Preserving Generations of TCM Wisdom Through AI Innovation

Heng Foh Tong has been featured in a recent article on Innovation Partner for Impact (IPI) Singapore — “Preserving Decades of TCM Knowledge: Heng Foh Tong’s AI Knowledge Assistant” — highlighting our journey to merge Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) heritage with artificial intelligence (AI) and digitalisation.

For nearly seven decades since our founding in 1957, Heng Foh Tong has served the community as one of Singapore’s last remaining traditional herbal dispensaries. Our family-run medical hall has long been guided by the wisdom and hands-on knowledge of our second-generation masters — expertise built through decades of diagnosing conditions, identifying herbs, and crafting personalised prescriptions.

Facing the Challenge of Knowledge Preservation

As our senior herbalists approach retirement, we recognised a pressing challenge: how can we preserve this lifetime of TCM knowledge for future generations? Much of this wisdom exists as tacit understanding — passed from teacher to apprentice through years of observation and experience. To safeguard it, we needed more than notebooks and manuals. We needed technology that could capture and preserve this deep expertise authentically and effectively.

Collaborating for Digital Transformation

With support from IPI Singapore, and in close partnership with the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) InnoHub and Republic Polytechnic (RP), Heng Foh Tong embarked on a digital transformation journey to build an AI-powered herbal knowledge system.

This system, developed from the ground up with our senior herbalists’ knowledge, uses voice-to-text and bilingual processing tools to document daily practices effortlessly. It integrates advanced Large Language Model (LLM) capabilities to analyse, organise, and retrieve information in natural language. Among its features:

• • AI-generated herbal concoction suggestions based on diagnosis and patient needs.

• • Intelligent herb replacement recommendations during supply shortages.

• • A RAG-based AI chatbot for internal knowledge queries.

• • Built-in approval checks to ensure accuracy and prevent AI hallucinations.

Modern Innovation, Traditional Roots

This digital system supports faster training, improves consistency in prescriptions, and ensures our heritage of healing can continue long into the future. It marks a new chapter where tradition meets innovation, balancing centuries of TCM wisdom with the tools of the modern digital era.

As our third-generation owner, Mr. Lee Chin Siong, shared in the feature:

“Now the information is captured digitally and includes all herbs and products available in the medical hall as well as special concoctions for various conditions. This collaboration has increased productivity, allowing for scalability and geographical mobility in the future. It has also solidified the company’s continuity where we can function as an authentic medical hall and herbal dispensary.”

Looking Ahead

At Heng Foh Tong, our mission remains unchanged, to serve our community through authentic Traditional Chinese Medicine rooted in trust, compassion, and knowledge. The integration of AI is not just an innovation milestone; it reflects our ongoing commitment to preserve and share the richness of TCM with future generations.

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to IPI Singapore, SIT, and Republic Polytechnic for their partnership and belief in our vision.

To read the full feature, visit the original article: “Preserving Decades of TCM Knowledge: Heng Foh Tong’s AI Knowledge Assistant.”