Seminar on Chinese medicine & wellness |25 May 2018

Needles and Chinese herbal teas might just be the next big thing

The thought of inserting needles into our body in the name of good health is not everyone’s cup of tea, but nonetheless interest in this alternative form of medicine is growing, as is the amount of scientific research and clinical research papers about the effects of acupuncture. 

With the recent health craze hitting the islands, the Traditional Chinese Medicine Centre (TCMC) of Seychelles found it especially fitting to host an open seminar for members of the public about Chinese medicine & acupuncture, as well as healthy living tips, on Thursday May 10, 2018 at their clinic in the Lai Lam Building of Benezet Street.

Used for thousands of years in traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is a complementary medical practice which stimulates certain points on the body (acupoints), most often with a needle inserted into the skin, to help treat various health conditions.

It is based on the concept that diseases are caused by disruptions to the flow of energy or ‘qi’ in our body, and acupuncture helps to release this energy which travels through meridians or ‘channels’, and balances this energy in the different ‘channels’ of the body.

Chantal Lai-Lam-Hellevig, Chinese medical practitioner and owner of the TCMC of Seychelles, said that such a seminar has never been done in Seychelles before and that it is an ideal time to begin educating the population about acupuncture – a topic that she feels locals are not so familiar with.

Having studied Chinese medicine in China, Mrs Lai-Lam Hellevig was a key presenter on the evening, along with her partner Dr. Atsushi Suzuki, an acupuncture doctor from Japan.

Together, via a PowerPoint presentation over the course of the evening, they explained that a common question is what can acupuncture do for our health?

Upper respiratory problems, headaches, body pain, stroke and depression are a few examples of the 43 different diseases that might benefit from acupuncture, and which were listed by doctors during a symposium conducted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 1979.

Dr Suzuki explained that acupuncture helps our ‘body pain’ itself by releasing hormones ‘Enkephalin, Beta-endorphin, Endomorphin and Dynorphin’ to help with ailments. As opposed to modern-day painkillers, acupuncture helps to control any pains in the body, as opposed to just masking it and not resolving the cause of the problem.

Dr Suzuki clarified that although he specialises in Chinese medicine, he understands western medicine very well and believes that we need to use both western and eastern medicines together, because combination treatment is more efficient.

It was highlighted that Chinese medicine is totally natural with no side effects. Compared to western medicine, this eastern philosophy makes no use of machines or modern-day pills/medications.

Patients are wholly observed and asked questions, before a diagnosis is made and a suitable treatment is recommended. For those who are not comfortable with needles, alternative treatments can be advised during consultation.

An important aspect of acupuncture is that it is a holistic treatment which aims to cure more than just one of the patients’ ailments at a time. It seeks to treat the whole body, bring balance, and prevent future health issues. In effect, the multi-usage treatments and medications make traditional Chinese medicine practice relatively inexpensive.

According to Mrs Lai-Lam Hellevig, the clinic is the first and only private TCMC in Seychelles. It was opened by Mitcy Larue, former Minister for Health, in March 2015.

Aside from offering regular and electro acupuncture in their medical department, the clinic also offers massage therapy services, such as sports massages for deep tissue & fascial release massages, as well as wellness massages and Chinese herbal foot soaks, which form part of the wellness department.

 The acupuncture services can be availed of by anyone, including children. However, since the procedure can be difficult when using needles with children, the clinic offers children the option of alternative tools which can also be used for acupuncture.

On the ground floor of the Lai Lam Building, the TCMC of Seychelles sells a variety of Chinese herbal teas such as Buckwheat, Jasmine, Ginseng, Chrysanthemum and Rose, as well as dried Goji Berry fruit – all of which have been used for thousands of years in China as herbal medicine.

 Following the success of this first-time seminar, Mrs Lai-Lam-Hellevig has expressed her desire for the centre to host more seminars in the future, with the hope of educating even more people about acupuncture.

TCMC of Seychelles is open from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday; 9am to 2pm on Saturdays and closed on Sundays.

For further information, email chantal.hellevig@gmail.com; call 2 742 748; or follow ‘Traditional Chinese Medicine Centre of Seychelles’ on Facebook.

References: LiveScience; Evidence Based Acupuncture

Photo credits: The Creative Studio – Seychelles