Healing-code An Essential Guide to improving your Health

For some time now many have contacted me asking for my recommendation for acupuncture training in the UK and Ireland. It is now with great pleasure that I can announce my official affiliation with Dr Vincent Carroll and the Landsdowne College of Acupuncture and Complementary Medicine based in Ballsbridge, Dublin, Ireland.

I have known Dr. Carroll since 1998, when I was first diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and I have always had an enormous amount of respect for his knowledge, compassion and huge integrity.

As a Medical Doctor as well as a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine Dr. Carroll’s knowledge and experience is comprehensive and spans both Eastern and Western medical disciplines. This is of significant advantage for any students undertaking the program. Like myself, Vincent is a graduate of University College Dublin, and he has worked in a number of hospitals rotating through the various specialities. Dr. Carroll has also worked at a senior level in the Irish Health Service for many years.

Landsdowne College was founded in 1996 and as well as offering a Diploma Course in Acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine also offers a certificate in clinical medicine to graduates of other colleges who may not have had opportunity to adequately study western medicine. This is in keeping with the college's aim of multidisciplinary practice and safety.

The emphasis of the college is on teaching the student to attain a high level of skill in the practice of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. Encouragement and practical advice are given on establishing a successful acupuncture clinic. A comprehensive curriculum in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Clinical Medicine is taught in an encouraging atmosphere which not only teaches the skills necessary to practice, but also to do safely due to the comprehensive training in Western Clinical Medicine. The aim of the College is for the graduate to have high ethical standards where the welfare of the client is of prime importance. The College, before accepting any student on the course must be satisfied that he / she will agree to abide by a code of ethics which is the same as the code of ethics of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Council of Ireland.

Considering the exceptionally high teaching standards, the entire three-year course fee of €6,400 (£4,250) represents remarkable value for money and prospective students are actively encouraged to sit in on existing course weekends prior to making their final decision to pursue the course.

If you are considering making acupuncture your profession I personally recommend that you achieve this by training with Dr. Carroll.

The Diploma in Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine is a three year part time course which is scheduled to start later this year. There are thirty teaching weekend sessions during the course and students who successfully complete training will be awarded a Diploma in Acupuncture. Graduates will be encouraged to obtain membership of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Council of Ireland. Students will be expected to involve themselves with home study groups which will be organised by the College. These groups, when combined with work assignments help to develop the student's knowledge and thereby allow the student to become more familiar with the theory and practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Graduates will be expected to follow a clinical apprenticeship for six months upon the successful completion of the final term. They will work closely under the direction of the college director and have access to college facilities. The graduates will be expected to meet regularly as members of the College's post-graduate clinical club, which will provide a forum for the presentation and discussion of case histories. Further experience will be gained and confidence will be built up while starting a private practice. The college director and academic staff will be available to offer guidance and professional advice to newly qualified practitioners during the first year following graduation. Graduates will be encouraged to maintain links with other graduates through professional registers and academic societies.

The aim of the students training is a practice conducted in a safe and professional manner. The curriculum consists of theory and practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the location and function of acupuncture points and the Western Medical Sciences. The course follows closely the approved text books so as to facilitate learning and an emphasis is placed on practical work. In the final year of study, case histories, patient diagnosis and patient treatments will predominate.

The first ten teaching weekends consist of basic Traditional Chinese medical theories, elementary diagnosis and developing a knowledge of the location and function of most of the acupuncture points. Approximately 40% of these weekends will consist of the Western Clinical Medicine.

The next ten weekends develop upon the basic Chinese medical theories learned in the first module and also complete the study of outstanding acupuncture points. Case histories, patient diagnosis and Chinese herbal remedies are introduced. Approximately 20% of these weekends are devoted to Western Clinical Medicine.

The final ten weekends are practical and encouragement is given to students to develop diagnostic skills. Point location is covered again. Students are guided in the methods of obtaining case histories, identifying Chinese medical patterns and formulating needle prescriptions. An emphasis is placed on the Chinese patent remedies to enable final year students to combine herbal preparations with acupuncture for the common conditions so as to boost the potency of treatment.

Home study is important and during the course various work assignments are given and corrected. This allows the tutor to individually assess the progress of students and identify areas of developing weakness so as to give opportunity to offer additional tuition and encouragement to remedy areas of knowledge deficiency. The final exam will lead to the awarding of a Diploma in Acupuncture by the College. If the Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association suggests any changes to the curriculum the College will endeavour to comply as the ultimate aim of each student ought to be to gain admission to the Association.

The course starts in September. Kindly fill in the application form and we will contact you to arrange a meeting. The course fee is €6,400 spread over eight instalments. The first instalment is not due until after the first teaching weekend, so as to allow you the full opportunity to participate without committing to the course. It is essential that you are satisfied this course is the one that meets all your expectations. You are also warmly encouraged to meet more senior students and graduates to help you decide about the course. We can happily arrange this for you.