TMC

With the recent acquisition at work, employees have been advised that our current medical insurance coverage will be updated to align it with industry standards. Basically, downgraded. We, have had one of the most comprehensive coverages available and it comes as no surprised that this is one of the employee benefits to be withdrawn. So as I look through the list of benefits and coverage items I put together a list of appointments to be made before our plan expires later this year. Examples include: dentist, optometrist, physiotherapist as well as other specialists that I have accumulated over the last couple of years. One item that appears on almost all Hong Kong-based Medical Insurance is coverage for Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). 

The challenge for TCM, for me and for foreigners is trying to find a practitioner who can speak English. Turns out there's a slightly premium for those who can translate the concepts Chinese Medicine to foreigners. After some recommendations from colleagues and some research I eventually land on a TCM in Central. 

The first thing they ask you is "What can I do for you?", unsure how to verbally articulate "I want to maximise my medical insurance before it expires", I eventually land on "Digestion, tiredness and poor sleep", which for the most part are conditions that I have been experiencing lately. This is what they call "General Maintenance". 

The consult includes checking of the pulse, the tongue, the abdomen, some of the lymph nodes. The different pulse checks are interesting, checking on both the left and right side. Interestingly enough, they identify differences in the left leg and the right shoulder, which are both recent injuries; something to do with blood flow and circulation. I'm told that I'm "Cold" and "Damp" and need to remove this with tonics and acupuncture. I'm prescribed a 4 week plan, which requires 4 consults, 4 sessions and daily herbal tonics. Watch this space.