

HEALTH&FITNESS
242
February15
Under one roof
Hippocrates
(born 460 BC), considered the Father of
Medicine, is thought to be the first person to argue that
the cause of disease is not punishment by the gods but
rather the result of environmental factors, diet and lifestyle.
His approach to healing was passive and low-key, relying
largely on cleanliness, rest and the power of the body to
heal itself. In our own age, this ethos is what underpins
many so-called alternative and complementary disciplines.
Happily, Singapore has its fair share of such practitioners,
many of whom work together in various ways. Over
more than three decades, Dr David
Tio has brought together a multi-
faceted team that provides a
comprehensive range of natural,
drug-free treatment modalities.
Body aches and pain, foot
problems, common ailments,
c h r o n i c d e g e n e r a t i v e
diseases, behavioural and
developmental problems
in children, addiction and
depression are just some of
the conditions they will treat.
You’ll find them all under
one roof, at the
Osteopathic
Treatment Centre
and its
two associate practices, the
Centre for Complementary
and Alternative Medicine
Osteopathic Treatment Centre
#12-02 Tanglin Shopping Centre
6734 6440
osteopathy.com.sg | complementarymedicine.com.sg |
chiropody.com.sg
(CCAM) and the
Nailtech and Chiropody Centre
. Here’s
a roundup of what they offer:
Osteopathy
Cranial Osteopathy
Acupuncture
Applied Kinesiology
Chiropody and Podiatry
Homeopathy
Hypnotherapy
Naturopathy
Neurofeedback
Psychological Counselling
Therapeutic Massage
PART 2:
The Power of Touch
There’s little doubt that the skilled and caring touch
of another human being is powerfully therapeutic.
That’s my excuse for indulging in a daily massage when
I find myself in Thailand or in Bali; a gift at S$12
or so an hour, it’s not only a treat for the senses,
but a great way to mobilise and expel the toxins
from the previous night’s three-for-one cocktails.
Back home, however, a partner who can be
persuaded to treat you to a rub-down is worth his or her
weight in gold. (My own cruel husband, sad to say, is not
one of them.) Fortunately, there’s the DIY option: even self-
massage can work miracles for a stiff-neck headache, sore
calf-muscles, shin-splints and more, physically breaking
down knotty masses and encouraging the flow of blood
and lymph for healing and rejuvenation.
Taking a couple of paracetamol or anti-inflammatory
tabs would probably bring temporary relief. But once
they’ve worn off, you may be right back where you
started; what’s more, your body has to labour to
overcome the nasty side effects of the drugs – and
yes, just like those happy-making cocktails, they do
have toxic side effects.