According to the 2012 Second WHO Global Survey, 80% of countries recognised the use of acupuncture.
The use of Traditional Chinese Acupuncture in hospitals continues to spread, with at least 5 UK hospitals providing dedicated clinics where treatments are provided not by Western trained medics but by TCM Acupuncturists.
As you can see from the comparison on the picture above, the acupuncture needles are extremely fine, therefore some patients feel little or nothing from the needle insertion. Others experience some mild discomfort when the needle is manipulated to achieve De Qi – the sensation that actually defines what the acupuncture point does. This discomfort is only brief and patients find that once the needles are in, it is a very calming, pleasant and relaxing experience.
So, the most that people experience is a dull ache around the base of the inserted needle, or a slight tingling feeling when the needle is inserted. Points at the extremities, like toe or finger ends, can sometimes be a little sharp, but the sensation is usually brief.
Always ensure that you get treatment from a qualified and registered practitioner so that you are certain that he or she is fully competent and well trained in the needling techniques to optimise your treatment experience.
Answer by the British Acupuncture Council:
Acupuncturists insert very fine needles at precisely located points to connect with your body’s qi. They will decide which points are right for you after a detailed consultation covering every aspect of your health and lifestyle.
The aim is to direct the flow of qi to trigger your body’s healing response and to restore physical, emotional and mental equilibrium.
Treatment is designed to affect your whole being as well as your symptoms so, as the condition being treated improves, you may notice other health problems resolve and an increased feeling of wellbeing.
Acupuncture points are located at precise places along interconnected pathways that map the whole body, including the head, trunk and limbs.
If you want to have a look at research about acupuncture points, please check: “researchers have discovered an anatomical structure located at acupuncture points“.
The most commonly used acupuncture points in the clinics are located on the lower arms and legs. There are also points in the tummy and the back that are commonly used, depending on the patient’s condition.
The practice of acupuncture in Ireland is self-regulated – like in many other EU countries. For example, in the UK, the largest regulatory body is the British Acupuncture Council. The BAcC is a member of the Accredited Register scheme run by the government backed Professional Standards Authority.
Here in Ireland, the Department of Health & Children has established a Consultative Forum with a number of Associations representing Acupuncture/TCM and other practitioners of Complementary Medicine with a view to establishing a framework for regulation and a report is now gone to Government.
The Acupuncture Foundation Professional Association (AFPA) is the longest established independent professional register of acupuncturists and practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Ireland. The AFPA was established in 1987 and is responsible for the regulation and maintenance of a Register of Acupuncturists who work within the guidelines set out in 2006 by the Department of Health and Children. Members are graduates from many Colleges in Ireland and abroad and are all bound by a Code of Ethics and Practice which is strictly enforced by the AFPA.
One of our clinicians – Sandro Graca – currently sits in the Executive Committee of the AFPA.
Members of the AFPA are also recognised by the European Traditional Chinese Medicine Association – an umbrella organisation for professional associations that represent different fields within Traditional Chinese Medicine. The ETCMA’s main purpose is to promote the wider recognition and acceptance of TCM therapies by European governments and the public.
Siobhán Seville is from Rathfarnham, Dublin. Being a mother of four, she was always looking for a more natural way of treating her children’s as they were growing up – which was how Siobhán came across Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Siobhán is the Co-Founder and Co-Director of TCM Ireland alongside Sandro Graca – their work and expertise has made TCM Ireland a recognised and reputable entity in the field of acupuncture for fertility, IVF enhancement and pregnancy care in Ireland.
Sandro Graca is a graduate of the Irish College of Traditional Chinese Medicine and of the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. Sandro is still studying, currently doing the MSc in Advanced Oriental Medicine with the Northern College of Acupuncture and Middlesex University.
Originally from Portugal, Sandro moved to Ireland in 2004 and established successful Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine clinics in Santry, Maynooth and Trim.
Sandro was the first Acupuncturist in Ireland to be granted membership of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.
Recently, Sandro took a position on the Board of Directors of the Obstetrical Acupuncture Association.
