TCM Doctor Treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea with Acupuncture

There have been a number of patients coming to see us TCM physician for sleep apnea. It is not uncommon, although not many people suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Sleep apnea is called Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a disorder characterized by repetitive collapse of the airway, resulting in low oxygen levels and an elevated blood pressure. Sometimes a patient may experience stoppage in breathing for 10 seconds or longer.  A patients with severe OSA, may stop breathing many times a night. They may experience having to gasp for air during sleep. They may complain of tiredness, poor concentration, daytime sleepiness, poor memory, irritability and frequent urination etc.

Many of these patients may have to wear a nasal mask with a CPAP machine throughout the night to sleep. CPAP is a machine which has a function of giving a continuous positive airway pressure, thus preventing collapse of the airway.  CPAP is an effective treatment for OSA, however, compliance is an issue. 

TCM views Sleep Apnea as deficiency in the lung. From our clinical observation, many of these patients also have gastric problem, stomach bloating, flatulence, frequent constipation or soft stool. 

We know that breathing is the function of lung and nose. Therefore TCM treat such patients by strengthening their lung function. We would suggest at least one course (10 sessions) of acupuncture together with oral herbal medicine. We would also advise them to stop smoking and drinking of alcohol besides eating healthily. Surprisingly, after one to 3 months (depends on severity), these patients told us that when they jog, they realized that they did not pant so much and they could sleep better and breathe better at night and less dependent on CPAP machine.  Slowly occurrence of the sleep apnea was lessen or disappeared. They also felt that their breathing is better and have less phlegm less bloating. Bowel movement was better too.

One of the patient told us that he had to travel overseas for work and he had to bring along his CPAP machine which he found it troublesome. Whenever he jogged he felt that he was panting a lot and his breathing was not smooth. 

I remember when my son was 5 years old, he had very bad asthma. Almost every two weeks he was down with asthma. I brought him to see a Western doctor. He was often given anti-biotic. He became thinner, his appetite was very poor. He perspired a lot and easily caught a cold. My mother-in-law was kind enough to tell me that she would look after him for six months. She fed him with pig kidney and pork meat (梅肉)* with brand essence of chicken every 3 days. Slowly, his health became better, he had less asthma attacks.  We continue to strengthen him by giving him nutritious food, he did not have asthma attacks after one year. From this episode, I realize that strengthening a person's health is very important. 

·        *  cPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure

·  *  You may refer to my other website for the recipe of Pig Kidney with Pork Meat at JoyofCooking8.blogspot.com which is good for strengthening a person's contitution.

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Address of our  two clinics:

Yong Kang Medical Hall Pte Ltd.,

Blk 78A, Telok Blangah St 32, #01-05, Singapore 101078.

Tel： 9663 5600 (for appointments)， 6272 6400

Email: ong.swee.ling@gmail.com

Email: yongkangmedicalhall@gmail.com

Website: drongsweeling.blogspot.com

Eastern Healing TCM Clinic Pte Ltd.,

Blk 345,

Clementi Ave 5, #01-88, Singapore 120345.

Tel: 9299 9168 (for appointments) , 6276 6872

Email: ong.swee.ling@gmail.com

Email: easternhealingtcm@outlook.sg

Website: drongsweeling.blogspot.com

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Medical Fees & Charges

First time consultation fee S$20.  

(Depends on the duration of consultation, consultation fee may vary).

TCM Acupuncture per session $35~$40 SGD.

(depends on number of acupuncture needles, charges may vary).

TCM Moxibustion (cupping)$4~$6,

TCM Herbal Medication $6~$10/day.