Jean Ang TCM

15/04/2026

Like a swan finding its grace on calm waters, healing is a quiet, patient strength moving beneath the surface.

Take time to "simply be".

Stop pushing yourself to be healed now or to start moving before you are ready. The natural process of recovery and recuperation happen in stages, not on your expected schedule.

There will be a cycle of good days and bad days, where one day you feel better, and the next the condition flares up again without any clear reason.

Treat yourself with kindness. Be patient. You are human, and your body is working hard to heal.

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03/04/2026

Good Friday.

Rare full day off and I chose to roast myself under the scorching sun at the Botanic Gardens. Questionable decisions aside, the greenery is doing its job. Nature is healing. Time to find some shade.

#38°c

02/04/2026

We often come across tips on social media suggesting that pressing certain acupoints can fix almost everything, from neck and arm pain to headaches, right up to insomnia. While I do incorporate some of these acupoints in my acupuncture practice, this is not something I would typically recommend to everyone. It is not in my nature to go along with trends by giving such advice. I find that simply pressing random points is more likely to leave you sore in more places, including the ones you just pressed. Specific aches and pains are your body’s way of signaling a particular issue. If your symptoms persist, it is best to seek proper medical attention.

You may have noticed I don’t dish out TCM Food Therapy (中医食疗) recommendations as well, despite how wildly popular and shareable they are. There are a few reasons for that:

1. I am not exactly passionate about food
2. Cooking and I are simply not meant to be
3. TCM Food Therapy is not my area of expertise
4. This is serious and important: not everyone can safely consume certain herbs, even when used in food. Please be duly informed

Health is not one-size-fits-all. What works for one person may not be suitable for another, which is why proper assessment and individualised care should always come first.

Photo by Kalei de Leon on Unsplash

29/03/2026

Finding joy in the everyday moments.

I was chatting with one of my patients this morning that, despite the demands of work and how drained I sometimes feel because of it, I still find a deep sense of fulfilment in what I do. There is a genuine joy in being able to ease my patients’ pain and discomfort, even if only a little at a time. Being able to solve their problems, seeing them leave feeling lighter, more at ease, or simply a bit better than before reminds me why I chose this path. I also cherish the small, human moments in between, the familiar faces, the casual chats, and the trust that builds over time. These simple interactions mean more to me than I sometimes realise.

Of course, work can be exhausting. There are days when it takes a lot out of me, both physically and emotionally, and I feel completely depleted. Yet, for now, the joy I find in these meaningful moments continues to outweigh the exhaustion. It keeps me grounded and reminds me that what I do matters.

And beyond work, I am grateful for the people who brighten my days. I am also thankful for the kindness of my patients, some of whom think of me even when they are overseas and bring back little gifts.

Thank you, E, for your thoughtfulness, for the lovely hairbands you brought back from Korea, and for remembering me even while you were away. These small gestures mean a great deal to me. I value your friendship very much, and I cannot help but feel that it was fate that brought us together.

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09/10/2025

Fortunately (or unfortunately for my boss), my Thursday morning schedule was rather empty. I was supposed to study a video of a TCM talk by a renowned lecturer my dad had sent me. Then at 9:10 AM, a patient called the clinic, and I told them to come by right away because I was so free today.

That was it. I said it. I completely forgot that I am never supposed to say, “I am so free.”

Since that comment, I have seen that patient and three walk-ins for treatment. So much for my quiet morning.

Still, the unexpected flow of the morning made me think about a friend I have known since I was a wide-eyed seventeen-year-old with a dinosaur pager, which basically means we have endured each other for almost thirty years. Ours is the kind of friendship where I can randomly send a “So how?” and receive a reply about the most mundane things. This friend would send little snippets about daily life, and we might stop chatting halfway without any reason at all. When my mood dips, they somehow lift it with the simplest message, such as sharing how much their sugarcane drink cost. Or that kopitiam's aunty's fifth nephew's sister-in-law's son is getting married.

We exchange small glimpses of our busy lives and meet for lunch once in a blue moon. It is a quiet kind of friendship, unhurried and steady, one that asks for little yet brings much comfort.

So how? Do you have a friend like that?

01/10/2025

I have always been inspired by the writings of Philip Yancey on the life of Dr Paul Brand. They remind me that true fulfilment is not found in acquiring more, but in giving and serving.

This spirit is beautifully reflected in the story of a doctor who left the comfort of Singapore to contribute her services in Thailand. I watched this video, amazed by how big her heart is.

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25/09/2025

Baby steps, in your own time. When you are ready.

Some things in life cannot be hurried. A baby’s first step is never the same for every child. Some are eager to walk before their first birthday, while others take their time, waiting until their parents begin to wonder when the moment will eventually come. In the end, each child finds their own way when they are ready.

It is the same with us. When you are ready, take that first step. It might be leaving the house, moving your body again, beginning the search for a new role, or daring to try something unfamiliar. Taking the first step may carry risks, but when you are ready, just go, and let each step guide the one that follows. The first step may feel uncertain, yet it does not have to be perfect. What matters is that it is yours.

Do not be afraid. There will be people around you, ready to give support when you need it. And you may be surprised by the strength and potential you already hold. When you are ready, move forward, and you will see the path begin to open before you.


Meet the resident cat at Active SG Clementi, and yes, the gym has Blippi on the TV for us.

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24/09/2025

Filter what you cannot remove.

Social media, especially from the West, often tells us to cut out toxic people. But what if that is not an option?


The liver cannot choose what enters the body. It breaks down harmful substances, filters blood, and neutralises toxins so they do not overwhelm us. In the same way, we sometimes cannot cut off difficult people, but we can learn how to lessen their effect.

The first step is not to take it personally. Their behaviour reflects their struggles, not your worth. From there, coping becomes a matter of filtering what you allow in. This might mean setting small boundaries, managing how much time you give, staying calm instead of reacting, or choosing which behaviours to ignore. Balancing this with support from positive people and a steady habit of self-care strengthens your resilience.

Just as the liver keeps working quietly in the background, we too can develop the discipline to filter negativity. We may not be able to remove toxic people completely, but we can stop their influence from taking root in us.

Facing a toxic person? WebMD outlines key signs and offers advice on setting boundaries or cutting ties to take care for your mental health.

23/09/2025

What do Korean dramas, running on the treadmill, and carrying the ache of something left behind have in common?

They are all the processes I found myself going through this morning.

With Korean dramas, I often watch the first few episodes, then skip ahead to the finale. I am too impatient to sit through the in-between. I need to know how it ends. Sometimes I circle back to the episodes I missed, but the feeling is never the same. The story has already leapt forward in my mind, and it is difficult to experience it with fresh eyes again.

Running is another process altogether. I honestly hate it. I would much rather play a sport, skip rope, or jump on a trampoline. But running is the most efficient way for me to train my heart and lungs. Being Singaporean, efficiency matters, so the treadmill has become my frenemy. I watch the numbers on the screen tick down, hoping time will move faster, grimacing through each passing second. To ease the torture, I balance my phone on the treadmill and lose myself in a K-drama, letting the story soften the grind of the run.

And then, there is the weight of absence. This process cuts the deepest. I know that things come and go in different phases of our lives, yet it is still painful. Tears welled as I ran, grief mixing with sweat. C’est la vie. I remind myself to learn from this, to hold on more carefully, and to carry forward what I can.

Processes. Some are to be savoured, like taking in the full beauty of a drama rather than skipping ahead. Some are to be endured, like running, with its soreness and discipline that strengthen me for the long run. Some, like loss, must simply be lived through, even when they are heavy.

Healing too is a process. It asks for patience, for time, for gentleness toward oneself. And though it may not come quickly, it does come. Like the closing scene of a drama or the final seconds of a run, there will be a moment when I look back and realise I have moved further than I thought. There will be lightness again, and with it, the strength to begin anew.

x

Photo by Henry Be on Unsplash

22/09/2025

Temperature: 31°C (radio says)
Real feel: Chilli crab in the wok
Humidity: 267%
UV index: Dangerous, max
Wind: What wind?

On a serious note, the heat is no joke. Remember to drink up and look after yourself.

21/09/2025

"It’s one of many unanswered questions about perimenopause—including what it really is and how it differs from menopause despite sharing signature traits. Perimenopause also has at least a hundred different associated symptoms, ranging from the debilitating—major depression—to the bizarre—itchy ear canals. Some women barely experience anything, while up to a third may endure years of escalating problems."

The transitional phase leading up to menopause is more than just a physical event; it's a dynamic period driven by fluctuating hormones that can affect the entire body. While perimenopause was once widely misunderstood, a surge in public discussion is now fueling scientific inquiry as researchers explore how these hormonal shifts inform a surprising range of symptoms, including changes in the brain.

Uncover the science behind perimenopause: https://on.natgeo.com/4px1D8g

21/09/2025

The short answer is “No.”

The long answer is “Unless your blood tests say so, still no.”

Nutritional experts cautioned against self-prescribing health or dietary supplements, highlighting risks of "megadosing" and interactions with medication.