[Top: 'Tree-gong' instructor Thomas Kwan and Ms Lucinda Law rub their hands to improve energy flow in the body.]

EVERY Saturday morning, freelance writer Lucinda Law, 31, and her group of friends can be seen at the Botanic Gardens putting their hands close to trees and plants, and closing their eyes in meditation.

They are actually performing an exercise known as "tree-gong".

Not to be confused with qigong, the traditional Chinese discipline of circulating energy within the body, "tree-gong" is rooted in the Tao Te Ching (a classic Chinese philosophy text) and ancient Chinese principles of energy flow, said Ms Law's instructor, Mr Thomas Kwan.

The 50-year-old said that the energy from plants and trees aids the human body in "getting rid of 'congestion' that makes us feel unwell".

After practising it for more than six months, Ms Law says she feels "completely different in mind, body, soul and emotions".

She feels recharged and, while she used to be a night owl - frequently staying up until 5am - she now finds herself falling asleep easily by midnight.

Indeed, while some may dismiss "tree-gong" as another New Age wellness practice with little scientific proof to back it, more and more young people like Ms Law are increasingly aware of the benefits of traditional Chinese healing methods.

In fact, she goes for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapy whenever she feels under the weather, and avoids antibiotics as much as possible.

Because of TCM's long history, many turn to it for reprieve from illnesses that may mystify Western doctors.

Said Dr Hong Hai, a professor at the Nanyang Business School and a registered TCM practitioner: "The TCM philosophy is that the human body functions in accordance with its surroundings.

When a person is healthy, it means his body is at peace (and) in balance with the natural surroundings.

"It's a more holistic paradigm of health, compared with Western medicinal philosophy, which is more disease-focused." Mr Arthur Chua, 41, credits tuina - acupressure massage - and foot reflexology for relieving his chronic back pain.

Said the art director-cum-set designer: "I believe that tuina definitely helps in blood circulation and qi energy flow. It unblocks the bodies' natural passages that are strained through daily stress and work."

Ms Tracy Phillips, Zouk's marketing manager, also prefers such Chinese holistic methods to keep the doctor away.

The 30-year-old finds tuina, foot reflexology and Chinese herbs, on top of other homeopathic treatments, effective as she takes only "one day of MC a year".

When asked about TCM's relevance, she said: "Centuries ago, we were more in tune with our bodies. We understood the connection between mind, body and spirit, and treated ourselves accordingly.

"Western medicine is just grasping that now, like how stress affects the body, leading to high blood pressure and cancer, among other diseases.

"Some doctors are suggesting meditation to complement given medication, so it's evident that these methods are relevant."

rachchan@sph.com.sg

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