Acupuncture Foundation

Acupuncture has been practiced in China for three thousand five hundred years. It involves the stimulation of acupuncture points on the body by inserting thin, solid needles to give a therapeutic effect. These needles are generally to a depth of a half to one inch depending on the treatment being given. In Traditional Chinese Medicine terms acupuncture helps the flow of energy, or Qi, along meridians or pathways in the body to stimulate the body to heal itself. In Western medicine terms acupuncture likely works by stimulating the Central Nervous System to release neurochemicals to dull pain and boost the immune system.

To produce caring ethical practitioners who are fit to practise, and are competent to deliver the highest quality of care in their own practice. In order to do this, we provide the best quality in teaching and learning that is informed by professional and statutory body requirements, international standards and best practice in research. We provide a learning environment that is supportive of the needs of students and responsive to the wider community. We foster an evidence based approach to practice, critical thinking and reflection in practice to improve patient care.

We are committed to widening access to professional training and higher education by providing blocked taught and clinical sessions, supported by e-learning so that participants can gain a professional qualification while working and caring for their families. We encourage participation by mature students who may not have had the opportunity previously to enter higher education.

The World Health Organisation has recognised since the late 1970s that acupuncture is effective for treating a range of conditions including:

• Musculoskeletal conditions such as arthritis, neuralgia, insomnia, dizziness, and neck or shoulder pain
• Does it have an experienced faculty with teachers that have many years of experience teaching internationally as opposed to just one or two local teachers?
• Circulatory disorders (such as hypertension, angina pectoris, arteriosclerosis and anaemia); Respiratory disorders (such as emphysema, sinusitis, allergies and bronchitis)
• Gastrointestinal conditions such as food allergies, ulcers, chronic diarrhoea, constipation, indigestion, intestinal weakness, gastritis

Also the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the US released a consensus statement stating that acupuncture can be useful in treating a range of conditions such as treat addiction, headaches, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain, osteoarthritis, lower back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome and asthma.

In addition, Traditional Chinese Medicine theory also states that acupuncture is able to treat a wider range of conditions than those listed above

For those that are interested in taking an acupuncture course while continuing to work, it is important to know that you choose the correct one. Whether you are looking to change direction in your career or you want to expand your existing practise, we hope this site helps you answer some of the questions you might have:

• Does it have an experienced faculty with teachers that have many years of experience teaching internationally as opposed to just one or two local teachers?
• Does the school have a long history in teaching Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)?
• Does the college have any longstanding affiliations with internationally respected teaching centres such as the W.H.O. affiliated training centre at Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine?
• Are there positive testimonials from graduates, and are their graduates practicing within Ireland, the UK, throughout the EU and in Australia, Canada and US?
• Does it offer the full range of Chinese Medicine courses i.e. post graduate training in Chinese Herbal Medicine and Tuina (Chinese Herbal Massage) as well as acupuncture training?
• Is there a strong emphasis on supporting you in your learning?

We know that in can be difficult deciding which acupuncture school it the right one for you. We are confident that our acupuncture course is it the answer for you as The Acupuncture Foundation meets all above requirements.

The teaching staff at the Foundation represent many years of experience in all aspects of TCM and represent some of the best teachers available in the western world.

We have a strong local team of Senior Lecturers in Meridians and Acupuncture points and Clinical Supervision, many of them AFI graduates who are also successful practitioners, highly active within the professional sector. We also have a wonderful team of class assistants and student mentors.

To find out more about our acupuncture training check out the videos on our professional diploma in the practice of acupuncture below. These short videos are presented by one of our longstanding lecturers Ms Therese Parsons M. Sc. Lic. Ac. Dip. Herbs.