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Looking for an Acupuncturist? Healthy Matters brings you a comprehensive guide to help you choose and better understand TCM and acupuncture.
Acupuncturists are, simply said, practitioners who are professionally trained to perform acupuncture. Acupuncture is a major part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and a recognized therapeutic modality approved by the World Health Organization (WHO). It can relieve pain and cure physical, mental, and emotional illnesses through the internal organs. In Hong Kong, Chinese medicine practitioners are entitled to the titles of "registered Chinese medicine practitioner" with one of the streams of practice: "general practice", "acupuncture" or "bone-setting" put in a bracket at the end of the title.
According to Chinese medicine, there are locations in the human body, named acupoints, linked to energy channels, called meridians. Acupoints and meridians, together, stimulate the flow of Qi and regulate organs' functionalities. In Western medicine, acupuncture is seen as a method to improve the health and well-being of the nervous system by releasing chemicals inside the body. Western medical acupuncture is principally used by conventional healthcare practitioners, most commonly in physiotherapy or primary care. It is mainly used to treat musculoskeletal pain, including myofascial trigger point pain. It is also effective for postoperative pain and nausea.
In Asia, acupuncture is used for many different purposes for thousands of years, and until now there are still new projects researching the benefits of acupuncture. According to a journal from Scientific Reports, acupuncture can be used to cure Parkinson’s. In October 2017, the Baptist University of Hong Kong students found that scalp acupuncture helped autistic children with speech and social interaction with an efficacy rate of 97%. In February 2018, acupuncture helped Chinese and US researchers pinpoint a new asthma drug.
There are as many as 7906 registered Chinese medicine practitioners in Hong Kong. To be registered, Chinese medicine practitioners must hold a bachelor's degree in Chinese Medicine, and pass the Licensing Examination conducted by the Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong.
For instance, it takes 6 years to get the Bachelor of Chinese Medicine (BChinMed) degree at the University of Hong Kong. Students conduct frequent clinical training and spend their first five years completing a full curriculum of Chinese Medicine courses, modern biomedical sciences courses, medicine and surgery courses, as well as general education at the university. In the sixth year, students undertake a 40-week clinical clerkship in affiliated teaching hospitals.
Registered Chinese medicine practitioners in Hong Kong who are also acupuncturists, can conduct the below common treatments:
The number of treatments required depends on individual condition and sensitivity to acupuncture. For example, some may take several sessions to notice the benefits of acupuncture, whereas others may experience immediate pain relief. In more serious cases, acupuncture treatment can take several weeks, while it can take just a couple of sessions with mild cases. While acupuncture is most often applied to treat specific conditions, experts suggest that regular visits are recommended for preventive health as well.
People commonly visit an acupuncturist when experiencing:
In Hong Kong and as the case with other health practitioners, the cost of acupuncture varies greatly by location and service chosen. An acupuncturist will usually assess your health condition first, and then design a customized treatment approach. Our research shows that an all inclusive program (consultation, treatment and herbs prescriptions) in a high-end private clinic usually costs around $1,100-2,000. Our research shows that a one-off consultation in Hong Kong costs between $150 and $500 generally.
For eligible HKID-holders, attending a public clinic costs $135 for a general acupuncturist and $260 for a specialist.
For non-eligible, costs are up to $1,190 per attendance.
Beware of waiting times which can be very long in the public sector. Please enquire at your clinic of choice for specific costs.
*All amounts are in HKD and were last updated in November 2020. No responsibility is accepted for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. It is always best to call ahead to make sure the information is still up-to-date.
To make it easier for you, here is a list of Hong Kong acupuncturists and specialized clinics:
At present, there are 18 Chinese Medicine Centres for Training and Research (CMCs) in Hong Kong, which are operated under a tripartite model by the Hospital Authority, non-governmental organizations and local universities, providing Chinese medicine and acupuncture services to the public.
Here is a list of some private clinics with acupuncture specialists:
Clinics
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Details
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Y-Health Chinese Medical Centre (Central)
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Address: Room 601, 6/F, Lansing House. 41-47 Queen's Road Central, Central, Hong Kong Island Tel: 2893 0268
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East Wood Traditional Chinese Medicine (Causeway bay Clinic)
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Address: Rm 1, 16F Island Beverly Center, Causeway bay, Hong Kong Island Tel: 3708 3694
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Albert Place Practice Hong Kong Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Clinic
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Address: 1103 Luk Yu Building, 24-26 Stanley Street, Central, Hong Kong Island Tel: 2234 9932
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Health Wise Chinesemed
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Address: Suite 602 - 3, Prosperous Building, 48-52 Des Voeux Road Central, Central, Hong Kong Island Tel: 2526 7908
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Bright Way Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture
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Address: 6/F, United Bank Building, 18 Tai Po Road, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon Tel: 2616 9885
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Joyful And Health Chinese Medicine Centre (Tseung Kwan O)
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Address: Room 1-089 Plaza, 1 Tong Tak Street, Tseung Kwan O, New Territories Tel: 3702 1658
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Hong Kong Atlas Chinese Medicine & Physiotherapy Centre (Acupuncture)
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Address: Flat 01, 20/F, Righteous Centre, 585 Nathan Road, Mong Kok, Kowloon Tel: 2386 6388
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Quality HealthCare Chinese Medicine Centre (Tsing Yi-Maritime Square)
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Address: Shop Unit 308D, Level 3, Maritime Square, 33 Tsing King Road, Tsing Yi, New Territories Tel: 2434 1233
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In Hong Kong, acupuncturists have to be registered as Chinese medicine practitioners to practice. You can search for Chinese medicine practitioners by their clinic location here.
At a public clinic, a general acupunturist costs $135 and a specialist costs $260. In the private sector, an acupuncture session usually costs $1,100 to $2,000.
In Hong Kong, acupuncturists have to be registered as Chinese medicine practitioners to practice. Hence, they can give diagnosis as Chinese medicine practitioners.
Acupuncture can provide relief to chronic pain, allergy, stress, menstrual cramps and other conditions.
First and foremost, check the credentials and qualifications of the acupuncturist to verify the acupuncturist’s experience. Talk to your acupuncturist and find one you are comfortable with. It always helps to look out for recommendations from your family and friends.
According to Alea, acupuncture treatment can be reimbursed under Chinese medicine or complementary medicine fees. Beware of acupuncture coverage sub-limits and whether your plan requires the practitioner to be registered with the Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong. If you have any health-related insurance questions or are looking to maximize your health insurance protection, contact an advisor at Alea at [email protected] or +852 2606 2668.
This article was independently written by Healthy Matters. It is informative only and not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be relied upon for specific medical advice.
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