The spread of Acupuncture as part of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Acupuncture, a key component of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), has a long and fascinating history that spans thousands of years. Its use and popularity have evolved significantly over time, both in China and globally.
TCM in the form of Acupuncture goes back to the new Stone Age in China. That is 8000 to 3000 BC. The first comprehensive documentation of Acupuncture as an organised system of diagnosis and treatment appears in ‘The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine’ from the Han dynasty 206 bc-220 AD. This text established core concepts like Qi that remain central to Acupuncture theory today.
From its origins in China
Acupuncture gradually spread to neighboring countries: firstly,
- Japan
- Korea
- Then onto other Asian countries such as Vietnam, Sri Lanka and India.
Introduction to the West
In the west, Acupuncture first of all became known in Europe in
- Russia – which has a long tradition due, in part, to the long border between the USSR and China
- France in the 1500’s via Jesuits and travellers
- Germany
- England
- USA and Canada,
- At a similar time it arrived in Australia and New Zealand.
- It gradually spresad to other European countries such as Holland, Italy, Belgium, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Spain and Ireland.
Ireland
TCM Acupuncture, meaning Acupuncture practises as part of Traditional Chinese Medicine, was first introduced to Ireland by Professor Thomas Shanahan in the early nineteen eighties, when he set up practices in both Dublin and Galway. Professor Shanahan then went on to set up the first college of TCM in Ireland, the ICTCM, in order to meet the demand for highly qualified TCM professionals both in Ireland and the UK. The ICTCM is now in its 43rd year of turning out highly trained Professional TCM Practitioners, fulfilling its mission to continue to enhance the reputation and spread of TCM globally.
Learning Pulse Diagnosis at the ICTCM
Learning Pulse Diagnosis at the Irish College of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Chinese Medical Diagnosis
At this time of year, second year students start learning Pulse Diagnosis at the Irish College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ICTCM). Did you know that there are four distinctive ways of gathering diagnostically useful information in Chinese Medicine? These are referred to as Asking, Listening, Looking and Palpating. Pulse Diagnosis is part of Palpating (feeling).
Learning Pulse Diagnosis
Chinese Medical Pulse Diagnosis looks similar to, but is not the same as, “taking the pulse” in Western Medicine. It is one of the pillars of TCM Diagnosis and has been used in China for thousands of years. Chinese Medicine understands that the pulse, which is usually palpated at the radial artery on the wrist, can reveal important information about the internal state of the person’s Body, Mind and Spirit. It can assess the quality and quantity of their Five Vital Substances and the healthy functioning of their Zangfu. The TCM student is learning Pulse Diagnosis so that they can use it to assess a person’s health and diagnose imbalances. It provides a holistic insight into a client’s health.
Taking the pulse effectively requires plenty of practice. It is something students need to do repeatedly and which they will always be refining. When students are learning pulse diagnosis at the ICTCM they are encouraged to take as many pulses as possible whenever they can, to build up the sensitivity needed and discernment required to take the pulse effectively. Of course, in conjunction with refining their pulse-taking skills, they also have to learn and absorb a great deal of theoretical information about the significance of different types of pulse quality.
This diagnostic tool is invaluable in cases where a client cannot describe their medical problem clearly, does not speak the same language as the pratitioner or, for whatever reason, is unable to articulate or explain their situation. However, although Pulse Diagnosis is highly prized, the practitioner of Chinese Medicine will still use all the diagnostic methods available to them to build up a full picture before making a TCM diagnosis and carrying out a treatment – often using TCM Acupuncture.
Learning Pulse Diagnosis on the Lic.TCM Course
This is just one of many fascinating aspects of Chinese Medical Diagnosis that students learn at the Irish College of Traditional Chinese Medicine as part of the Licentiate in TCM. If you are thinking of studying TCM or TCM Acupuncture you should ensure that the course you choose includes Pulse Diagnosis.
If you would like to view our course syllabus you can find it at this link as well as general information about the Lic.TCM .
Students of Chinese Medicine 2024
Some of our new and returning Chinese Medicine students October 2024
The Irish College of Traditional Chinese Medicine’s 2024 Academic year has now started. It was our pleasure welcoming the Chinese Medicine students 2024 to our College in Dublin 3.
The new students had a busy two days in college.
Firstly they were introduced to the College itself including its ethos and aspirations.
Secondly they were introduced to some of the basis concepts of Traditonal Chinese Medicne. This included the Theory of Yin and Yang. During this, students learned that these simple labels represent a host of Chinese Medical understanding of health and illness.
Thirdly, all the students, spent a lot of the weekend practising Acupuncture Point Location. This is one of the essential practical skills of an Acupuncture TCM practitioner enabling them to learn the skills of quickly, efficiently and accurately finding where the Acupuncture points are located.
Students of Chinese Medicine enjoying learning Acupuncture Point Location
Accurate Acupuncture Point location is essential to ensure that, when the students are getting close to starting the Clinical Training in the third year of the course, they can practise needling the points safely. This is done under the supervision of a trained Clinical Teacher.
During the first weekend of this academic year, the new first year students met the second years. The Second years have already trodden the same path and are happy to share their advice and guidance.
The new students also met many, but not yet all, of our teaching staff. The rest of us in the Teaching team are looking forward to meeting them all in November.
In the meantime, the whole Irish College of TCM teaching and admin team want to say:
欢迎你们都来到爱尔兰中医药学院
Fáilte go Coláiste na hÉireann um leigheas Sínis traidisiúnta.
Welcome to the Irish College of Traditional Chinese Medicine
WELCOME
TO THE IRISH COLLEGE OF TCM
A lecture room waiting for our students to arrive.
As we kick off another exciting college year, we warmly welcome both new and returning students to the Irish College of Traditional Chinese Medicine. This new academic year brings fresh opportunities, challenges, and the chance to grow both academically and personally. Whether you’re joining the ICTCM for the first time or returning after the summer break, this is a time to embrace new beginnings.
For new students, it’s an occasion of exploration and adjustment. You’ll be navigating the academic world of college life. This is your chance to build lasting connections and shape your future in the world of TCM.
For returning students, welcome back! You’ve already shown resilience and dedication in your college journey, and now it’s time to continue pushing forward. Whether you’re approaching graduation or entering the next phase of your studies, this year brings new demands and possibilities to deepen your skills and knowledge.
We’re excited to see what you will achieve and how you will contribute to college life. Welcome to the new year, and best of luck from all at the Irish College of Traditional Chinese Medicine!
Applications are now closed for this year’s Acupuncture TCM Lic.TCM course. Applications for October 2025 will open in February.
Why the Irish College of Traditional Chinese Medicine was set up
Why the Irish College of Traditional Chinese Medicine was set up
When Prof Tom Shanahan first introduced Acupuncture Training in Ireland in the early 1980s, very few people had heard of Acupuncture, TCM or Chinese Medicine. The Irish College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ICTCM) was set up in 1983 to help satisfy the growing demand for safe alternative healthcare. It was the first college providing Acupuncture Training in Ireland and is devoted to the teaching of Chinese medicine, according to the Classical Traditions of TCM, giving students a theoretically-secure base for establishing sound clinical practice of Acupuncture and TCM.
Acupuncture and TCM are now at the forefront of alternative approaches to health and illness, focusing as they do, not only on treating and curing current illness but also on disease prevention and on health enhancement.
As more people are interested in finding a medical system that is natural, holistic and, in the hands of a well-trained and fully qualified Acupuncturist or TCM practitioner, safe, more students are seeking to join our College in Dublin to complete Acupuncture Training in Ireland.
Acupuncture Training in Ireland
Clinical trainees and Staff 2024
The professional Acupuncture and TCM body, The Professional Register of Traditional Chinese Medicine, provides further information about qualified practitioners on its website.
The ICTCM’s Mission Statement
Our mission is to enhance the reputation and spread of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). To this end we provide comprehensive theoretical and practical professional Acupuncture training in Ireland, during which Acupuncture is taught as part of Traditional Chinese Medicine. In doing this, we are helping to provide the public with fully trained, fully qualified and fully insured Acupuncturists in whom they can have complete confidence.
As our next 2024 Licentiate in Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncture training Course begins on the first weekend in October, we will be closing applications for this year’s course on 20th September. There is still time to make a late application, and you can find the prospectus pack here.
Can I study Medical Qigong at the ICTCM in Dublin?
Professor Xia our Medical Qigong Master with students studying Medical Qigong at the ICTCM in Dublin.
When people contact us at the Irish College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Dublin they often ask, “Can I study Medical Qigong at your College”? The answer is Yes, provided you are already a fully trained fully qualified practitioner of Acupuncture TCM. Because the College is a Chinese Medical college, the type of Qigong we teach is specifically tailored for use in the TCM Clinic. We run a number of intensive programmes in Medical Qigong at post-graduate level.
Some people, when they join us on the Licentiate in TCM Acupuncture Training course, already know that they really want to study Medical Qigong. At least one of our current Teachers was not specifically interested in Acupuncture Medicine per se but studied with us in order to be able to gain the necessary Chinese medical knowledge to become a TCM practitioner and then learn Medical Qigong. He is now in full time TCM practice using Acupuncture, Medical Qigong and Chinese Herbal Medicine according to the needs and requirements of each individual client.
Many Acupuncture TCM students only become interested in Qigong and Medical Qigong as they progress in their Acupuncture training and hear from the College Director, Professor Tom Shanahan, about the wonderful effects of Medical Qigong. He tells students about his experiences in China studying this specialist branch of TCM treatment at one of the top Chinese Medical Universities in China with a leading Qigong Master.
A number of TCM practitioners have recently qualified with us in Medical Qigong at Certificate level and Diploma level and you can read about this on the PRTCM website.
If you are not yet a qualified practitioner of Acupuncture TCM but are keen to be qualified to study Medical Qigong in the future, there are still a few places left on this year’s Licentiate in TCM. We will soon be closing applications for this Acupuncture training programme.
It is often possible to begin some aspects of Qigong training, as an additional option, even during the First year of the Acupuncture Course (staff availability permitting).
If you are already a fully trained TCM Aupuncturist and wish to know about our next Medical Qigong start date please contact us.
If you are interested in our short one or two day introduction to Qigong for Health and Wellbeing, which we will be running in the Spring (if not earlier) please contact us – send us your name and email address, and your reasons for wishing to study Qigong and we will inform you when the next workshops in Qigong are being run.
As one of the main Qigong and Medical Qigong teachers at the College it is always a pleasure for me to inform people about the transformative benefits that can arise from practising Qigong and using Medical Qigong with clients.
What is Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncture?
Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncture Treatment
Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncture is part of TCM which is a rich and sophisticated system of health and wellness that has been practiced for thousands of years. Acupuncture stands out as one of the most widely recognised and practiced treatment methods of TCM. Rooted in a holistic understanding of the human body and its interconnectedness with the environment, it offers a unique approach to healing and wellness.
The Philosophy behind Acupuncture
At the heart of TCM is the concept of Qi (pronounced “chi”). Qi flows through the body along pathways. According to TCM, illness and pain occur when the flow of Qi is disrupted or imbalanced. Acupuncture seeks to restore the harmonious flow of Qi by stimulating specific points on the body’s surface, known as acupuncture points.
By inserting thin needles into the Acupuncture points, Acupuncturists aim to unblock and balance the flow of Qi, thereby promoting natural healing and overall well-being.
The practice of Acupuncture
Acupuncture involves the insertion of extremely fine, pre-sterilised, stainless steel needles at predetermined acupuncture points on the body surface to restore internal health. Many of the most commonly selected points are on the arms and legs.
TCM Acupuncture can be used alone or combined with other treatment methods of TCM such as Moxibustion, Medical Qigong or Herbal Medicine.
Special features
One of the most outstanding features of TCM is that treatments can be tailored to fit the individual. Treatments are always unique, even if the medical conditions seem to be similar.
TCM is compatible with other systems of medicine, including Western Medicine and is frequently used alongside it.
In the hands of a fully qualified professional practitioner the use of acupuncture is entirely safe and free from harmful side effects.
If Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncture is something that interests you, you can learn more about the three year part time Professional Acupuncture Training programme. The Irish College of TCM has been running this course for over 40 years and starts a new group each year. Applications are still being taken for this year’s early October start date.
Becoming an Acupuncturist at the ICTCM
One of the things I most enjoyed when becoming an Acupuncturist at the ICTCM was the niche knowledge of TCM philosophy that I acquired. Another was the insight into all of the Acupuncture points especially the names and the Chinese characters. Also I really appreciated the help and guidance when setting up my own clinic in the third year of the Acupuncture training.
Taiji the Great Polarity
Niche knowledge – At the heart of TCM Acupuncture Training lies the richness of TCM philosophy, with its principles of Yin and Yang, Qi, and the Five Vital Substances. Delving into these ancient concepts, I found myself immersed in a world where the body is viewed as a dynamic ecosystem, interconnected and in constant flux. A whole new view of the world and nature began to form. The insight into how to live in harmony with it and to learn its way was something I found hugely fascinating and very beneficial in terms of personal growth. This knowledge is not yet widely known and in fact is becoming more difficult to find in modern times. I felt a deep appreciation to have found it and be given the opportunity to learn it.
Acupuncture points and their names and characters – The learning of the points and their precise location was challenging and indeed very demanding. However, what interested me was the names given to, and the characters used for, each individual point. These painted a picture of what they did within the body. The characters that are used in the Chinese language give clues to what the words mean or represent, which makes it difficult for the meaning to get lost in translation as time passes, as often happens in other languages.
Support in Setting up my own Clinic – I also found the help and guidance offered by experience staff in the clinical year, prior to setting up my own clinic, was very beneficial. This was something I had little knowledge about and greatly relied on the expertise of the clinical supervisors who guided me through the whole process. Getting to set up my clinic during the clinical year meant I had access to the support and help offered by the college as I learned the ins and outs of running my own business.
If you are interested in becoming an Acupuncturist at the ICTCM, applications are still being taken for the 2024 start in early October. Application forms can be found as part of the prospectus pack.
Congratulations to our new Acupuncture Graduates!
Congratulations to our new Acupuncture TCM graduates of 2024!!
The Irish College of Traditional Chinese Medicine is happy to have another set of 6 students pass through the college and emerge as Professional TCM Acupuncture Practitioners. We wish all of our newly graduated professionals the very best in their new practices and on their continued journey with Traditional Chinese Medicine.
This will be the 38th group of students to have graduated from the ICTCM in its 41 years as a teaching college. We at the ICTCM endeavour to share the wisdom of classical TCM so that as many as possible can benefit from this ancient treasure.
One of these recent graduates expressed his thanks to us as follows:
“I want to express my sincere gratitude to Professor Tom J Shanahan and The Irish College of Traditional Chinese Medicine faculty for their invaluable guidance and support throughout my study of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Your dedication to imparting knowledge and fostering a deep understanding of TCM principles has shaped my understanding of this complex field”.
Three of these graduates have also asked to be considered for our next Diploma level post graduate programmes. One person wishes to add Chinese Herbal Medicine to her TCM toolbox of treatment options and two are very keen to start the journey in Medical Qigong. We look forward to hearing from each of them so that we can feature their individual stories in future posts.
Once again, Well done and Congratulations to our new graduates of 2024. Let the adventure begin!
ICTCM Acupuncture Training Fee payment options
The ICTCM offers students several Acupuncture Training fee payment options to choose from. These options are tailored to meet the financial circumstances of all our students. Those who pay the annual fee in full before the date specified receive a discount. Installment plans are available for those without the resources to pay the whole fee in one go. There are several payment options to avail of for those who wish to spread their fee payments throughout the academic year. The fee installment options mean you can pay in either 2 equal installments or 4 equal installments over the course of the year.
If you are thinking of joining this year’s Acupuncture programme, which begins in early October, and would like to avail of the 4 payments option, please be advised that this option is not available to late applicants. It is advised you get your application in by the end of July to ensure this option is available to you.
After fees, there are very few additional costs. Other expenses would include one or two books per year, an examination fee at the end of second and third years and any resit fees if exams need to be taken again. At the end of the second year, you will need to purchase your own personal Clinic equipment to be used in the teaching clinic and afterwards in your own professional practice.
For details on fees, have a look at the fee information available in the online prospectus pack, it includes detailed information on discounts and installment plans.
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