From acupuncture to Traditional Chinese Medicine, hypnotherapy, gong baths, Reiki energy healing and more — here’s your ultimate guide to alternative therapy in Hong Kong.
We’d like to think therapy isn’t quite a hush-hush topic anymore! It’s crucial to make our health and wellness a priority and sometimes, you just need a little more help. Lucky for us, Hong Kong is packed full of great alternative therapy resources, from mindfulness and meditation to sound healing like gong baths, Traditional Chinese Medicine, art therapy, Reiki energy healing, acupuncture, hypnotherapy and more.
Whether you’re looking to drop an unhealthy habit, support your ongoing conventional therapies or just looking for a little emotional guidance — this guide to alternative therapies in Hong Kong will help you find the best alternative wellness resource to make you feel better.
Jump To:
Reiki Energy Healing In Hong Kong
Acupuncture In Hong Kong
Art Therapy In Hong Kong
Gong & Sound Healing Baths In Hong Kong
Hypnotherapy In Hong Kong
Mindfulness & Meditation In Hong Kong
Traditional Chinese Medicine In Hong Kong
Other Alternative Therapies In Hong Kong To Consider
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Editor’s Note: Alternative therapy is in no way meant to replace conventional Western medicine and traditional scientific techniques. You must always consult your doctor if you are unsure, and to make sure, that the alternative techniques will not impact or hinder your regular medicine or prescriptions.
Alternative Therapy In Hong Kong
Reiki Energy Healing
Originating in Japan, Reiki (“rei” meaning ‘universal’, and “ki” meaning ‘life energy’ in Japanese) is an alternative therapy based on energy healing. Using energy transferred from the palms of the hands, Reiki healers focus on seven chakras (energy points/gates) on the patient’s body to help with the flow of energy. Some practices also use crystals to help balance the energy of the patient and also the healing space. Reiki techniques such as Siam Reiki are thought to go deeper into a more spiritual level.
What it can help: This alternative therapy is thought to help with chronic pain, anxiety and depression, as well as a complimentary therapy in the treatment of cancer and heart disease among other benefits. It’s also believed to be a preventative therapy for certain health issues.
Read More: Everything You Need To Know About Crystal Healing
Where To Go For Reiki Energy Healing In Hong Kong
Shakti Healing Circle — Holistic wellness centre offering Reiki energy healing, shamanism, hypnotherapy and more
This award-winning wellness centre takes a holistic approach to your well-being, helping you heal at every level imaginable: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. For 16 years, Shakti Healing Circle has been helping individuals awaken their “shakti” (power!) to transform themselves inside out — empowering you to manage everyday stress, become comfortable with yourself and achieve peace of mind. The most popular offering is the hands-on Reiki energy healing sessions (where you’ll receive energy healing from the practitioner) and classes teaching all levels so you can heal yourselves and others, as well as training for those who wish to teach Reiki.
Shakti Healing Circle, 1206-1207 Yu Yuet Lai Building, 43-55 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong, 2521 5099, www.shaktihealingcircle.com
Where Else To Go For Reiki Energy Healing In Hong Kong
- Alive Wellness, www.alivewellness.hk
- Balance Health, balancehealth.com.hk
- Central And Stanley Wellness, www.stanleywellnesscentre.com
- Corie Chu Healing, coriechu.com
- The Vitality Centre, vitalitycenter.com.hk
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Acupuncture
Many swear by this ancient technique! An alternative therapy that’s a core part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), acupuncture works by inserting very thin needles through the skin at different points on the body to help alleviate physical pain and psychological ailments. The principle is to facilitate free-flowing energy and balance your Qi (life force) by removing any blockages in the main pathways (meridians) in which it flows.
What it can help: A wide range of ailments from migraines to back pain, insomnia, allergies and more.
Read More: Physiotherapy, Chiropractors, And Osteopaths In Hong Kong
Where To Go For Acupuncture In Hong Kong
There are many great centres and clinics across the city offering acupuncture, the below suggestions are to get you started.
- Here’s a list of public hospitals that offer acupuncture, including Hong Kong Baptist University training and research clinics and more
- Alive Wellness, www.alivewellness.hk
- Balance Health, www.balancehealth.com.hk
- Dr Susan Jamieson Integrative Medical Practice, www.drsusanjamieson.com
- Gleneagles TCM Clinic, gleneagles.hk
- The Chinese Medicine Clinics and Pharmacy at HKU SPACE, hkuspace.hku.hk
- Integrated Medicine Institute (IMI), www.imi.com.hk
- Master Ruth TCM Clinic, www.masterruth.com
- Oriental Health, www.orientalhealth.com.hk
- Perfect Pointe Physiotherapy, www.perfectpointe.com.hk
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Art Therapy
Unlock your deepest thoughts through this creative alternative therapy. Used by mental health professionals, art therapy will engage your body, mind and spirit through art, and provide a new platform to express your thoughts and inner feelings. Using kinaesthetic, sensory and symbolic techniques, it’s a great practice for anyone who struggles to open up verbally.
What it can help: Cognitive and sensory-motor functions, boosting self-esteem, strengthening emotional resilience, improving social skills and resolving conflict and distress. It can also help with anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and more.
Read More: Art And Crafts Team-Building Activities
Where To Go For Art Therapy In Hong Kong
- Wild at Art Studio, wildatartstudio.com
- It’s also worth contacting a member of The Hong Kong Association Of Art Therapists, hkaat.com, or the Expressive Arts Therapy Association of Hong Kong, www.eatahk.org
Read More: 8 Habits To Improve Your Mental Health
Gong & Sound Healing Baths
Be bathed in sound waves from hypnotic instruments. Gong baths are an ancient form of music meditation that is thought to date back thousands of years. This alternative therapy works on the theory that the noise and vibrations lower your brainwaves’ frequency, helping your mind slow down, focus, clear and become more in tune with your own energy.
You’ll lay on the floor with your eyes closed while a practitioner gently hits a gong. It may start with a gong sitting at the front of the room, followed by the practitioner holding the gong (or other instruments) over your head and other areas of your body to allow the vibrations to take effect. Tibetan singing bowls are also used in sound healing baths, along with other instruments.
What it can help: Reducing stress, removing emotional blockages and even stimulating an altered state of consciousness.
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Where To Go For Gong Baths And Sound Healing In Hong Kong
- Alive Wellness, www.alivewellness.hk
- bowl.therapy HK, www.instagram.com/bowl.therapy
- IKIGAI, www.ikigai.hk
- Red Doors, www.red-doors.com
- Shakti Healing Circle, as mentioned above
- Sound Therapy Hong Kong, www.facebook.com/soundtherapyhk
- The Yoga Room, yogaroomhk.com
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Hypnotherapy
Using words, sometimes accompanied by music or other sounds, hypnotherapy creates a deeper (and heightened) state of consciousness. Once in this relaxed state, a therapist helps by offering gentle positive suggestions to replace old, and more destructive thought patterns. Research carried out by the Stanford University School of Medicine found that hypnotherapy alters areas of the brain and can aid “the brain’s ability to heal medical and psychiatric conditions.”
What it can help: Behavioural issues, stress and anxiety, phobias, quitting smoking, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and even stage fright! There are numerous other purposes for which this alternative therapy can be used.
Where To Go For Hypnotherapy In Hong Kong
- Alive Wellness, www.alivewellness.hk
- All About You Centre, www.allaboutyoucentre.com
- Balance Health, balancehealth.com.hk
- Central And Stanley Wellness, www.stanleywellnesscentre.com
- Mind Your Brain, book here, www.mindyourbrain.education
- Renewed Edge Hypnotherapy Centre, www.renewed-edge.com
- OT&P – Oliver Smith
- Shakti Healing Circle, as mentioned above
- Vitality Centre, vitalitycenter.com.hk
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Mindfulness & Meditation
Similar to hypnotherapy, it’s been shown that meditation can alter the neural pathways in the brain to help create more positive and focused experiences. Practised for thousands of years, this alternative therapy helps clear and quieten the mind, resulting in improved focus.
Rather than emptying the mind, mindfulness helps us to focus more thoughtfully on singular actions or feelings. From brushing your teeth to having a cup of tea, this practice helps you to learn how to be more present, live in the moment and appreciate the world around you.
What it can help: Reducing stress and anxiety, improving creativity, enhancing performance, aiding self-awareness and increasing attention spans. Meditation can also help blood pressure, improve sleep, memory and more.
Where To Practice Mindfulness In Hong Kong
- Hong Kong Center For Mindfulness. www.mindfulness.hk
- Kadampa Meditation Centre. www.meditation.hk
- Mindish. www.mindish.com
- Michelle Harris International. www.michelleharrisinternational.com
Read More: Hong Kong Meditation Centres – Studios For Every Technique
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a huge all-encompassing alternative therapy with many branches and a very long history. The main principle behind TCM is treating the body as a whole, including when diagnosing and treating an illness. TCM believes that prevention is the best cure.
TCM diagnosis is as intensive as the prescription and involves looking, listening, smelling (yep), questions and checking the pulse. Therapies include acupuncture, moxibustion (the burning of burning dried mugwort on certain points on the body), tui na massage, cupping and/or scraping, Chinese herbs and more.
It’s worth reading GovHK’s information on TCM.
What can it help: Digestive health, anxiety, IBS, infertility, arthritis, insomnia, depression, chronic pain, in fact, there’s not much that this alternative therapy doesn’t hope to treat!
Where To Go For Traditional Chinese Medicine In Hong Kong
- Here’s a list of Public Health Chinese Medicine Clinics
- Balance Health, balancehealth.com.hk
- Integrated Medicine Institute (IMI), www.imi.com.hk
- Oriental Health, www.orientalhealth.com.hk
- The Body Group, thebodygroup.com
- The Chinese Medicine Clinics and Pharmacy at HKU SPACE, hkuspace.hku.hk
Read More: Breathwork 101 – Your Guide To Optimal & Healthy Breathing
Other Alternative Therapies To Consider
- Aromatherapy
- Ayurvedic Medicine And Homoeopathy
- Bowen Technique
- Crystal Healing And Gemstone Reading
- Reflexology And Facial Reflexology
- Music Therapy
- Yoga
Read More: The Best Yoga Studios & Classes In Hong Kong
Editor’s Note: “Alternative Therapy In Hong Kong” was originally published by Alex Purcell Garcia and most recently updated in April 2023 by Team Sassy.
This article contains editorial selections and paid partnerships.
Main image courtesy of Arina Krasnikova via Pexels, image 1 courtesy of Antonika Chanel via Unsplash, image 2 courtesy of Shakti Healing Circle, image 3 courtesy of Antoni Shkraba via Pexels, image 4 courtesy of Rifqi Ali Ridho via Unsplash, image 5 courtesy of Conscious Design via Unsplash, image 6 courtesy of Mikhail Nilov via Pexels, image 7 courtesy of Alena Darmel via Pexels, image 8 courtesy of RODNAE Productions via Pexels, image 9 courtesy of Anastasia Shuraeva via Pexels.