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Hotline: 1800-336-5855
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During your first consultation at Ma Kuang, in addition to the chief complaint. Our physician will conduct a comprehensive history detailing your physical charateristics, onset of the illness, previous treatment(s) and progress of recovery, etc.
In order to better understand your condition, the physician will also ask about your lifestyle, dietary habits, stresses of daily living, sleep quality, digestive health, medical history, family history, and emotional well-being, etc.
The four methods of diagnosis in TCM consist of observation, auscultation, inquiry and palpation. Observation indicates that the physician examines the physical appearance of a patient through complexion, tongue and more. Auscultation is achieved by listening to the speech, coughs, and breath sounds. Inquiry is a way to gather information about signs and symptoms, as well as medical history. Palpation includes checking the radial pulses and abdominal examination.
The physician will ask specific questions to determine your constitution and health status based on the cause and onset of the illness, progression, signs and symptoms, frequency of occurrence, and complications or lack thereof.
The health record also documents patient’s medical diagnosis and maintain an active medication list.
Based on the above-mentioned consultation, the physician will suggest a suitable treatment plan. Detail documentation of the initial visit allows the physician to quickly assess your condition at follow-up(s). Treatment plan is updated accordingly, depending on the response to previous treatment, level of improvement, and change in illness progression
Acupuncture is a collective term for needling methods and moxibustion. Acupuncture needles are used to stimulate specific acupoints to achieve therapeutic effects.
Acupuncture regulates the body’s Qi (vital energy), strengthens one’s immunity, and unblocks the meridian system. World Health Organization (WHO) also recognizes acupuncture’s therapeutic effects for 63 widely varying conditions, such as pain syndromes, stroke, hypertension and rheumatic diseases.
At Ma Kuang, we use sterile, single-use, disposable acupuncture needles. You may experience slight discomfort upon insertion when the needle pierces through the skin; however, most people find it very tolerable. As the needle reaches acupoint, you may notice achiness, tingling, fullness, and heaviness, which are referred to as “needling sensations”. The duration varies greatly from person to person. It can last anywhere from a few seconds to a day, and still be considered normal.
Side effects of acupuncture are rare. Occasionally, local petechiae (minor subcutaneous bleeding) and local allergic reaction occur at site of needling. Subcutaneous bleeding can present as small bruise, which generally doesn’t require medical attention. Needle marks, small red dots or blotches usually subside spontaneously as well. Fatigue, achiness and fullness are normal responses to acupuncture and usually only last for a day or two. If symptoms of needle fainting (vasodepressor syncope of reflex fainting during acupuncture therapy) occur during the session, please speak to your physician
Acupuncture treatment should be postponed or rescheduled under circumstances such as postprandial period, severe fatigue and excessive sweating. People with critical illness, severe heart disease, severe hypertension and pregnancy women should be cautious when considering acupuncture. Please consult your physician for advice.
Tui Na combines massage, trigger-point, and other manual techniques to stimulate acupoints, meridians, muscles and/or nerves, in order to unblock the flow of Qi (vital energy) in the body.
Shoulder and back pain, neck pain, acute torticollis, frozen shoulder, low back and leg pain, intervertebral disc disease, sciatica, knee pain, heel pain, acute sprain/strain, joint misalignment, post-stroke symptoms, vertigo, migraine.
TuiNa unblocks the meridians, facilitates joint lubrication, promotes the flow of Qi, increases blood circulation, normalizes visceral functions, and boosts immunity.
Prior to the session, the physician or therapist will obtain a good understanding of the patient’s condition. The patient will be asked to expose affected area as needed during manual treatment. In other instances, the therapy can be delivered over clothing. TuiNa session usually takes 20-60 minutes, depending on the individual’s condition. Follow-ups may be needed. Please consult your physician or therapist about treatment frequency.
Please drink a glass of warm water after TuiNa, and avoid cold shower for an hour following completion of therapy. During the first few days after treatment, soreness, mild skin redness and swelling are normal. However, if the signs and symptoms persist, or undesirable reactions such as nausea and lightheadedness develop, please consult your physician or therapist immediately.
People with acute abdominal compartment syndrome, bleeding disorders, skin wound, ulceration or burns, severe heart disease, critical illness, and pregnant women, please consult your physician or therapist before receiving TuiNa.
TCM prescriptions are prescribed according to the constitution and illness of each individual. Every prescription is a customized formula, thus, shall not be shared.
All medicinal powder in Ma Kuang are appraised and approved by Health Science Authority (HSA). They are concentrated herbal extracts from Chinese medicinal herbs.
Please follow your physician’s instructions. Avoid direct sunlight. Store in refrigerated or dry and shaded location.
If you have stopped taking the medicine for a period of time and want to resume, please consult your physician first as your condition may have changed.
While placing the cups on acupoints, the produced vacuum creates a suction effect that dilates pores, mobilize Qi and blood flow, unblocks meridians, and normalizes visceral functions; thus, achieve the goal of disease prevention and treatment.
Generally speaking, cupping can eliminate cold and remove moisture, unblocks meridians, remove stasis, mobilize Qi and blood circulation, reduce swelling, relieve pain, extract toxins, and release heat. It’s used to regulate the Yin-Yang balance of the body, relieve fatigue, and strengthen one’s constitution.
Rest is warranted. Drink moderate amount of warm water or ginger tea. Avoid anxiety and anger. Avoid raw, cold and greasy food. Avoid cold shower for 2 hours following completion of therapy.
Local blisters or petechiae on the site of treatment are normal responses. Allow them to heal naturally. Please don’t be concerned if you notice ecchymosis (bruises). Refrain yourself from scratching the irritated skin, and it will disappear after a few days.
People with severe heart disease, bleeding disorders, severe swelling, severe skin diseases or localized lesions, extreme debility, emaciation, skin fragility, prolonged high fever, convulsion or posturing, please consult your physician or therapist prior to receiving cupping therapy.
Gua Sha is a treatment in which the skin is scraped to produce light bruising with a smooth edge made of water buffalo horn. It is delivered, in an orderly fashion, on specific parts of the body, resulting in large area of bruising or petechial hemorrhages, to regulate body function and restore homeostasis.
Apply lubricants such as olive oil or scrapping cream on body surface, and apply pressured strokes repeatedly until localized red dots or mild purplish patches appear.
Gua Sha dilates pores, expelling pathogenic factors. Thus, after treatment, patient often experiences partial or complete relaxation, comfort, chest and abdominal expansion, and disappearance of symptoms.
If you experience lightheadedness, pallor, palpitation, cold sweat, cold hands and feet, nausea, or vomiting, please inform your physician or therapist immediately.
The treatment of Gua Sha consumes body’s fluids and heat. Drink moderate amount of water, and rest for at least an hour. Avoid cold shower for 2 hours following completion of therapy, to prevent wind from entering the body through dilated pores.
People with tendency of abnormal bleeding, critical illness, fracture, contagious skin diseases, debility, empty stomach, elderly, menstruating and pregnant women, and those who are apprehensive or allergic to Gua Sha, please consult your physician or therapist before receiving Gua Sha treatment.
TDP (acronym for Teding Diancibo Pu) can increased blood circulation, and remove blood stasis. Its thermal effects may help alleviating symptoms, such as muscle tension, stiffness or spasm, inflammation, swelling and pain.
TDP is preheated before use. The physician will then place the lamp 20-30 cm from treating area, maintaining a safety distance. Exposure time varies from person to person.
TDP lamp has a wide range of clinical applications, most commonly, neck pain, back pain, knee problems, gastric pain, abdominal pain, cardiovascular diseases, post-stroke syndrome, etc. TDP is also used in conjunction with other therapies, including acupuncture, cupping, and topical Chinese medicine.
People with bleeding disorders, fever, severe hypertension, severe diabetes, severe allergic constitution, elderly patients, and those who have just received cupping or bandage removal should be cautious about receiving TDP treatment.
Chinese medicines, including herbs, processed herbal materials and patent prescriptions, are medications prescribed under the guidance of TCM theory. Prior to Qing Dynasty, Chinese medicine was referred to as materia medica or raw medicine.
Since the majority of Chinese medicines are plant-based, it is also termed Chinese herbal medicine.
In fact, animal products and minerals are used in prescriptions as well. Sometimes simple processing is required, such as the preparation of indigo and gelatinum asini.
In Chinese medicine, decoction is a mean of herb preparation involving first soaking, then boiling in ceramic pot, and lastly straining.
To maximize the efficacy of the herbs when brewing, some are added early, some latter; some are bagged, some need to be melted first. Some others are to be dissolved in water and taken directly without boiling.
Generally speaking, minerals and crustaceans, such as fossil fragment (LongGu) and ostrea (MuLi), need to be boiled first; aromatic herbs with volatile properties, such as peppermint (BoHe), Herba Schizonepetae (JingHuiJie), Agastache Rugosus (HuoXiang), need to be boiled later to prevent loss of medicinal efficacy; a few other ingredients, such as pearl powder (ZhenZhuFen) or “raw powder”, can be grinded down to powder for oral intake or added to the concoction.
There’s no hierarchy among decoction, pill, and powder. They are various forms of medicine administered to patients according to the conditions.
Currently, manufacturing procedure for scientific Chinese medicine is the same as decoction. It also undergoes boiling process to extract active ingredients from the herbs, which are then concentrated to form scientific Chinese medicine. It is safe, effective, portable and convenient, thus, widely accepted by the general public. In most cases, scientific Chinese medicine along is sufficient for treatment.
For other critical or complex cases, decoction may be more appropriate. The physician will prescribe suitable formula based on patient’s constitution and illness. When it comes to decoction, there is a wide selection of herbs with excellent potency, efficacy and bioavailability. The physician can also adjust the formula anytime to coincide with changes in the progression of illness and patient constitution, allowing maximal efficacy of the herbs.
Glazed clay herb cooker is the best choice, but any ceramic, stainless steel will do. Do not use a container that’s made out of cast iron, aluminum or copper.
Lightly rinse the herbs and soak in adequate amount of water (fully cover the herbs). Allow the herbs to soak for 30-60 minutes. Do not discard the water. Save it for boiling.
Apply moderate pressure to the herb, and make sure the water covers the herbs by 2cm for the first decoction. After the initial decoction is completed, pour the fluid through a strainer, add more water in the pot for second decoction. This time the water only needs to cover the herbs by 0.5-1cm. Add more boiling water as needed during the process.
The most common method of brewing a decoction is to decoct the ingredients twice. Bring the water to a rolling boil, then bring down the heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Strain the fluid, and keep herbs in the pot for second decoction. Add water, and bring it to boil again. Simmer for 15 minutes. Strain the fluid and add it to those from the initial decoction. Mix well.
*Special instructions:
“Boil first”: To increased herbal solubility or reduce toxicity. Usually boil the herb first for 20 minutes. e.g. Turtle shell (BieJia), tortoise shell (GuiBan), Gypsum fibrosum (ShiGao), fossil fragments (LongGu), etc. Aconitum (FuZi) needs to be boiled first for 30-60mins (to reduce the toxicity).
“Boil later”: To reduce loss of volatile oil and active ingredients. Do not add the herb until the last 3-5 minutes. e.g. Agastache rugosus (HuoXiang), Eupatorium (PeiLa), Peppermint (BoHe), Reum officinale (DaHuang), etc.
“Melt”: Herbs containing large amount of gelatin or viscosity will normally melt easily with heat. e.g. Colla corii asini (EJiao), Antler gelatin (LuJiaoJiao) and Tortoise-plastron gelatin (GuiBanJiao).
“Dissolve”: To be dissolved in water and taken directly. Boiling is inappropriate in this case, due to high volatility of the herbs. e.g. Anredera cordifolia (ChuanQ) (grind to powder), Cinnamomum cassia (RouGui) (grind to powder).
Follow physician’s instructions; typically take the medicine 3 times a day— pre-prandial, post-prandial and at bedtime. As a rule of thumb, regular medicine should be taken an hour after meal; nourishing medicine should be taken before meal; stomach aggravating medicine should be taken after meal; narcotics should be taken at bedtime.
While taking the medicine, avoid raw, cold, greasy and spicy food that may affect absorption of medicine. Other medications should be taken at least 30 minutes apart. If you are not feeling well, you may stop the medicine and contact your physician to report adverse responses for appropriate formula adjustments
Please follow the prescription from certified TCM physicians. Do not self medicate.
There are thousands of different Chinese herbs. It is difficult for one to fully master the knowledge of all herbs. Please be advised that it is best to purchase herbs from reputable and trustworthy Chinese medicine shops. The safety of Chinese herbal medicine can only be ensured through appropriate processing, free of chemical additives and utilization of authentic ingredients.
Ma Kuang provides door-to-door delivery service. Your prescription from our certified TCM physician will be filled at Wong Yiu Nam Medical Hall. You can pick up the herbs at Ma Kuang or request delivery to your doorstep.
