If you told me a week ago that I’d willingly sign up for needles, herbs that smell like… let’s just say earthy, and something called cupping — I would’ve laughed and ordered iced chocolate instead.
But here we are. My first-ever Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) experience at Tung Shin Hospital — and honestly, it was not what I expected.
What Finally Pushed Me To Try
I’ve always been curious… but never curious enough.
Until I heard about my aunt’s cat.
Yes, her cat was getting acupuncture — at a vet that practices both modern and Eastern medicine. And not just for fun. With over 20 rescue cats (many with special needs), she’s very intentional with where her money goes. If she’s willing to invest in acupuncture for her cat, there must be something there, right?
3-4 months after weekly acupunture treatments.
That was the moment I thought… okay, maybe I should just try.
A short reel about my aunt’s cat:
After all, I’m already on long-term medication from a semi-government hospital. What have I got to lose?
Walking In With Zero Clue (and No Appointment)
This was a very spontaneous decision.
We literally just walked into Level 1 after asking around for directions — no appointment, no plan.
If you’re more organised than me (which isn’t hard), you can actually book a specialist at Level 3 through their website.
But for first-timers? Walk-in works just fine.
The Consultation: “Stick Out Your Tongue” 👅
Yes. That was one of the first things.
TCM diagnosis is a whole different world. Not only did they ask about my symptoms and existing conditions, the physician also checked my pulse, looked at my tongue (apparently very telling??), and asked about my sleep, digestion, energy levels — even stress.
The pulse reading part was especially interesting. It’s not just “fast or slow” — they’re actually feeling for different patterns and imbalances in your body. I don’t fully understand it (yet), but it made the whole experience feel very detailed and personalised.
I even wondered — could a TCM practitioner interpret the same level of detail just from a heartbeat graph?
Either way, it felt… oddly holistic. Like they were connecting dots I didn’t even realise existed.
One thing I learned — you really have to be truthful with your practitioner.
I shared my full medical history and current medication list with her. I already know I’m not eligible for additional takaful coverage, so there’s really no point hiding anything.
And honestly, that transparency matters.
It allows them to prescribe something that actually suits your body — and more importantly, doesn’t work against the medication you’re already taking.
The Treatments: Who Did What
We both tried acupuncture for the first time — and let me just say, it looks scarier than it feels.
The needles are super fine. I was bracing myself for pain (I’m actually quite scared of needles), but after years of getting treatments elsewhere, I figured… okay, I’ll try anything except bomoh 😅
Turns out, it felt more like tiny pokes and then… nothing.
At one point, I even moved my leg just to see if anything would happen — you know, for science. Let’s just say… I could feel my nerves. That was a first.
But after that, I almost forgot the needles were there and nearly fell asleep.
Now, here’s where we had different “adventures”:
- Me: Acupuncture + 6 days’ worth of herbal medicine
- My husband: Acupuncture + cupping
I wasn’t prescribed cupping this round (baby steps, okay 😅), but my husband went all in.
That said, this wasn’t our first exposure to cupping. We Malays are quite familiar with it. It creates a tight suction feeling on the skin — not painful, but definitely intense. And yes, he walked out with those iconic circular marks.
The Medicine: Bitter But “Good For You” Energy
I was prescribed herbal medicine for 6 days.
Taste review?
Let’s just say… not too bad, but still this is not your bubble tea moment.
But there’s something comforting about knowing it’s tailored specifically to what your body needs.
And my personal hack? Honey right after. The herbal taste doesn’t linger for long. I’ve watched enough C-dramas to come prepared.
Let’s Talk Cost 💸
One of the biggest surprises? It was actually very affordable.
Here’s the breakdown:
- Registration: RM2 (each)
- Consultation: RM10 (each)
- Acupuncture: RM23 (each)
- Herbal medicine (6 days, mine): RM54
- Cupping (husband): RM20
For something so personalised, I honestly expected it to cost way more.
So… Would I Do It Again?
Surprisingly, yes. In fact, I’m going again this week — say hi if you see me 👀
Does this mean I’m divorcing modern medicine?
Relax 😅 I’m not cancelling my doctor.
This is more of a “we can coexist” situation.
I’m still on my prescribed medication, and I’m not about to play doctor with my own health. For me, this is more about complementing what I’m already doing — not replacing it.
It’s a completely different approach to health — slower, more intentional, and very focused on balance rather than quick fixes.
TCM is something you commit to long term. It’s very much a slow and steady journey.
And I think that’s what stood out to me the most.
In a world where we want instant results, this felt like a gentle reminder that healing can take its time… and that’s okay.
I walked out of the treatment room feeling a bit better and lighter than when I walked in.
Why Tung Shin Hospital?
Having this done in a hospital setting matters to me — knowing the environment is sterile, and that the practitioners and nurses are medically trained, gave me that extra peace of mind.
Did I leave feeling like I just unlocked a new “adulting” experience? Also yes.
If you’ve ever been curious about TCM, maybe this is your sign to just try. Walk in, ask questions, keep an open mind.
Worst case? You get a funny story.
Best case? You discover something your body has been needing all along.
Aliyawanders 
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