Traditional Chinese Medicine or TCM is hugely popular in Singapore, not just with the old but the young as well. It is so popular that Western medical centres such as Raffles Medical has even started their own TCM clinics to provide alternative treatment for people seeking non-Western medication. The charges, however, can be rather expensive and as TCM treatments are often long-term. So I was quite surprised to find that you can actually get free TCM treatment in Singapore, if you are prepared to wait!

Free Traditional Chinese Medicine at Thong Chai Medical Institute, Singapore

Located on quiet Chin Swee Road near Chinatown is a pink building that houses the Thong Chai Medical Institute. It has been providing free treatment and consultation for all people irregardless of race or religion since 1867.

Registration and Wait Time At Thong Chai Medical Institute

As it is free, wait times can be rather long, especially if you are a first time visitor. Head there, take a number and be prepared to wait quite a bit to be registered. Do inform the registration counter if you are there to visit their specialist doctors from the Acupuncture, Diabetes, Oncology, Nephropathy or Infertility Clinics and they will give you the relevant number. Take the lift up to the relevant floor and leave your pink registration card and a copy of your number on the relevant doctor’s desk and wait for your number to be called. Wait time can range from half an hour to over an hour, depending on the time you are there and the popularity of the doctor.

Treatment is done the traditional Chinese way by taking your pulse and prescriptions are in the form of Chinese herbs for which a unique combination is given to each individual patient, depending on their needs. Once done, head downstairs to the main lobby and wait for your medication to be prepared. Minimum wait time there can be up to 2 hours!

Medication is prepared by a team of old men behind a medication counter. They actually still use traditional methods of carefully weighing each herb with hand-held scales before wrapping up each portion in pink paper with your name and prescription on it. As with all Chinese medicines, you will then need to boil it to reduce the portion from 3 bowls to 1 bowl and drink the brew to strengthen your body and immune system.

If you are prepared to wait, it is a place where you might want to consider for free traditional treatment. All you need to do is to provide a voluntary donation for the services and medication you have received.

I’ve also heard very positive things about Thong Chai’s Infertility Clinic and a large number of women have successfully managed to conceive after treatment there when Western methods failed.

For a listing of their consultation pre-requisites and hours, please visit the Thong Chai website at http://www.stcmi.org.sg/index.asp

I have to admit that I’m a bit of a sucker for easy weight loss and toning methods. I don’t like exercise so if I can find something that’ll help me exercise easily, I’m all for trying it! So when the famous FitFlops hit our stores, I was really keen on trying them out until I saw their price tag! They were a whopping RM268 and up! Anyway, several months later, I succumbed thanks to some Isetan vouchers and came away poorer but the proud owner of this famous pair of flip flops, touted by Oprah as the absolute must-have for Summer 2008! How does it fare and does the Fitflops really result in leaner, toner legs? Read on below for my review of the Fitflop!

The Microwobbleboard Secret in Fit Flops

I bought the Oasis Fitflop which is a slightly more luxurious range with suede straps and microfiber lining for extra comfort. I found it made quite a bit of difference in terms of comfort compared to the Walkstar which comes with thinner straps.

The secret of Fitflops leg toning properties is their microwobbleboard technology which is designed to increase leg, calf and gluteal muscle activity. This hopefully means a tighter butt and toned legs over time!

Fitflops Are Comfortable To Walk In

Fans of the Fitflops have claimed that wearing them in the house have claimed to have lost up to 4 inches off their legs including reduced cellulite in their thighs! I don’t wear my Fitflops on a regular enough basis so I can’t vouch for that however, I find them a very comfortable pair of slippers to wear. It has good arch support which makes it comfortable to walk in for any distance.

The thong between the toes takes some getting used to and may feel a little uncomfortable initially. I actually developed a blister in between my toes when I wore them for the entire day, walking up and down Orchard Road in Singapore. Despite the blister, they were still mighty comfortable considering that I had walked miles in them along the entire Orchard Road from morning till night!

I think my legs were overworked though as my shins hurt a little. It turns out that Fitflops actually comes with a bright yellow warning for users to break it in progressively to avoid muscle soreness! Oops! That was probably the reason behind my hurting shins!

So, are the Fitflops a good buy? Well, I do love them a lot although I don’t think I walk in them enough to tone and firm my legs. If you’re prepared to shell out the price for them, they do make very comfortable flip flops with good support. Plus they look good and summery!

Ask any woman out there, whether fat or skinny, what her biggest fear is and most will answer – Cellulite! Yes, the uneven, dimpled appearance around the hips and thighs that most women battle with! Ironically, men don’t have it which is pretty unfair! Like most women out there, cellulite too is one of the items on my dreaded list so read on below for my review of a Cellulite Cream Treatment!

What is Cellulite And How To Treat Cellulite?

What is cellulite? Its the dreaded dimpled, “orange peel” effect women’s skin takes on when fat cells get squeezed against the connective tissue beneath a person’s skin. The pockets the fat cells creates makes the skin appear uneven and dimpled and is most commonly seen on thighs and hips. Contrary to what many think, cellulite is existant in both thin and fat women and may be more visible in thin women as they have less fat tissue beneath their skin.

Unfortunately, to date, there isn’t any real magic treatment that can zap cellulite away, despite what slimming centers and cellulite creams claim. Not even liposuction can remove cellulite. However, what some creams can do is to provide a temporary tightening effect which provides a more toned appearance that lasts long enough for you to enjoy your bikini time in the sun!

Does Biotherm Celluli-Choc Work?

I read many good reviews of the Biotherm Celluli-Choc and decided to give it a try. It contains concentrated cocoa extract to help smoothen and tone your skin. The cream is rather liquid which makes it easy to spread. I found that it didn’t have much smell and was a little surprised that it didn’t really have that chocolatey whiff that Palmer’s Cocoa Butter has. It is easily absorbed into the skin and tends to feel a little dry after application.

Does it work? Well, like all cellulite creams, it can’t get rid of cellulite. However, it does smoothen your skin texture so the unevenness and dimpled appearance is less obvious. Skin appears firmer and slightly more toned which works great if you have been longing to wear that little bikini to the beach or the short miniskirt for a good night out.

Most reviews claim that this cream will work really well with exercise and ultimately, that is the best cure for cellulite. Cut down on starch, carbohydrates and always ensure you are well-hydrated. Spot reduction will not work but an overall exercise programme will help in preventing future cellulite problems and keeping current cellulite in check. Unfortunately, like everything else, there is no easy way out to getting rid of cellulite! Time to hit the gym, ladies!

What comes to mind when you hear organics? For me, it used to be images of healthy mung beans, alfafa sprouts, vegetarian tree-huggers and premium prices for everyday products. However, I was a little surprised to see that organic food goes beyond that when I was recently in a Justlife Organics shop.

Justlife Organics is a successful organics business in Malaysia that goes beyond simply selling organic food. They are trying to create awareness of a sustainable lifestyle inspired by their love for nature and respect for life. Read on to know more about organic products in Malaysia.

Organic Food in Malaysia

When I was browsing around Justlife, I was surprised to see that they carried quite a good variety of products from organic food, organic household cleaners, organic skincare and even recycle-able paper plates! They also have a good stock of organic and healthy eating books you can buy if you’re planning on embarking on an organic lifestyle. I even saw a setup of a bed with what I believe was organic cotton bedsheets! However, I was a little surprised that I did not see cloth sanitary pads for sale. For me, that together with cloth diapers are the height of sustainable and organic living!

I was quite impressed to see that they had a small selection of gluten-free bread and baked products. Finally, people who suffer from gluten allergies can buy and enjoy bakery products specially catered for them. In Malaysia, there is still a lack of special foodstuff for allergy sufferers and I thought this was a good step in the right direction especially with the rise of allergies in children today.

Organic Food Can Be Expensive

As expected, organic food is expensive which is ironic. The lesser you put in, the more expensive a food becomes! Eating healthily should not cost a dent in your pocket but with a box of organic soymilk going at RM19 instead of RM2.50, it isn’t hard to see why many people are not making that switch to organic foods.

The fresh vegetables are surprisingly more affordable with a small bunch of leafy vegetables going for less than RM3. However, fresh apples and bananas are at least three to four times more expensive which can put a financial burden on your marketing bills.

Personally, I think going organic is good and it might just be the preventive measure for allergies and health diseases. However, it is expensive and I believe, beneficial only if you eat all three meals at home with organic food. If you are like the average urbanite who eats out at least once a day on chemically infused food, it might not bring you much benefits at all.

If you are looking for Organic Shops in Malaysia, Justlife shops can be found at Ikano Power Centre, Queens Park, USJ 14, SS2, Puchong, The Gardens Midvalley, Seremban, Melaka and Penang (link to shops).

Quitting smoking is one of the biggest challenges a smoker faces. How often do you hear smokers saying they want to quit only to reach for a cigarette minutes later when the cravings hit again? How many have tried quitting cold turkey only to fall off the bandwagon and go back to smoking a pack a day? How many have tried all kinds of methods from nicotine replacements, nicotine patches and even hypnosis only to start all over again when they see another smoker lighting up?

If you have been trying all kinds of quit smoking methods but have failed, read below for a new way to help you quit smoking. Not through therapy or nicotine replacements but through a powerful quit smoking book.

Quit Smoking Methods That Work

If you are a smoker and cannot imagine life without smoking, read the Allen Carr’s Easy Way To Stop Smoking. Written by Allen Carr, a chain-smoker himself who used to smoke up to 5 packs of cigarettes a day, he shares with you his effective ways of quitting.

Smoker’s reading Allen Carr’s book are actually encouraged to continue smoking until they finish the book! By doing that, he wants them to understand the power of the “nicotine trap” they are in and not to create a fear of “losing” something they deem to be enjoyable when they do not actually need or desire it in their lives. According to him, smokers are trapped into thinking they are dependent on cigarettes and that it is a habit to smoke. This makes it extremely difficult for them to quit smoking as they feel they are giving up “relief and joy” when they smoke which is everything a non-smoker enjoys.

Quit Smoking Tips

Allen Carr’s powerful book actually discourages the use of nicotine replacements such as nicotine patches, herbal cigarettes or even nicotine gum as all these simply draws the smoker deeper into the nicotine addiction.

Instead, it is all in the mind and Carr’s methods effectively removes all fear and doubt a smoker has about quitting and returning to a life without cigarettes. Under his techniques, there isn’t any willpower required to quit smoking as no willpower should be required to stop something a person no longer desires. Often, smokers who try to find the willpower to quit find themselves facing panic attacks, sweaty palms and weight gain which they believe is from nicotine withdrawal. It is actually stemming from their psychological dependency and feeling of deprivation.

Allen Carr encourages smokers to set a date to quit and from that date onwards, they will no longer desire cigarettes nor feel the need to smoke anymore, even if surrounded by smokers. It is a powerful conditioning of the mind and setting a target for yourself, without fear because life is meant to be lived without poisoning your body with nicotine. And that high or joy that you feel with cigarettes are what a non-smoker experiences too, WITHOUT being trapped or dependent on cigarettes.

I personally saw friends who actually quit and no longer desired cigarettes despite smoking for over 10 years. It may seem small but is a powerful and effective way to stop smoking.

If you are a smoker and have been given this book, accept it as a gift for it will be the tool to help you break free and enjoy life to the fullest as a non-smoker.

If you are a non-smoker, then pass this book on to your smoker friends or family. They will thank you for it one day.

Allen Carr’s Easy Way To Stop Smoking can be found at Kinokuniya, KLCC.

This flu season, lots of people have been down with coughs and colds. While the medication given by the doctors might help, I personally do not like taking too much chemicals and often try to look for herbal or natural remedies instead.

The best remedy for a sore throat or cough has to be rest but if you can’t have that luxury, King To Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koh provides much relief for coughs. Read my review below.

What Is King To Nin Jiom Cough Syrup?

Nin Jiom Pei Pa Ko is a traditional Chinese cough expectorant which has been around for more than 50 years! It was apparently concocted by a famous physician called Ip Tin See during the Ching Dynasty. Today, it is a popular choice for natural cough and sore throat herbal remedies and is available in the form of syrups or lozenges.

Ingredients In Nin Jiom Pei Pah Ko

Nin Jiom Herbal Cough Syrup is 100% naturally made from a blend of 15 plant-based ingredients and sweetened with honey to makes it easy to swallow, especially for children.

Effectiveness of Nin Jiom Herbal Cough Syrup

Nin Jiom Pei Pah Koh is usually taken straight from the bottle or dissolved in hot water. It has a sweet taste from the syrup and is a rather delicious drink as it leaves a minty after-taste in the throat which soothes and relieves sore throats. It does not work as quickly as Western cough expectorants do for coughs as it is purely natural. However, it usually helps to cure coughs within a week of consumption. I prefer this over other cough mixtures as it does not come with drowsiness and fatigue which are common side effects in Western cough syrups.

Nin Jiom Pei Pah Ko is widely available in all local pharmacies and safe for children and adults.

The A(H1N1) flu that recently gripped the world has seemed to stabilise at a high but wary Level 5 by WHO as the number of cases soared above 1,000 people worldwide. In Hong Kong, one man who was confirmed to have it has caused the entire Metropark hotel and others who have been in contact with him to be quarantined. After the SARS scare, Hong Kong is certainly taking no chances.

However, on the world front, it appears that the hype over the flu has died down a little. It has been taken off the main headlines of CNN to make way for more news on the Iraq-Afghanistan war. And now, in the wake of extreme measures taken by countries all over the world and despite an imminent Level 6 alert by WHO, many are starting to question if people had over-reacted.

Is the A(H1N1) flu a real pandemic? Read on below for your fluffy guide to the dreaded flu and if there is real cause for hysteria.

A(H1N1) aka Flu Swine Flu

WHO recently announced that the swine flu should now be called A(H1N1) to avoid unnecessary prejudice towards pork and to protect pig farms from the sudden drop in demand. It was originally termed swine flu because the H1N1 virus is commonly found in pigs but was recently found in humans.

It is very important to remember that the flu CANNOT be spread through the consumption of pork. So, before you turn away that delicious looking pork chop, remember that the flu cannot be spread by eating pork!

Will The Swine Flu Cause A Pandemic?

A pandemic is widespread infection of a disease across a large region to large populations. While the swine flu has manifested in many countries, it tends to be isolated cases rather than widespread infection, for now. It was also discovered that the main killer in the widespread Spanish Flu pandemic in 1918 which killed 50 to 100 million people was strep infections for which the world is now prepared against (source).

From a medical standpoint, what does raising the alert levels mean? It now means that governments can freely vaccinate people against the flu. Is that a good thing?

While vaccinations are good, it is important to remember that new vaccines are often not tested or have not been monitored long enough for their side effects to be examined. In fact, the vaccine against bird flu, Tamiflu was found to have adverse side effects reported which included nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fatigue, headaches and coughs. Worse, swine flu vaccines administered in 1976 caused several hundred people to develop crippling Guillain-Barré Syndrome which resulted in paraplegics for some (source).

So before you run out to get that flu vaccination, hold on and ask yourself if it might be necessary at this stage.

Should You Be Scared Of The Swine Flu? 

In the US, they are starting to discover that the H1N1 flu might not be much stronger than a regular flu.

“What the epidemiologists are seeing now with this particular strain of U.N. is that the severity of the disease, the severity of the flu — how sick you get — is not stronger than regular seasonal flu,” Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Monday (source)

If your immunity levels are low and you do not seek medical treatment, the seasonal flu can result in “hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations” and roughly 35,000 fatalities each year in the United States (source). 

So, be cautious but don’t panic and keep your head around you.

Precautions Against The Flu

However, it is still good to continue to take precautions to avoid getting the flu with these flu prevention tips. Do take your vitamins, exercise and get enough rest to build your immunity levels and reduce your risk of contracting infectious diseases.

Finally, enjoy this little touch of humour!   

Disclaimer: This opinions and thoughts above are purely personal and the writer does not have any medical experience. Hence, they should not be misconstrued to have any medical backing.

How many of you women out there suffer from your partner’s snoring or perhaps your sibling’s non-stop droning which disturbs your own beauty sleep? It is ironical but the “snorer” can never seem to hear themselves and would always protest if anyone suggested that they snored in their sleep, unless of course they snore so loudly they wake themselves up! If you have been suffering, either by snoring or having to tolerate a snorer, don’t kick your partner out of bed into a separate room just yet. A new product to help is now available in the market – BreathRight. Does it work? Read my review below.

What Causes Snoring?

Snoring happens to almost anyone out there, especially if they are very tired. It is a breathing problem which occurs when the airflow into your breathing passages are restricted due to restrictions in the nasal passages or relaxing of the throat muscles. These can be caused by nasal allergies, cold or flu. For some reason, snorers tend to be men rather than women! Snoring isn’t dangerous but it can be if it leads to “sleep apnea”, a condition where a snorer stops breathing repeatedly during their sleep. Although it is not long enough to be life-threatening, sleep apnea can cause fatigue, irritability and lack of sleep which can lead to health risks such as hypertension and heart diseases or danger in driving or operating heavy machinery during the daytime.

What Is BreatheRight And How Does BreatheRight Work?

BreatheRight are drug-free snoring aids available in the form of nasal strips or throat sprays. The sample tried was the nasal strips and they claim to reduce snoring by gently opening your nasal passages while you sleep to help you breathe through your nose, instead of your mouth which reduces snoring. Each nasal strip consists of flexible spring-like bands which gently lift the sides of your nose to expand nasal passages.

How Do I Use BreatheRight?

• First, find a strip that is suitable for your nose size. 3 types ranging from Original Tan (for snoring due to colds and allergies), Clear Strips (for sensitive skin) and Mentholated Strips are available in small, medium and large sizes. Small and medium work best for most adults and adolescents while Large works best for adults with larger noses.
• Wash and dry your nose area.
• If you have sensitive skin, use Clear Strips or place a drop of moisturizer under the centre of the strip before applying.
• Remove the strip liner and properly position it across your nose.
• When placed correctly, the reflex action bands lift the sides of your nose to provide instant relief!
• Removal is easy. Simply wash your face, gently lift the sides of the strip and remove it.

Does BreatheRight Work?

The snoring did reduce over the one night of usage. However, there were still parts of the night where I was woken by snoring! It could have been due to a wrong placement of the BreatheRight strip, however, we will be trying again to see if this can totally eliminate snoring from a snorer.

If it does, it will be a huge relief to all out there who have had to put up with noisy snoring and interrupted sleep!

I first tried cranberries when I was in Australia and a friend offered them for me to try while telling me that they were good for women! I subsequently did some research on them and found that these little wonderberries pack a powerful health punch!

Health Benefits of Cranberries
Cranberries are a powerful antioxidant which boosts your body’s immunity and is said to pack more natural antioxidants per gram compared to other fruit. It also contains powerful nutrients called proanthocyanidins which prevent bacteria from sticking to your teeth and delivers lots of health benefits in these two-pronged approach.

Read more on the benefits of cranberries below and my delicious review of Ocean Spray’s Craisins Cranberries.

Cranberries Are Good For Women
Women are usually prone to urinary tract infection and half the women in the world may encounter this painful affliction at least once in their lifetime! Luckily, cranberries are highly effective promotes a healthier urinary tract and no more bacteria!

Avoid Stomach Ulcers and Helicobacter Pylori
Helicobacter Pylori is a bacteria that has recently been discovered to cause stomach ulcers over a long term period. Thanks to this wonderberry and its anti-stick properties, cranberries can actually help prevent this nasty bacteria from sticking to your stomach cells and causing stomach ulcers.

Antioxidants For Your Heart
Cranberries are power packed with antioxidants which do a fantastic job in preventing heart problems. Cranberries have been also found to reduce the formation of low-density cholestrol or “bad cholestrol” which sticks to artery walls and can cause heart attacks.

Cranberries are excellent for your health and make a delicious and low-fat snack. Ocean Spray cranberries are really yummy snacks. They resemble raisins but are a little tart compared to raisins. I had previously bought dried cranberries from Bangkok but found that those tend to have a slightly oily sheen to them which Ocean Spray does not have. It is even more comforting to know they do wonders for my body whenever I munch on them! So pick up a bag the next time you are in a supermarket! However, cranberries are expensive in Malaysia so do be prepared to pay a little more.

Dry eyes is an affliction that not many of us know we have and is sometimes mistaken for allergies or infections. Often, urban working adults have this condition due to prolonged hours of staring at a computer screen and working and living in an air-conditioned environment for most of the day. Others develop it after Lasik surgery and it is a common side effect Lasik patients suffer from for a while as their eyes adjust after the surgery.

Personally, I had a rather bad bout of it after I did my Lasik surgery and was recommended Tears Naturale by the optometrist. Optimax, where I did my surgery, gives their patients a bottle of Natural Tears to help them with their dry eyes. However, for prolonged use, I was recommended to purchase preservative-free Tears Naturale by Alcon instead to reduce the amount of preservatives entering my eyes since I use it on an almost daily basis.

Read below for my review of Alcon Preservative Free Tears Naturale Eye Drops.

Alcon is one of the main producers of artificial tears, an eye drop similar to Eye-Mo which provides additional moisture and lubrication to the eyes when they can’t produce enough tears to protect the eyes. Ironically enough, lots of everyday activities can cause dry eyes including excessive crying! If you have ever felt itchy eyes or if your eyes have ever felt like raisins then yes, you probably are suffering from dry eyes!

Alcon’s Preservative Free Tears Naturale is available in our Guardian and Watsons pharmacies in a box of 36 vials. It is recommended to be kept refrigerated once opened. Each vial is sealed and you have to twist the cap to break the seal to use it. Drop one to two drops every now and then into your eyes to lubricate them, especially if you are doing lots of computer work or are in a dry and dusty environment. If you break it properly, you can actually screw the top back on to reuse the remaining artificial tears again at a later time. However, it is not recommended to keep an opened vial for too long, even if it is refrigerated.

I find that it does a great job of providing moisture into my eyes and was more effective, for me, compared to other eye drops such as Eye-Mo. Usually, I find that my vision also tends to sharpen when I use eyedrops as Lasik patients’ vision can sometimes fluctuate due to dry eyes. Alcon Preservative Free Tears Naturale comes recommended by optometrists to provide relief for dry and irritable eyes. I also highly recommend it for Lasik patients and urban corporate slaves exposed to long hours of computer screens!

If you are not sure whether you suffer from dry eyes, why not try this simple quiz to see if you do!