5 Sep 2014
READER, VOUCHER GIVEAWAY..... as at 3 Sep 2014
FREE Voucher.... USE AT YOUR OWN WILL
As at 5 Sep - voucher given away.
=========
29 Aug 2014
I purchased a Moxibustion e-Voucher from Deal.com. It stated:
$15 for 120-Min TCM Therapy at Moxibustion Healing & Wellness Centre, Ghim Moh & Changi – Includes Bian Stone Gua Sha + Moxibustion + Qi Cupping + Lymphatic Drainage + Herbal Foot Detox + Essential Oil + Mineral Mud
Use of the bian stone during gua sha treatment boosts blood circulation and aids in relieving muscle spasms. Moxibustion treats various conditions by applying heat to specific points in the body. Claimed to enhance blood circulation, strengthen skin tissues and promote excretion of toxins.
Moxibustion is especially appropriate for certain types of disorders and certain types of individuals, in particular painful conditions such as muscle pain and arthritis and for balancing individuals who require more warming (Yang) energy. Application of essential oil soothes and calms the body and mind. Mineral mud tightens and energises the skin, reducing pore size.
I have a really bad shoulder ache, have been tolerating it on a daily basis with some massaging, self pounding and medicated plasters. Happened to see above deal and thought maybe I could give a try. Just pay $15 and I get a 2 hour experience. Sounded something that I shouldn't miss. I bought the e-coupon and visited Moxibustion Healing & Wellness Centre on 18 Aug, at 6 pm.
The first thing that I did was a herbal foot detox. I placed my uncleaned feet into a bucket of water. Temperature can be self-adjusted. From about 50oC, I slowly adjusted to about 35oC. The warm soaking of feet was about 30 mins. During my foot detox, I was told to watch video testimonials, recorded and presented by Moxibustion's customers.
Then my China therapist took me to her desk to do a comprehensive body test by holding a 'baton' for one min. The result was eye-opening, amazing! In one minute, I got a really comprehensive report, faster than any hospital .... but is it accurate? Certain problem parts were already known to me. Other areas that she highlighted came as a shock ... unbelievable but her explanation made sense. TCM goes to the root cause eg if you have X??X problem, it could be due to your weak stomach, unable to digest food and retain the good nutrients. You have a weak stomach 胃 so that will cause lousy face complexion, unable to detox well, toxins are kept in the stomach area which caused bloating or weight gain (that's me).
I inquired for 120 mins what do I get.
Therapist said I shouldn't use 120 mins to measure her service and effectiveness of the treatment. She said she was already offering free service, free labour and doesn't earn anything so I shouldn't ask what do I get by paying only $15 (usual $209). She slammed me for trying, made me felt I was in the wrong for expecting to experience all those listed in Deal.com.
After my persistent, she reluctantly said:
- 30 mins Herbal Foot Detox (I couldn't smell herb nor see the colour of 'herb' in the water. It was just clear tap water. This is not the first time I experienced herbal foot detox so don't deceive me)
- 20 mins Qi Cupping
- 10 mins Moxibustion
- Bian Stone Gua Sha + Lymphatic Drainage + Essential Oil + Mineral Mud
Therapist claimed for 10 mins Moxibustion, it would be an experience, not a treatment. I won't see any result by just a superficial feel, not treating my ailment is not the way it should be. I MUST top up $45 to get an one hour moxibustion. I said by extending 10 mins to 1 hour, does that mean the whole visit would be closed to 3 hours? She replied 'No' firmly. Again, she stressed that her usual moxibustion treatment doesn't cost just $15 and I shouldn't expect her to do lugi business (her no revenue generated theory - transcribed based on her words). My focus wasn't moxibustion, I was keen in all the services listed.
In total, if I top up $45, her service would still remain at about 2 hours.... if I insist 2 hrs. Therapist's opinion is that I shouldn't expect or demand too much. My request to follow what they advertised on Deal.com is unreasonable?
I was kind of mad and said whatever you've posted in Deal.com, you should honour it and don't make me feel cheated. Advertised 2 hours but insisted I wasn't entitled to 2 hours, asserted it was just an ad that I shouldn't use to justify her service and expensive product used to 'demo'. Maintained her stand as duration for that visit shouldn't be my top concern. I should show more interest in her moxibustion treatment and not others, which were just to attract people's attention. The time that therapist was willing to invest was only one hour or less. I said if you're not keen to spend 2 hours on prospective customers, then you shouldn't post in Deal.com, instead, you should give those stated services as options for customers to choose at a cost of $15. She flatly said no. Really don't know why there's such a dishonest person but still argued she was right!
Therapist was extremely unhappy and told me to go into an area, not a room to change then lie down. I am a woman, she made me lie down in a place that has no privacy and with people, including men walking to and fro. How comfortable can I feel? How happy should I be? I don't have the habit of being exposed 暴露狂 and be seen by any tom dick and harry. The curtains weren't drawn fully (I could see people walking pass but therapist said nobody will see me).... it was JUST CURTAINS and no doors to protect my privacy.... OMG!
Therapist took picture of my cupping mark and showed me the colour was extremely dark purple. Also, there's water vapour in the glass cup which she said was due to water retention (moisture in the body). I didn't count how many cups were placed on my back, guess less than 10.
Cupping 拔罐 isn't something I have not tried before, I tried that two years ago for a walk-in price of $38 (normal fee). At that TCM, it was spot treatment. If I choose shoulder, the physician (she's a one-man-show China Doctor) would target that area using cupping, acupuncture and massage.... would also prescribe medicine if required 内调理. I didn't go back to her because she also relied on curtains to partition customers - male and female customers. She wasn't pushy or persistent in drilling me to take up packages.... she was too busy to waste her time, she'd rather attend to her waiting patients.
The feeling of your flesh being sucked is there but not extremely painful .... for me it was bearable. After that visit, the marks didn't cause my body or back to sore. Last night was just a bit of itchiness. Today, while typing this, I didn't feel any discomfort. To me, acupuncture - to be pricked by needles is more painful, especially if it hit my bone.
Next came my long waited 10 mins Moxibustion. I was given a Bian Stone Gua Sha and Lymphatic Drainage hand massage with Essential Oil on my tummy. The therapist applied her 'very expensive Mineral Mud' on certain part of my tummy, thinly, not whole tummy. She lighted the high temperature expensive moxa and placed near my tummy. The moxa didn't touch my skin but I could feel the warmth. To convince me to take up a package and show the effects of moxa 灸 or 艾灸, therapist decided to let me try moxa on the lower part of my back. I could feel warmth travelled downwards to my tummy (from back, penetrated to tummy, with indirect moxa was astonishing). Therapist kept asking me whether I could feel the warmth travelled to my legs, I said no. Later, when I told her I could feel warmth near tummy, she said those were my ovaries area which the machine has earlier detected mild problems. She happily told me she have proven the effect of moxa.
That therapist decided to be nicer to me and said earlier I was 肝火旺盛 .... huh....anyway, on top of her extra effort to place moxa on another spot (spot 1: tummy 2: lower back), she also promised that if I take up a one hour trial experience, using moxa at $69 - special first time rate, she will spend extra time on my aching shoulders .... free! Sounds tempting? She made it so convincing 信你 我便是笨蛋!
While therapist was giving my tummy using hand massage, I heard another consultant talking to a male customer (we were just one thin partition apart, from reception area), assuring him the whole process would be 2 hours (holding same Deal.com e-voucher). Since Moxibustion Healing & Wellness Centre wanted to be dishonest, I can do the same. Moxibustion Healing & Wellness Centre just wanted me to spend money so whatever pleased the therapist, I did ... including made an appointment for next week (I don't intend to go back, just wanted her to finish and let me go off).
If therapist had been nice, considerate (earlier) and didn't tell me she was giving free service and her service shouldn't be measured by time spent .... I would be keen to take up a short package. She proposed $100 x 5 visits (one hour each), normal price is $189 per session. I felt it is a price I am keen to pay and treat some problems by focusing on the root cause - STOMACH 胃. Treating my stomach will remove my excess fat and water retention, sounded great. According to therapist, will relieve the complications (heart, fats, water retention, little intestines, etc) caused indirectly by my stomach.
中医理论指脾胃主“运化”，负责将吃进肚子的食物转化成营养、供给身体能量，然后将没用的毒素和废物尽快运走，排出体外。如果脾胃这个脏腑偷懒或者出错，那怕你吃的是山珍海馐，到最后可能甚么也吸收不到，白白被浪费掉。
All this while, I have been visiting slimming centers, hoping to get a weight loss, one size down. It certainly is worthwhile to have the root cause tackled and then the stubborn unsightly tummy fats be 'expelled'. Too bad, she accused me of showing my temper and placed me in an area with no privacy 提心吊胆 怕走光 尴尬和委屈. She didn't care how customer felt when being cheated or may result in undesired exposure 走光.
Consultation/body test (15 mins) is excluded in the 2 hours deal so the total time spent to experience their health services was 1.5 hours. There was a regular male customer waiting for her at 7.30 pm. She has slightly exceeded her preferred service time (one hour) and she appeared excited to hear that man's voice. Anyway, I just don't feel at ease to be in a place easily accessible by men. I looked forward to leave at the earliest ... told therapist to get straight to the point, miss out certain service NEVER MIND but she decided to stall time and allow me to "redeem all that was stated in Deal.com".
Why I didn't insist on 2 hours? Can you tell me how to feel comfortable in a place that may expose me? How to stay in a place that doesn't give me trust, feel at ease and comfy? I am a woman, not man.
In conclusion, all these e-coupon or e-voucher are just traps laid to attract payers. The Centers will do their best to hard sell or make you top up if you are only keen to visit once. It is very hard for customers to walk out happily, without feeling pressured. Noticed 259 e-vouchers were bought via Deal.com, wonder what dishonest tactics or hard selling they will use on these 259 potential customers. Moxibustion Healing 灸 or 艾灸 has a special selling point and sounded like no side effect, really good to human health but with your service attitude, would people feel happy? Yes, we do want our health back but how many liked to be treated the way I was being treated? Claimed I was the only customer to insist on 2 hours service.... how come I heard that man stating the query?
The next day (Tue), early evening, I felt above and below (more painful) my navel area having some pain, not sharp but can feel discomfort without even hand pressing. It is inner pain 内伤, not surface. These were the two initial spots that moxa treatment started. The marks due to cupping were still there but no soreness and feeling of wanting somebody to rub my aches away.
My tummy received a really hard rub and pressing. The report showed my stomach and shoulders as ++ so the therapist purposely pressed and rubbed my tummy hard to make me feel pain. She said when I felt pain, that meant her report was accurate. When I said a little pain, she pressed harder and asked whether I felt numb and painful at a particular spot. 像与我有深仇大恨, 有必要那么用力吗?
Report legend:
(-) means normal, no problem
(+) means beware, alert of problem building
(++) means serious problem that need to be treated
On Wed night, bottom of my navel still feeling slight pain, without pressing. Cupping marks were very much lighter, guess was because it was a demo so the time I was cupped wasn't a full 20 mins.... which explains why I could leave by spending about 1.5 hours there.
Sad to say, I am holding another Moxibustion Healing & Wellness Centre e-voucher. I understand Deal.com's terms which indicated I can only use once, as a new customer. But my experience really forbids me to pass my e-voucher to a colleague, friend or relative. Knowing that their service attitude and method is lousy, how can I be so evil to it giveaway? The only option left is to let it expire.
Deal.com refused to refund in cash or Deal credits so that I can use to offset my next purchase. Deal.com chose to protect its merchants.
This was my email message "You have disappointed me by rejecting my refund. My first email was sent on 20 Aug. You've enough time to investigate or get a female staff to pose as customer and experience.
I have indicated very clearly I am requesting for refund - #3288705 $15 (cash or Deal credits) instead of passing Deal.com voucher to somebody else who is likely to encounter unhappy experience.
It is your choice to collude with your vendors and I am sure this is not a 100% Quality that customers would be pleased with, be it a product or service you are selling."
Deal.com "Nurul (DEAL Customer Support)
Aug 27 12:06
Dear Valued Customer,
Greetings from DEAL.com.sg!
We regret to inform you that we are unable to process a refund for you as our vouchers are non-refundable and non-exchangeable. You may refer to our terms and condition on our website.
However, may we suggest that you can present these vouchers to your friends and relatives as long as the vouchers can be redeemed within the validity period.
We apologize that we are unable to accommodate to your request and we seek your kind understanding with regards to this matter.
If you have any enquiries, please do not hesitate to contact us at (65) 6299 3011. Thank You."
Moxibustion is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that involves the burning of mugwort, a small, spongy herb, to facilitate healing. Moxibustion has been used throughout Asia for thousands of years; in fact, the actual Chinese character for acupuncture, translated literally, means "acupuncture-moxibustion." The purpose of moxibustion, as with most forms of traditional Chinese medicine, is to strengthen the blood, stimulate the flow of qi, and maintain general health.
How does moxibustion work? Does it hurt?
There are two types of moxibustion: direct and indirect. In direct moxibustion, a small, cone-shaped amount of moxa is placed on top of an acupuncture point and burned.
Indirect moxibustion is currently the more popular form of care because there is a much lower risk of pain or burning. In indirect moxibustion, a practitioner lights one end of a moxa stick, roughly the shape and size of a cigar, and holds it close to the area being treated for several minutes until the area turns red. Another form of indirect moxibustion uses both acupuncture needles and moxa. A needle is inserted into an acupoint and retained. The tip of the needle is then wrapped in moxa and ignited, generating heat to the point and the surrounding area. After the desired effect is achieved, the moxa is extinguished and the needle(s) removed.
What is moxibustion used for?
In traditional Chinese medicine, moxibustion is used on people who have a cold or stagnant condition. The burning of moxa is believed to expel cold and warm the meridians, which leads to smoother flow of blood and qi. In Western medicine, moxibustion has successfully been used to turn breech babies into a normal head-down position prior to childbirth.
Moxibustion is often used in conjunction with other qi-wrangling interventions such as cupping and acupuncture. It has been used without success for hypertension, pain, tennis elbow, and irritable bowel syndrome, all diseases with a similar underlying cause.
Why do acupuncturists use mugwort? Why not use some other herb?
Mugwort, also known as artemesia vulgaris or ai ye in Chinese, has a long history of use in folk medicine. Research has shown that it acts as an emmenagogue ¬ that is, an agent that increases blood circulation to the pelvic area and uterus and stimulates menstruation. This could explain its use in treating breech births and menstrual cramps.
Does moxibustion have complications?
Yes. Burns are the most frequently-reported complication.
The most common effects identified in this review were allergic reactions, burns, and infections such as cellulitis and hepatitis C. Allergic reactions were reported. The other case reports were xerophthalmia, xeroderma, hyperpigmented macules, ptosis and eversion of the eyelids. In clinical trials, various adverse events such as rubefaction, blistering, itching sensations, discomfort due to smoke, general fatigue, stomach upsets, flare-ups, headaches, and burns were reported. Tenderness and pressure in the epigastric region or in one of the hypochondriac regions, unpleasant odor with or without nausea and throat problems, abdominal pain, premature birth, premature rupture of the membrane and bleeding due to excess pressure on the anterior placenta were reported in pregnant women.
Cupping will often produce a red or purple circle upon the skin that may take a few days to heal. These circles are only dark colored if the area that is cupped has "stuck" body fluids and blood. You should expect some circular discoloration or bruising if you are cupped. Keep in mind, this is only occurring because stuck fluids and blood congeal and act like glue, keeping joints stiff and swollen and gluing muscle fibers. These circular discolorations and bruising occur in the process of drawing these stuck fluids and blood out of injured areas – they are part of the healing process.
Cupping is a TCM therapy in which plastic or glass cups are used to apply suction and heat to meridian points on the body. Cupping is believed to rejuvenate meridians (energy pathways), improve the circulation of Qi, and thereby treat imbalances.
What cupping is good for?
Cupping can be an appealing therapy option as it can treat many health problems, often with immediate results. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, cupping is said to address health issues such as:
• Muscle aches and rheumatism
The suction and heat of cupping can provide deep relief for muscle aches and rheumatism. “Suction and heat draws out dampness, which is a common cause of such conditions.
• Flu or cold
Flu or cold symptoms generally indicate that pathogens have created stagnation in the meridians. Cupping can target those areas of stagnation and restore a healthy flow of energy, hence alleviating the flu or cold symptoms.
• Weight management
In TCM, obesity may originate in an impaired digestive system. For patients who are overweight, cupping can help “stimulate digestion, improve bowel movements and improve the removal of waste products from the body. This helps the body shed excess weight.
• General health maintenance
To promote one’s overall health, cupping helps rejuvenate the meridians and internal organs that are not in their optimal condition.
Who can go for cupping?
Cupping is suitable for most patients except those who are physically weak and who have certain conditions. Patients who should avoid cupping include those with diabetes, cholesterol, high blood pressure or who are pregnant.
How cupping is carried out?
During cupping treatment, which is generally 10-15 minutes long, the physician may apply either plastic suction cups or glass cups to meridian points.
With the plastic cup method, the physician uses a pump on top of the cup to suck out the air and create a partial vacuum effect. Glass cupping relies on a small flame to create suction, and is regarded as the more effective method. The healing effects of cupping can also be sped up when an acupuncture needle is left in the meridian point during cupping. It is common for cupping to leave distinctive circular marks on the skin. These harmless marks will slowly fade before disappearing completely within days.
Observe cupping skin color, smell and understand the condition of the body:
1, skin is white: the body temperature gas heavy
Performance: in the skin color change, such as a small white water, indicates that body moisture heavy. Some people body moisture is serious, water wet and not all for more pore eduction body outside, after cupping will form, the skin thin bubble.
Methods: the moisture inside body weight, only depending on the cupping may not be able to remove all the moisture. The best approach is to let the sun exposure. The body of the sun is sun be the spirit, supplement the sun be the spirit to let moisture to dissipate.
2, appear yellow substance
Performance: appear yellow substance, may suggest that exist in the body and other disease; Yellow substance and sending out a stench, usually skin diseases, such as acne.
3, the skin is dark red: flu
Performance: after cupping skin were black red, no secretion, color slants red more for "sha", usually for a cold.
4, skin is partial black: fatigue caused by strain
Performance: color slants black for passive congestion block, usually symptoms of fatigue and injuries.
拔罐是用中医的寒、热、虚、实辨证为理论指导，选择一些经络所过或经气聚集的部位，通过拔罐来起到治疗外科痈肿、风湿劳损、外伤淤血、感冒及一切酸痛诸症。拔罐分为火罐和气罐两种，气罐和火罐的原理相同，都是利用真空的负压，作用于人体，起到温通经络、扶正祛邪、行气活血、祛湿逐寒、散瘀消肿止痛的作用。
拔罐后会在皮肤上形成各种不同的性状颜色，那么如何进行拔罐后皮肤颜色鉴别?拔罐后皮肤颜色对应的健康分析是怎样的? 拔罐后皮肤颜色鉴别，拔罐后皮肤颜色对应的健康分析
1、拔罐后皮肤颜色鲜红而艳、局部发热：阳症、热症、实症、热毒炽盛、体质阴虚、火旺;罐印鲜红而艳，一般提示阴虚或气阴两虚，阴虚火旺也会出现。
2、拔罐后皮肤颜色紫红、暗红：阴症、寒症、血郁。
3、拔罐后皮肤颜色紫黑色：供血不足、有积寒。紧黑而黯的一般表示体有血淤，如痛经或心脏供血不足，患部受寒较重也会出现此印迹。如印迹数天不退的，通常表示病程已久，需要较长的时间来调理，如走罐时出现大面积黑紫印时，提示风寒所犯面积大，应对症驱寒为主。
4、拔罐后皮肤颜色红而暗：血脂粘稠、血脂高、供血不足;
5、拔罐后皮肤颜色紫色并伴有黑斑：气血不畅通;罐印发紫伴有斑块的，一般提示有局部寒凝血瘀。
6、拔罐后皮肤颜色为紫点并有深浅不一的块状：风湿;罐印呈散发性的紫点，深浅不一，一般提示为气滞血瘀之症。淡紫并伴有斑块的，一般提示以虚症为主，兼有血瘀。在平安健康网中医频道的采访中还发现，如斑点在穴位处明显的，表明此相关内脏虚弱，比如在肾俞穴处呈现，则提示肾虚。
7、拔罐后皮肤颜色呈鲜红散发点：通常在大面积走罐后出现，不高出皮肤，如系在某穴及其附近集中，则提示此穴所相关的脏腑异常或存在病情，需要调节内脏功能。
8、拔罐后皮肤颜色潮红、淡红 ：虚症;
9、拔罐后皮肤颜色瘀斑或血泡灰白、色淡：虚寒、湿邪。
10、拔罐时罐中有水珠：寒湿重。
11、拔罐后皮肤微痒：风邪、湿症。
12、拔罐后皮肤有水泡、水肿、潮湿现象：寒症、湿气盛;行罐或坐罐，容易起水泡的，提示湿气较重，若在患部出现较多小水泡时，预示由水湿所致，会有理想的疗效，需要连续的多次拔罐。
13、走罐时出现风团(如急性寻麻疹状)，提示为风椰所致，或是过敏性体质。
14、拔罐后皮肤颜色没有或无明显变化，或很快恢复原样的， 提示身体基本正常或病情尚轻;随着病情的好转，皮肤上的罐印也会随着减轻，且不易现罐印，预示病情在逐渐痊愈。
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