What does an Acupuncturist do?

Pulse Diagnosis in the ICTCM Clinic

By definition, Acupuncture involves the piercing of the skin by a needle. So, the simplest answer to the question “What does an Acupuncturist do?” is, “they insert needles into a person (or animal)”.

Why is this done?

As the word “Acupuncturist” comes from the field of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) the objective is to treat a medical condition. Thus, a Chinese Medical Doctor, whose main treatment specialism involves the use of fine needles to treat a patient, is called a TCM Acupuncturist and the title would only be used to refer to a fully qualified Chinese Medical practitioner of Acupuncture. The doctor would make a diagnosis of the patient using all the specialist methods of TCM and would then select the appropriate Acupuncture points to needle in order to treat the patient.

In China, if the patient is a human being they will be treated in a Chinese Medical Hospital or Clinic. Animals would be treated by Veterinary Acupuncturists.

So are all Acupuncturists in Ireland, the UK, and other parts of Europe, fully trained practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine?

No. Those who have trained at an established and reputable college, such as the Irish College of TCM (ICTCM), will have studied intensively for 3 academic years to learn all the necessary theoretical knowledge and practical skills of Chinese Medicine that are required to safely and effectively treat patients with real medical conditions. They are fully trained practitioners of TCM and may refer to themselves as TCM Acupuncturists or Practitioners of TCM Acupuncture.

Is this the same as a Western Medical Acupuncturist?

No. Most Western Medical Doctors, nurses and Physiotherapists who say they use Acupuncture have only completed a short introductory course in Chinese Medicine and use the insertion of needles as an adjunct to their Western Medicine treatment. They make a diagnosis according the principles and theories of Western Medicine.

Some Western Medicine (WM) professionals, such as those who have trained at the Irish College of TCM, are Chinese Medical Acupuncturists as well as being WM Doctors or nurses.

We will answer more questions about TCM, Acupuncture and Training to become a TCM Acupuncturist in our next post.

Please note: the next academic year at the Irish College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Dublin begins on 1 & 2 October 2022 and we are currently accepting applications for our TCM Acupuncture Training programme.

Have you thought about Acupuncture as a career? During the events of recent years many adults are reviewing their life choices and thinking of training for a new career. If you are considering a career in medicine you might wish to consider TCM Acupuncture as a profession. Here at the ICTCM we train adults in Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) so that, after an intensive period of part time study, they are fully trained, fully qualified and fully insured to treat clients using TCM Acupuncture within the Traditional Chinese Medical system.

You can view the details of our professional TCM Acupuncture training programme here.

From start to finish you can be fully qualified in a period of about 2 and a half years.

We are able to do this because the sole focus of our programme is to provide our students with a solid base of Traditional Chinese Medical understanding of health and illness and Clinical competence in TCM Acupuncture Medicine. We do not give our students sample tastes of many different “Alternative” medicine approaches. Nor do we offer Acupuncture Training in which the diagnosis and treatment is made using the Western Medical model of illness. Rather, we focus on developing competence and confidence in treating patients in one specific medical modality which has stood the test of time over more than 2000 years, namely TCM Acupuncture. At the end of 2 and a half years you will have a very comprehensive and deep understanding of your chosen profession. You will not be a “Jack of all Trades and Master of none”.

TCM Acupuncture medicine includes not only the use of Acupuncture itself but also Moxibustion, Cupping and Chinese medical Life Style and Dietary advice. These are all taught on our Licentiate programme.

We are currently interviewing suitable applicants for places on our next training programme which begins in October 2022, so, if you are thinking of changing career we would like to hear from you. Our Prospectus can be reached here and includes an Application form, Fee information and a summary of the Licentiate in TCM (Lic.TCM) Acupuncture Training.

The Lic.TCM qualification provides entry to the oldest TCM professional body in Ireland, and full professional insurance for practice in both Ireland and the UK. We pride ourselves on setting and maintaining high standards for ourselves and our students. We accept applicants who wish to achieve a high level of both under-pinning knowledge of TCM and confidence and competence as a Chinese Medical Acupuncturist. This does, of course, require commitment and hard work. However, the programme is organised in such a way that it can be successfully studied by busy adults who are wishing to change career – provided they have the interest and determination to succeed. The link here gives detailed information about the differences between various types of Acupuncture and Training.

“As a fully trained, professional and insured practitioner of TCM Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine and Medical Qigong, and teacher at the ICTCM for more than 30 years, I feel privileged to be in a field in which my work contributes to people’s health and well-being. I also value being part of an ongoing transmission of a more than two thousand year old medical tradition. The whole study of TCM is fascinating and encompassing and I look forward to welcoming you to join us.” (Mary, Registrar).