Acupuncture

针 灸 Acupuncture

We Care!

Your natural approach to health.

Sterile clinical procedure

All acupuncture needles are for single use (disposable) and pre-sterilised by approved methods. The use of acupuncture and TCM in the hands of a fully qualified professional practitioner is entirely safe and free of any harmful side effects.

• Frequently Asked Questions:

  Please click to find the answer. If you have any other specific questions, please feel free to contact us.

• What to expect from a treatment?

  The first consultation takes approximately 50-60mins and will consist of an in-dept evaluation of the presenting condition and a full medical history.

  Treatments are specific to each individual and therefore similar problems in different people may well require very different treatments.

  An examination of the tongue and the pulse will be carried out and a brief physical examination, where necessary.

  The entire proceedings are safeguarded by total confidentiality.

  The practitioner will then decide on the appropriate treatment method: acupuncture and/or other therapies (if necessary).

  Although some people will experience the changes in their condition straight after the initial treatment, it is recommended that you should follow up the initial treatment with at least a few more sessions to achieve longer lasting benefits.

  Subsequent treatment sessions will last around 30 minutes.

  The condition will be re-evaluated at each treatment and the recovery time will depend on the severity of the presenting condition (acute or chronic), the individual’s response to treatment and the length of time that the complaint has been there for.

  Depending on the above, a practitioner would usually see the patient once a week or once a fortnight.

• Does acupuncture hurt?

  The acupuncture needles themselves are very fine (0.30mm or less), unlike the needles used for injections and blood tests (0.50mm or more).

  There is little sensitivity to the insertion of acupuncture needles.

  The more relaxed (not tense) the patient is, the less will he or she feel from the insertion of the needle(s).

  While some people feel nothing at all, others experience a brief moment of discomfort as the needle penetrates the skin. That can be followed by a mild sensation of tingling, numbness, dull ache, or heaviness.

  The needles are left in place for about 15-20 minutes. Most people find the experience extremely relaxing and some people even fall asleep for the duration of the treatment.

  Some sensations might last for a while even after the treatment is over but again, different people will experience this in different ways.

• Is it expensive? Do I have to go to a lot of treatments?

  That depends on the prognosis. If you have a chronic condition (serious) or a condition that has been there for a long time, then it is only normal to expect that there will be a few more treatments. But the same thing applies to taking medication, or going for physiotherapy, for example.

  If you go to a GP or a Consultant and you’re diagnosed with a serious condition, then you can expect to be put on medication (probably strong) for a relative long period of time, or at least until you get better. Same with physiotherapy: if your condition / symptoms are strong or have been there for a long period of time, then you can expect more treatment sessions.

  Regarding costs: as registered licensed acupuncturists, we are regulated by the respective associations, which set the standards and the recommendations for the medical fees. In the TCM Ireland clinics, the medical fee is €50.

• What is the difference between "acupuncture" and "acupuncture for fertility"?

  Acupuncture for fertility is a speciality field of acupuncture. To become a recognised member of the Acupuncture Fertility Network, acupuncturists have to complete Gynaecology, Endocrinology, Pregnancy and Obstetrics studies. Obviously, this extra study hours also include IVF treatment protocols so that the practitioner can adjust the acupuncture treatments to the fertility clinic’s protocols to the benefit of the patient(s).

  A lot of research has been done and published in the field of acupuncture for fertility. The most outstanding one, known as “the German study”, was published in the reputable journal of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine “Fertility and Sterility” in April 2002.

  In the study, half of the women received standard IVF, the other half were given acupuncture treatments before and after. In the acupuncture group, 42.5% of patients became pregnant, while in the IVF-only group, 26.3% of patients conceived.

  Since then, other studies have been conducted and published, showing that acupuncture can:

  • Improve sperm quality and counts in infertile men;
  • Improve the lining of the endometrium, including increased blood flow to the uterus;
  • Regulate hormone levels, specifically gonadotropin-releasing hormone, which in turn may improve ovulation rates;
  • Help the treatment of women with PCOS and anovulatory cycles;
  • Help those with thyroid problems (as problems with the thyroid can lead to problems with fertility);
  • Increase the number of follicles produced during an IVF treatment.

• I'm pregnant. Can I get acupuncture treatment?

  Yes, of course! In fact, nowadays, with the developments with studies and research published in medical journals, we get a lot of referrals from GPs, Midwifes, Consultants, etc.

  One of the practitioners that we had the privilege of studying with, Dr Debra Betts PhD, is a midwife and an acupuncturist – and the main responsible for the development of acupuncture during pregnancy. Because it doesn’t “add” anything to your body and because there’s no side effects from the treatments, acupuncture (in the hands of a licensed practitioner) is safely used from early pregnancy all the way through to preparation for labour, birth and post-natal recovery.

• Can babies / children get acupuncture treatment?

  There are no age restrictions for acupuncture treatments. Any person of any age can get treatment and what will change is the treatment procedure and protocol in order to adjust / adapt to the patient’s age.

  

  child-acupuncture-needles

  We were looking for help to answer this question and we thought that this picture of young Libby Gray (www.acupuncture-cheltenham.co.uk), getting acupuncture treatment does speak loud about how acupuncture is safe, painless and kids of any age can get it!

Why Choose Our Clinics?

• 

  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.

  Read more →

• 

  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.

  Read more →