Introduction to Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Column in the Erris Eye

Posted on: Wednesday, January 08, 2020

Acupuncture is not just sticking needles into people. It's part of a coherent and observation based medicine that experienced practitioners have handed down over the centuries. I have been practicing acupuncture for 5 years now and own The Mayo Acupuncture Clinic practicing in Ballina at Mulligan Massage Clinic (upstairs at Rouses Jeweller's) and in Castlebar's Kachina. I became interested in acupuncture when a friend experienced wonderful results with serious digestive problems.

I went along to an acupuncturist in temple bar to see what it was like. I left the acupuncturist and I remember thinking am I floating? There was a strong sense of calm and deep relaxation that I remember was an unfamiliar feeling to me at the time. My sleep improved even though I hadnt known I had problems with my sleep at the time. My digestion improved too. I realised that I had some kind of uncomfortable awareness in my stomach that had also now been resolved, I was so used to being uncomfortable I didnt even know it wasnt normal. So I started using acupuncture for my every day health concerns.

I found my way to the Lansdowne college of acupuncture and chinese medicine. I trained for 3 years with Dr. Vincent Carrol. I qualified and practiced for a few years before heading to Vietnam to study acupuncture in the Hanoi hospital of tradition medicine. One of the things that stood out to me while studying acupuncture in Vietnam is that some of the practices that seem so foreign to us is like water to a duck over there. Acupuncture and chinese medicine is not seen as strange over there. It is seamlessly woven into every day life.

In this column I will be introducing you to some of the amazing wealth of healing methods that have come from ancient China all the way down to the present day.

Karena Mc Namara has recently opened a clinic in Ballina and can be found at Mulligans Massage Clinic on Pearse St., upstairs at Rouses Jewellers across from Mocha Beans. Call her on 0879918514 for any enquiries