Association to study and further develop Sabah traditional medicine

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KOTA KINABALU: The Malaysian Health Education Association (PPKM) plans to study traditional and complementary medicine.

Association president Chung Kam Loon told reporters that they hope to work with Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) as well as other relevant bodies in this respect.

He explained that by researching traditional and complementary medicine, they hope to further develop the traditional and complementary medicine industry in Sabah, and raise awareness of the people that they had a choice whether to opt for traditional and complementary medicine or to go for modern medicine.

He also said the approach taken by traditional and complementary medicine practitioners was to prevent illnesses by encouraging a person to adopt a healthy lifestyle and eating habits.

“We abide by the motto ‘prevention rather than cure’,” he said.

At the same time, Chung mentioned that Sabah’s herbal industry could be developed into an industry and that the association hope to work with the Agriculture and Food Industry Ministry in this field.

The association also plans to visit Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman in the nearest future to inform him on the inclusion of the various traditional and complementary medicine practitioners in the association.

Meanwhile, Chung also explained the type of traditional and complementary medicine services that were available in Sabah, and in particular, the state capital.

His MT Kinabalu Traditional Therapy Centre at Gaya Street, for instance, offers acupuncture point therapy.

“We use the acupuncture point therapy to treat ailments that are due to blocked points in the body. For instance, someone who has problem hearing can be helped by opening point(s) at his ear,” he said.

Another member of the association, David Voo, who runs a Japanese Shiatsu and Reflexology centre, said Shiatsu is a well known Japanese massage that also uses the point system similar to acupuncture.