AI & Chinese Medicine?

As someone who has been resistant to using AI (artificial intelligence) for pretty much anything (the resources it uses! Ugh!), I can’t believe I’m going to say this: some AI tools can be super helpful for supporting and caring for patients remotely, especially during a time when access to healthcare is becoming more and more challenging.

Of course, not all AI tools are created equal, so I attempted to do a little comparative research on what’s available. I hoped to see how they align with how I practice, if access was easy, and weighed in cost effectiveness. Sadly, I discovered that there really aren’t that many AI tools that focus on East Asian medicine worth looking at. Though, I did discover one that I really like, and have been recommending to patients and friends ever since. Klaros.ai.

Klaros is really easy to use (all you need is a phone or computer with wifi & camera access). The information is easy to understand, and the AI is friendly (but not TOO friendly) to interact with.

Klaros.ai uses a quick questionnaire and a photo of your tongue to gather essential data. Once it reads your tongue (a key diagnostic measure in East Asian medicine (EAM aka TCM - Traditional Chinese Medicine) you’re presented with a “health score” - my current score was 68%/100%. Yikes, but not too surprising.

Next, you get your EAM diagnosis - mine was “Spleen Qi Deficiency with dampness but no pathogenic excess.” (whew!)

Then it explains the findings, including a very specific breakdown of your microbiome, followed by some symptoms you might be experiencing (it was spot on for me, btw).

From here, you are asked if you’d like to answer a few more questions (do you fall asleep easily, is your face puffy, are you taking any medications, does your back or tummy feel better with pressure…) to get your next steps.

Then you’re asked for an email address for your findings and recommendations to be sent to you (but only once you opt in later to save your progress). FTR, I love that they don’t send me a bunch of spam to buy the supplements or to sign up for any other services.

In addition to supplements and herbal recommendations, you also get simple dietary recommendations (some foods to add, foods to avoid, teas to drink, spices to cook with) and lifestyle recommendations like qi gong, mindfulness and breathing practices, walking after meals.

Another thing I like about this AI is that you do not get more than three supplement recommendations. And even better that they are brands that I offer to my patients in my clinic/via Fullscript.

My one complaint is that the supplements can be a little pricey - not a big ask for high grade herbal and digestive products, but still. Klaros attempts to reconcile this by providing a discount code you can enter at checkout for 5% off (they gave us GOODWITCH). All in all, not a bad investment when you consider how when unchecked, wellness can change without proper care.

So, is AI right for everyone? I can’t speak for you, but as a practitioner who is suspicious of AI-at-large, I am happy to use and to refer patients to Klaros. Especially when options for office visits are limited. I felt comfortable with the minimal personal information I had to share. I felt the feedback and recommendations were solid and firmly rooted in EAM. And it’s fun hearing about what my tongue says about my body. I also like that results can be easily woven into existing treatment plans for my existing patients, or can be stand alone care plans for patients who have yet to establish care with a Licensed Acupuncturist.

Learn more or experience Klaros.ai for yourself here or schedule a complimentary 15-minute consultation with a real person to discover how EAM and regular acupuncture treatments can enhance your quality of life, with or without AI.

* AI is in no way a substitute for medical care. If you are having an actual medical emergency, please dial 911 or seek out medical care ASAP