"What does TCM internal medicine actually deal with? Does my situation count?" It is a question that comes up often. The phrase sounds broad enough that people end up unsure whether they qualify.

This article does not give a list of conditions we can handle — under Malaysian regulations that list cannot be written, and should not be. It is about what a TCM internal medicine consultation actually covers, set out as 5 directions, so you can judge whether your situation is worth bringing.

I. First: "internal medicine" describes a method, not a list of diseases

In TCM, internal medicine broadly means consultations worked through internal methods — understanding the whole situation by taking a history, with the practitioner deciding the internal approach (mainly herbs) after assessment — rather than through external therapies like acupuncture or cupping.

It is a classification about approach, not about disease. That distinction matters:

• It does not mean a given condition can be treated. For anything already diagnosed by a doctor, follow your doctor's diagnosis and treatment.
• It describes a way of understanding the body — taking sleep, digestion, energy and mood together as one picture.

II. The 5 directions a consultation covers

Whatever you most want to discuss, a practitioner will generally ask across all five:

• Digestion and eating — appetite, how you feel after meals, bowel habit, bloating.
• Sleep — falling asleep, waking at night, waking early, daytime energy.
• Energy and stamina — whether you tire easily, when it is most noticeable, whether rest restores it.
• Mood and stress — recent changes, the pace of work, ongoing tension.
• For women, the menstrual picture — cycle, and changes around it.

You may only want to talk about one of these. The practitioner will still ask about all five, for a simple reason: within the TCM framework they are treated as connected, and looking at one alone is how you look at it wrongly.

III. What to bring here, and what to take to a doctor first

This table deliberately does not match symptoms to remedies. TCM is not a self-assessment quiz — that judgement is the practitioner's work, after a consultation.

A note: this section is general information only. For conditions like these, follow your doctor's diagnosis and treatment, and seek medical attention when you need it.

IV. Situations that need extra care

• You take prescribed medication, especially for a chronic condition, and blood thinners in particular. Make sure both your doctor and your TCM practitioner have the full picture, and never stop or adjust a prescription on your own.
• You already have a firm medical diagnosis. TCM care is a layer added on top, not a layer swapped in.
• Pregnancy, confinement or breastfeeding. Herbal care needs more caution — say so first.
• Children and older adults. Metabolism and tolerance differ from an average adult; use herbs under a practitioner's guidance.
• You also take supplements, or herbs a family member gave you. Mention those too. The practitioner needs to know what you are actually taking.
• Things are not improving, or new symptoms appear. See a doctor for tests rather than relying on TCM alone.

V. Fitting it into life in Malaysia

• Don't throw away the company health screening report. Blood results and imaging, mentioned at the consultation, save the practitioner from guessing.
• Mamak suppers and irregular meals. Just say it as it is. Eating rhythm is part of what gets asked, not something to be corrected on.
• The herbal soup your family cooks. That is part of everyday eating and not the same as a formula written for you. If you have both, say so.
• Ramadan or festive-season changes to your routine. A period when your schedule shifts substantially is itself worth mentioning.
• Write down what you want to raise. A consultation has limited time, and a written list beats recalling on the spot — see what to prepare before an online consultation.

In closing

✅ Worth remembering:

1. TCM internal medicine is a classification of approach (internal methods), not a list of diseases.
2. A consultation covers digestion, sleep, energy, mood and the menstrual picture — all five.
3. For anything already diagnosed and under treatment, the doctor leads; TCM sits alongside.
4. Anything needing tests or imaging to confirm — see a doctor first.
5. Whatever medication or supplements you take, say so.

❌ Do not:

1. Expect a list of "what TCM can cure" — that is not how internal medicine works.
2. Stop prescribed medication on your own because you have started TCM care.
3. Push on without investigation when things are not improving.

👉 If you are unsure — "does my situation fit a TCM internal medicine consultation?" — you are welcome to bring it to an online consultation with HansMed, where a practitioner registered under the T&CM Act 2016 can assess it with you.

Sit with a licensed TCM practitioner from wherever you are.

HansMed Modern TCM

「医师，中医内科到底是看什么的？我这个情况算不算？」这是不少读者常问的问题。「内科」两个字听起来很大，反而让人不确定自己该不该来。

这篇不列一张「我们能处理的疾病清单」——那样的清单在马来西亚的法规下不能写，也不该写。这篇讲的是中医内科的问诊实际会涵盖哪些方面，整理出 5 个方向，让您判断自己的情况是不是适合先来谈一谈。

一、先分清楚：内科指的是问诊的方式，不是一张疾病清单

在中医里，「内科」大致指的是以内治法为主的一类问诊——也就是透过问诊了解整体情况，由医师辨证后决定合适的内治方向（以中药为主），而不是以针灸、拔罐这类外治法为主。

这是一个关于方法的分类，不是一个关于疾病的分类。这个差别很重要：

• 它不代表能处理某某疾病。已经由西医诊断的疾病，请以西医的诊断与治疗为主。
• 它代表的是一种了解身体的方式——把睡眠、消化、精神、情绪当作一个整体来看。

二、问诊通常会涵盖的 5 个方向

不论您最想谈的是哪一件事，医师大致都会问到这几个方面：

• 消化与饮食：食欲、餐后感觉、大便情况、有没有胀气。
• 睡眠：入睡、夜醒、早醒、白天的精神。
• 精神与体力：容易疲倦吗、什么时候最明显、休息后能不能恢复。
• 情绪与压力：最近的生活变化、工作节奏、有没有持续的紧绷。
• 女性另加经期情况：周期、经期的身体变化。

您可能只想谈其中一项，但医师会把五个方向都问一遍。原因很简单——在中医的理论框架里，这些是互相关联的，只看一项容易看偏。

三、一张表看懂：什么适合先谈、什么需要先看西医

这张表刻意不写「什么症状对应什么调理」。中医不做自我对号入座——判断是医师问诊后的工作。

小提醒：本段仅为一般知识说明。相关情况请以西医的诊断与治疗为主，并在需要时及时就医。

四、这些情况要特别小心

• 正在服用西药：尤其是慢性病药物与薄血药。请让您的医生与医师都掌握完整用药情况，切勿自行停药或自行加减。
• 已有明确的西医诊断：中医调理是加上去的一层，不是拿来替换的那一层。
• 怀孕、坐月子或哺乳中：用药需要更谨慎，务必先说明。
• 儿童与长辈：代谢与承受度与一般成人不同，请在医师指导下用药。
• 同时在服用保健品或家人给的药材：请一并说明。医师需要知道您实际吃进去的是什么。
• 情况持续没有改善，或出现新的症状：请及时就医做检查，不要只靠调理。

五、大马生活里怎么安排

• 公司年度体检的报告别丢：血液报告、影像报告，问诊时一并说明，医师就不必靠猜。
• mamak 宵夜与不定时三餐：如实说就好。饮食节奏是问诊会问到的内容，不是要被指正的事。
• 家里长辈煲的药材汤：那是家常饮食的一部分，和医师开的方不是同一件事。两边都在用，请说明。
• 斋戒月或年节期间的作息变化：作息大幅改变的时期，本身就是值得提的资讯。
• 先把想谈的事写下来：一次问诊时间有限，写下来比临场回忆完整。做法可参考：线上问诊前该准备什么。

结语

✅ 记住这几点：

1. 中医内科是关于方法的分类（以内治法为主），不是一张疾病清单。
2. 问诊会涵盖消化、睡眠、精神体力、情绪、经期五个方向。
3. 已由西医诊断并治疗中的疾病，以西医为主，中医是辅助。
4. 需要检验或影像才能确认的情况，先看西医。
5. 正在服用任何药物或保健品，请如实说明。

❌ 不要这样做：

1. 不要期待一张「中医能治什么」的清单——那不是中医内科的运作方式。
2. 不要因为开始中医调理就自行停掉西药。
3. 不要在情况持续没有改善时还硬撑着不做检查。

👉 如果您不确定「我这样的情况，适不适合先来中医内科谈一谈」，欢迎透过汉方中医的线上问诊，由依 2016 年 T&CM 法令注册的医师为您评估。

无论身在何处，与持证中医师对坐。

汉方现代中医