
at blood test readings to help monitor
whether the treatment works and how
well the patient manages it.”
“As we know, diabetes is incurable.
But, the major role of Chinese medica-
tion in diabetes management is not to
treat or to replace the conventional
treatment. If you look at research car-
ried out on herbal treatment, there are
at least 50 herbs that has the effect of
lowering the blood sugar; giving the
hypoglycaemia effect.”
“However, the stability of the herbal
medication or the constant effect of that
wouldn’t help stabilise the blood sugar
level, compared to Western medicine
which lasts longer in our body compared
to natural herbs which are plant based
and last for a shorter period of time.”
“For those who are under Western
medication, if it is not well managed,
you might be increasing your dosage.
However, when you integrate it with
Chinese medication, you tend to better
manage it. It also has an effect to reduce
the resistance of insulin,” he claimed.
Apart from rendering individual-
ised treatment, the centre is also well
equipped with machines to pack the
traditional medicines in individualised
packs as well as to solidify them into
tablet form for the patient’s conve-
nience.
CONTRARY to popular
believe, Chinese herbs when
consumed with Western medi-
cation should not cause the body
to be heaty.
Xing Lin TCM Centre Lead
Chinese Physician Anthony
Wong explained that each indi-
vidual would have a different
reaction.
“We need to treat each
individual separately and
prescription is based on the
individual’s condition. However,
patients should always revert
to the centre after taking the
medication and keep the doctor
updated on any effects that he or
she may experience.”
“If they do not return, and
they should visit another physi-
cian – off course the problem
would persist. So, the best
course of action is to return to
the centre,” he said.
Anthony again emphasised
that treatment is individualised
with a dynamic approach –
where it changes according to
the disease progression.
“Most of the time, when
patients visit us – we would put
them under Chinese herbs for
a week the most. Nevertheless,
they would need to return every
week in order for the physician
to see the progression and the
changes as well as the reac-
tion. Then we would adjust
accordingly.”
The prepared course of Chinese herbal medication for each patient is packed at the
centre for easy consumption.