Image credit: Lianhe Zaobao
Snap a photo of your tongue with your phone, answer a few simple health-related questions, to uncover insights about your physical condition.
This is one of the new AI-powered products developed by Synapxe. The main feature is the integration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) tongue diagnosis with big data models, allowing users to assess their health condition directly from their smartphones.
The app, named "Synseh" (pronounced similarly to "sinseh," the colloquial term for a TCM physician), is currently in the proof-of-concept (POC) stage. With just a photo of your tongue and completion of a brief questionnaire, the app quickly generates a personalised report. The report will identify your body constitution type and provide personalised advice on diet and daily routines.
From TCM to data analysis. Is this modern-day fusion a dream come true?
Data analytics and AI expert, Ong Yan Chun, is one of the key developers of the "Synseh" app. Before delving into data science, she was a licensed TCM practitioner with two years of clinical experience. Since young, Yan Chun developed an interest in nutrition and later turned to TCM due to frequent sports injuries during her time on the track and field team. In university, she pursued a double degree in TCM and biological sciences at Nanyang Technological University.
After practising at a local TCM clinic for two years, Yan Chun realised that technology could improve healthcare, for instance, by using AI for triage to reduce workload. She then enrolled in data science courses, merging her medical knowledge with data science to embark on the digital transformation journey.
During the interview, the reporter challenged her. First, she was tasked to conduct a diagnosis using traditional TCM methods like observation, listening, questioning, and pulse-taking. Afterwards, the reporter tried the Synseh app for comparison.
Behind this seemingly simple process lies extensive research and repeated testing by a dedicated development team. The development team collaborated closely with lecturers and practitioners from the Singapore College of Traditional Chinese Medicine to annotate tongue image features such as cracks, teeth marks, and red spots. These annotations were then evaluated by senior TCM physicians to build a comprehensive database.
TCM massage combined with diagnosis - "EMMA" empowers TCM practitioners to focus more on treatment
“Many people confuse TCM massage with regular massage. “Tui Na” is a therapeutic massage rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine, whereas regular massage is typically for relaxation. The two are actually quite different.”
During the interview, He Jingyi noticed the reporter’s enthusiasm for a "relaxing experience" and made sure to clarify this distinction first. He Jingyi is a practising TCM physician currently pursuing her Ph.D. Her recent three-year doctoral research focuses on how the AI-powered TCM massage robot “EMMA” can enhance TCM treatment efficacy.
The EMMA “Tui Na” robot was developed in 2015 by Dr Zhang Yizhong and his AiTreat team. Since its deployment in 2017 at Xin Yi Guan TCM Clinic, it has performed over 100,000 “Tui Na” sessions. He further explained that AI applications in TCM may seem limited because many assume TCM is too traditional to align with technology.
“In China, AI is already widely used in TCM. For example, students from established TCM physicians' clinics are inputting their mentors’ diagnostic expertise into big data systems, allowing AI to replicate their thought processes. The results have shown that diagnoses made by AI and master TCM physicians are remarkably accurate and closely aligned.”
So, what benefits does this AI-powered “Tui Na” robot offer patients? How does it differ from traditional TCM?
Lin Huimin, a co-founder of EMMA and also a practising TCM physician, pointed out that EMMA can detect muscle tension changes during treatment and automatically adjust pressure if the patient finds it too strong. Additionally, it compares muscle conditions on both sides of the body and generates a diagnostic report based on acupoint responses, assisting TCM practitioners in planning follow-up treatments. Finally, unlike human therapists, EMMA doesn’t tire out, and its pressure is computer-controlled, making it ideal for repetitive “Tui Na” techniques, reducing the physical strain on TCM practitioners.
He Jingyi emphasised that EMMA isn’t meant to replace “Tui Na” therapists. Complex techniques and follow-up treatments still require the traditional TCM practitioner. Unlike traditional “Tui Na” sessions, where patients describe their symptoms and improvements subjectively, EMMA provides measurable data, allowing for better tracking of treatment progress and outcomes
