I have had a problem with trembling hands for many years. I had thyroid about 10 years ago but have since recovered. I have gone for health screenings where the test results often return negative for thyroid.

I am concerned that the condition will worsen as I age. My maternal grandmother had thyroid, and so does my younger sister. Is thyroid hereditary and how can TCM help?

Some medical researchers have found that thyroid is hereditary and triggered by infection and/or emotional trauma, leading to a deficiency of T cells. These belong to a group of white blood cells known as lymphocytes, which kill infected cells.

This results in an over- or under-secretion of the thyroid hormone, thyroxine. Over-secretion of thyroxine will cause symptoms like weight loss, while under-secretion will cause slowed speech and impaired memory.

In TCM, it is likely due to internal damage caused by emotional stress and/or an improper diet, resulting in stagnation of qi, accumulation of phlegm and weak blood circulation.

Your trembling hands may not be due to thyroid if your thyroxine levels are normal. In TCM, tremors or muscular contractions of fingers and toes indicate a disturbance of pathogenic factors like 'asthenic wind', which is wind produced by the body due to weak organs.

Chinese medicine and acupuncture can improve your condition by regulating blood and qi circulation, strengthening tendons and vessels, as well as dispelling the pathogenic factors and phlegm.

Sufficient rest will produce more blood, and regular light exercise can help improve qi and blood circulation.

You should avoid emotional stress as it will weaken the immune system. Abstain from spicy and sour food to reduce frequency of mood swings.

My Mum is 79 years old and has been suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) for the past 10 years. She experiences stomach spasms every day, and painkillers do not seem to help. Can TCM treat her symptom?

IBS is considered a functional disorder. No identifiable physical abnormality or intestinal damage can be found in patients with IBS.

Rather, it appears to involve unusual sensitivity and muscle activity in the large intestine. This affects the movement of stool and gas through the intestines, causing a variety of symptoms to occur.

In TCM, one simple way to understand IBS is through the 5-Elements Theory. These elements comprise earth-type, water-type, wood-type, fire-type and metal-type.

IBS can be classified into categories from the characteristics of each element. For example, symptoms of earth-type IBS are loose stool, severe bloating and flatulence, with worry being the primary emotion.

IBS can be treated effectively with acupuncture and herbs. Depending on the type of IBS, different acupoints and herbal remedies are prescribed.

For severe stomach spasm, acupoints belonging to the liver and heart meridians are often selected for their ability to relieve pain and calm the mind.

A comprehensive check-up is also recommended to eliminate other possible conditions.

For question 1, information provided by Ms Lim Lay Beng, a TCM physician at YS Healthcare TCM Clinic in The Adelphi. For question 2, information provided by Mr Wu Yue, a TCM physician at Raffles Chinese Medicine.