How old is Traditional Chinese Medicine?


 

China has one of the oldest known medical systems in the world. The actual historical origins are extremely ancient and therefore understandably obscure and vague. There are many myths and legends of warriors who were pierced in various parts of their bodies by spears or arrows and that ailments mysteriously disappeared.

 

We can gain a little insight into just how old it may be however, through various archaeological finds. In the seventies, Archaeologists discovered stone needles that dated as far back as between 8000 and 5000 bc. Archaeologists believe these were used as some sort of primitive Acupuncture. Later examples of needles were made from different materials, bamboo and bronze, there are some excellent examples still in existence from the XIA dynasty which was 2205 to 1176 bc. 4500 years ago.

The HAN dynasty which dates between 206 BC to 220 AD was a period of concentration in TCM terms – when there were a lot of compendiums and encyclopedias written about Chinese medicine. Some of the most basic and fundamental texts were written in this 400 year period and these reflected all the medical knowledge going back further than when written records were invented.

If you would like to learn more about this ancient medicine we will be taking applications for the  Acupuncture Training course 2024 intake from January. You can also find the course prospectus on the ICTCM website. 

 

2023 Acupuncture training applications closing soon


The next TCM Acupuncture training programme begins on the weekend of 7 and 8 October 2023.

The course is now nearly full so we will be closing applications soon. If you are considering making a late application you are advised to phone the Irish College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ICTCM) on: 01 8559000 to check if any places are still available.

This three year, part time training programme in TCM Acupuncture provides a rigorous grounding in TCM theory. Clinical trainees undergo intensive, competency-based, training and assessment during the third year. Details of the course are available on the website.

Acupuncture Training at the ICTCM College in Dublin 3 and via Zoom.


Some of the 2019 students and staff outside the College in Dublin 3

Some of the 2019 students and staff outside the College in Dublin 3

 

Acupuncture Training at the ICTCM College in Dublin 3 and via Zoom. We are looking forward to seeing our new first year students on the weekend of 7th and 8th October 2023 for the start of the new Lic.TCM Acupuncture Training group. Some places are still available and we are still accepting applications and arranging Zoom interview for suitable candidates. The closing date for TCM Acupuncture Applications for this Academic year is 15th September 2023. If all the places are filled before this date suitable late applicants will be placed on a waiting list.

Teaching in the First and Second years. In the First and Second years there are 12 teaching weekends a year, starting in October and finishing in the following July. Dates are set in advance and students are required to attend all the sessions and be present in person. About a third of the First year sessions are held in College in Dublin. These are devoted mainly to developing practical point location skills which are essential for future Clinical Training in the third year.

About the same amount of time is spend in College in the Second year. This is mainly skills-based training and also includes training in other Clinical skills such as Pulse Diagnosis and Tongue Diagnosis. We have small student groups which enables us to provide individual point location and clinical skills feedback face-to-face.

Most of the TCM Theory curriculum is currently delivered via Zoom. These are taught sessions and students need to attend in person on the specified training weekends, via Zoom.

Information about how the Clinical Training year is delivered will follow on our next News post.

Acupuncture Course in Ireland 2023


The Irish College of Traditional Chinese Medicine’s Acupuncture Course, run in Ireland – the Licentiate in TCM – trains students in TCM Acupuncture. Students learn to diagnose and treat clients using the underpinning theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). This is far more comprehensive and all-encompassing than learning Acupuncture alone.

As is said on the College Website:

“The Acupuncture practitioner uses the ancient and well-established principles and theories of Chinese Medicine to diagnose and treat the client. These are exclusive to Chinese Medicine. They do not rely upon other medical systems or diagnostic methods, such as those used by Western Medical Practitioners.

A person who is working as a Practitioner of TCM Acupuncture can be referred to as an “Acupuncture TCM practitioner”, a “TCM practitioner specialising in Acupuncture” or a “Chinese Medical Acupuncturist”.

Other TCM treatment options are available to the Chinese Medical Acupuncturist including Moxibustion, Cupping, Dietary therapy and Life style advice. These treatment methods are all taught as part of our professional TCM Acupuncture Training Programme, the Lic.TCM.”

The next group of students on this part time 3 year Acupuncture Course start in October this year, 2023, some places are still available and an Application form is available on the website.

Acupuncture Course 2023


Students on the TCM Acupuncture Course at the ICTCM in 2022

Here at the Irish College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ICTCM) in Dublin 4, just off East Wall Road, we have been successfully running Professional Training Courses in Traditional Chinese Medicine since 1983.

The TCM Acupuncture Course 2023 begins this year in early October and we are now accepting applications for the next intake (our fortieth). The Acupuncture Prospectus is available online and provides an Application Form, fee information and a Summary of this three year part time programme.

The Licentiate in TCM is a professional qualification which enables graduates to set up in practice as a TCM practitioner specialising in Acupuncture.

Further detailed information is available on our website, including the course structure and syllabus.