Singapore Alternative Medicine

Singapore has an advanced health care system based on the same medical principles as those in Western countries. However there are still many areas of alternative medicine practiced, with around 45 percent of the population consulting traditional medicine providers.

Chinese medicine is the most prominent of the city-state’s alternative medicine offerings given Singapore has a high population of Chinese residents. Recognizing its importance within communities, the government has set up a traditional medicine unit in order to promote safe practices. This means that those practicing traditional medicine have undergone standardized training, and soon national examinations will have to be taken in order to practice either traditional Chinese medicine or acupuncture legally.

In addition to traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, bioenergy, naturopathy, homeopathy, hypnotherapy, massage and EFT (emotional freedom technique) are also practiced in Singapore. Most services are far cheaper than they are in the US or Europe, averaging in at around 50 percent less. The Chinese Nature Cure Institute is perhaps one of the country’s better established institutes.

Undergoing Chinese medical treatment in a country which holds it in such high esteem is a pleasurable experience, drawing many medical tourists back year after year. Alternative medicine tends to be less invasive than Western medicine, so while undergoing treatment, or afterwards, it is possible to enjoy one of Singapore’s sandy beaches or relax in the city.

There is no chiropractic law in Singapore, meaning that almost anyone can set themselves up as a practitioner so be sure to check the credentials of a clinic before receiving such treatment. Travelers are urged to resist the temptation of ultra-cheap services.