Beauty salons hop on the TCM bandwagon
By Alicia Wong, TODAY | Posted: 23 November 2009 0717 hrs

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SINGAPORE: Acupressure massage, acupuncture slimming and fire therapy are some traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatments believed to be effective for weight loss.

These are also now being offered by beauty salons to their customers – and more are muscling in, say industry players.

But while TCM practitioners are regulated by the Ministry of Health (MOH), beauty salons do not come under its purview – leaving some to wonder if this loophole now allows untrained beauticians to perform TCM treatments.

Last year, when concerns were raised, guidelines for doctors offering aesthetic treatments were tightened, but these did not apply to beauty salons with similar offerings.

Recently, newspapers reported that a customer was burnt after a spa botched a fire therapy for weight-loss procedure.

Chinese physician Jiang Xue Feng at Ma Kuang Healthcare Group has noticed a proliferation of beauty centres advertising TCM treatments. She believes that this is driven by customers' interest in "natural" treatments.

The head of TCM in Healthway Medical Wellness Group Carl Wong said: "TCM for slimming will definitely rise in popularity with customers as patients do not need to exercise and no special diet is needed."

Last year, the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) received three complaints about TCM services in spas or beauty centres. This year, it has received three complaints to date.

According to MOH, those who wish to practise acupuncture must be registered as TCM practitioners who have passed the Singapore TCM Registration Examination.

Mr Henry Tay, who manages a slimming centre, said his acupuncture slimming is done by staff from a Chinese physician hall, while a manager for Youth Infinite Beauty & Slimming said the centre eschews the use of needles but focuses on mainly acupressure or meridian massage.

The centre's staff were trained by its owner, a Chinese physician, twice a week for at least three months.

"There won't be trouble, if (beauticians) have a clear understanding of TCM," she said, stressing the importance of proper training.

Ms Chen Yi Fang, who owns I-Beauty Medispa, said she personally trains her 10 beauticians. Not a registered TCM practitioner, Ms Chen said she studied the techniques in Shanghai before developing a weight-loss technique five years ago.

More centres adopting similar treatments have popped up since, but Ms Chen does not think customers would be in danger if less-trained hands offer these treatments.

"But customers won't have good results," she said.

However, Dr Jiang, who has practised TCM for 17 years, cautioned that untrained beauticians could cause harm even if they do not use needles.

For example, they may not realise that not all women are suitable for acupressure massage, she said. For instance, it could halt milk production for breastfeeding mothers. Or, without proper control, those who use "cupping" therapy could also cause blisters.

"If there are problems, it affects the name of TCM. Customers may not know the difference between registered TCM practitioners and unlicensed beauticians," Dr Jiang said.

A MOH spokesperson has advised "consumers to exercise discretion and only consult registered TCM practitioners for TCM services".

Executive director for Case Seah Seng Choon advised consumers to seek a medical opinion before embarking on a slimming programme. "Consumers should also check if the treatment would be carried out by an experienced staff, and whether there are any hidden costs involved," he added.

The list of registered TCM practitioners can be found on the TCM Practitioners Board's website: www.tcmpb.gov.sg


- TODAY/so