Athlone Acupuncture Clinic - The Turning Point

15/09/2025

28/08/2025

🌿💚 Green Ribbon Campaign 2025 💚🌿
This September, the Green Ribbon Campaign invites us all to stand together to .
As part of the campaign, Shine Ireland is hosting a series of free lunchtime webinars every Wednesday in September. Each 60-minute session brings together expert voices and lived experiences to explore how stigma affects various aspects of life in Ireland — and how we can build more open and supportive communities.
📅 Topics include:
✨ Challenging Stigma in Health and Social Care – 3rd Sept
👉 https://events.teams.microsoft.com/.../583a6e66-e48c-4722...
✨ Addressing Stigma in the Workplace – 10th Sept
👉https://events.teams.microsoft.com/.../bee72b94-ad1b-4a28...
✨ Exploring Stigma in the Traveller Community – 17th Sept
👉https://events.teams.microsoft.com/.../e29f0f8d-72bf-4896...
✨ Discussing Stigma in Third Level Education – 24th Sept
👉https://events.teams.microsoft.com/.../0f650b36-2153-4bea...
🕐 Time: 12:30pm
📍 Online: Microsoft Teams
🔗 Register here: [Insert link]
Together, we can and create communities where everyone feels seen, supported, and included.
Wear the ribbon. Share the message. Start the conversation. 💚

12/12/2024

I highly recommend Maeve for anyone going through IVF or dealing with fertility issues, due to her struggles which eventually led to her giving birth to a healthy baby girl, she is a wealth of knowledge.

Fertility Issues Trying to conceive, struggling with infertility or in the process of IVF? Bio kinesiology can identify blockages which are preventing you from conceiving; from toxin issues, emotional blockages, inflammatory / immune issues or gut issues. Maeve is a wealth of knowledge when it comes...

19/11/2024

Courtesy of 'The Secure Relationship', some good advice.
"When you were growing up, did anyone ever help you learn how to feel your feelings?
It not, you might notice that you either stuff them down, get overwhelmed and act out on them, or alternate between the two. It doesn’t have to be that way. It’s possible to learn how to do feelings much more effectively, comfortably, and in ways that don’t end up harming you or your relationships."

04/11/2024

"I want to be clear that other people’s activated/protective/angry/controlling parts are protecting them and not us.

Other people’s parts can cause real damage to us (and to them, too), and creating boundaries of distance can be very Self led.

Yet, we can create these boundaries while still having understanding and compassion toward the other person, realizing it’s not about us but about their pain.

We do not need to hate someone or wish them harm to set boundaries. Love and boundaries can coexist.

Our boundaries are not about punishing the other person, but about caring for ourselves.

Sometimes, if a person’s parts are acting out against us, we may need to grieve an inability to be in relationship with them, but we can get curious about the pain underneath their actions.

Unfortunately, we cannot make another person get curious about their own suffering, but we can NOT allow it to cause us harm in body or mind."
Courtesy of 'The Ordinary Sacred'.

21/10/2024

This is a powerful exercise, courtesy of 'The Ordinary Sacred'.

"For example, in the past, a friend did something that felt very rejecting to my system.

Many parts in my inner family felt pain, and one wanted to immediately go to her to tell her how insensitive and cruel she was while another wanted to tell my partner all about the offense.

I realized, however, that things usually go better when I listen inside first, so I listened to the grievances of my raging parts inside and validated their unmet needs.

I asked to go to the young parts holding pain and held them lovingly.

Once all these parts felt seen and heard, they relaxed, and I felt calm and clear.

I no longer felt the need to rage or vent. Instead, I could speak calmly and concisely for my parts, without charge, and could advocate for my own needs.

This doesn’t mean I didn’t speak at all to my friend or my partner, but that I spoke FOR my parts rather than as my parts, which is a very different experience."

This is what Richard Schwartz calls “being our own primary caregiver.”

29/09/2024

16/09/2024

How does Guasha work with scar tissue?

Gua Sha is a traditional Chinese therapy that involves scraping the skin with a smooth-edged tool to promote circulation and healing. When applied to scar tissue, Gua Sha can help in the following ways:
1. Improves Circulation:

One of the main effects of Gua Sha is increasing blood flow to the targeted area. By enhancing circulation, more oxygen and nutrients are delivered to the site of scar tissue, which supports the body’s natural healing processes. Improved circulation can help break down scar tissue and facilitate the remodeling of collagen.

2. Breaks Down Adhesions:

Scar tissue often forms adhesions—bands of fibrous tissue that can restrict movement. Gua Sha’s mechanical action applies pressure and scraping along the skin, which may help break up these adhesions. This can improve mobility and reduce stiffness in the affected area.

3. Encourages Collagen Remodeling:

The physical scraping action stimulates fibroblast activity, the cells responsible for producing collagen. Scar tissue forms when collagen is laid down in a disorganized manner after an injury. Gua Sha can promote the remodeling of collagen, encouraging the fibers to realign in a more organized way. This helps reduce the thickness and hardness of the scar tissue, making it more flexible and less noticeable over time.

4. Reduces Inflammation:

Gua Sha has anti-inflammatory effects by stimulating microcirculation and reducing stagnation in the area. Scar tissue often leads to chronic inflammation, which can prolong healing and lead to pain and discomfort. The improved circulation and lymphatic drainage help reduce inflammation, allowing the tissue to heal more efficiently.

5. Promotes Lymphatic Drainage:

In addition to blood flow, Gua Sha encourages lymphatic drainage, helping to remove toxins and cellular waste products from the tissue. This can reduce swelling and promote a healthier tissue environment, further aiding in the breakdown of scar tissue.

6. Stimulates the Nervous System:

Gua Sha activates the body's sensory nerves, which can modulate pain perception. Scar tissue can cause nerve entrapment or irritation, leading to pain or discomfort. By stimulating the nervous system, Gua Sha may help reduce pain sensitivity around the scar tissue and support nerve regeneration.

7. Releases Stagnation:

From a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective, Gua Sha is believed to release "stagnation" or blocked energy (Qi) in the body. Scar tissue is seen as a form of stagnation, where energy and blood are not flowing properly through the tissue. Gua Sha helps to restore the flow of Qi, which is thought to encourage the natural healing process.

8. Softens Scar Tissue:

Over time, Gua Sha can soften hardened or raised scar tissue (such as hypertrophic scars or keloids) by breaking down excess collagen. This can improve the texture and appearance of scars, making them less rigid and more pliable.

9. Reduces Pain and Sensitivity:

Gua Sha may also help reduce the hypersensitivity that often accompanies scar tissue. The technique helps desensitize the area and reduce associated pain by stimulating both superficial and deeper layers of tissue.

Overall, Gua Sha is a natural and non-invasive way to improve the appearance and flexibility of scar tissue, promote tissue healing, and relieve discomfort. It’s most effective when combined with other therapies, such as acupuncture or manual therapy, to address scar tissue from multiple angles.

14/09/2024

The Eight Extraordinary Vessels For Emotional Healing

Transformational acupuncture integrates the psycho-emotional healing of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians with Medical Qigong practices and Focusing. This combination can help address and transform the emotional blocks and outdated beliefs we carry from childhood. Our system often suppresses emotional pain to keep us safe and functioning, but in doing so, we also exile important parts of ourselves. The only path to authenticity is to allow our wounded parts to be seen, heard, and valued.

With over 20 years of consistent practice in both Buddhist and Daoist Qigong spiritual traditions and 18 years of practicing acupuncture in my clinic—where I also lead guided Focusing meditations and teach Mindfulness practices—I have incorporated insights from these methodologies into a treatment that combines these approaches. Clinically, I have found the Eight Extraordinary Meridians to be deeply transformative for emotional healing and personal growth.

The Chinese name for these meridians is Qi Jing Ba Mai, Qi Jing is the vital circulation Qi and it translates as extraordinary, miraculous, psychic or marvellous. They are the deepest part of who we are, inner pathways to wholeness, our core self that has never been damaged. These meridians have the potential to serve as conduits to activate one's purpose in life, helping us realign with our true self, so we can live more authentically. Working with these channels can help us to clear blockages with the aim of transcending societal expectations and early conditioning so we can make a start on a path that is more aligned with our innermost values and aspirations.

A Blueprint of Authenticity

Many people struggle with anxiety, depression, and a sense of disconnection because they have drifted away from their authentic selves. The extraordinary meridians can help us identify and release these emotional blocks, allowing individuals to reclaim their identity and regain confidence in pursuing their goals with a sense of purpose.

Let's Delve Into the Meridians

The Chong Mai

This central channel is the first to form at conception as we develop into a fetus in utero. It represents the blueprint of our authenticity, core identity, and true self. Known as the "Great Avenue," the Chong Mai enables us to interact with others without deviating from this authenticity and carries the curriculum for this lifetime. It can help release deep-seated emotional patterns that prevent us from living authentically, promoting a sense of self-acceptance, self-worth, and purpose.

The Ren Mai and Du Mai

The "Conception Vessel" and "Governing Vessel," respectively, these meridians are the pathways of the original Yin and Yang, representing the microcosmic circuit in Qigong practice. Treating these channels can help clear emotional blockages related to maternal and paternal influences, including early attachment issues that contribute to insecure attachment styles. Treating the Ren meridian can foster self-compassion, healthy bonding and relationships, whereas a healthy Du meridian can foster clarity in purpose, and the ability to assert oneself with independence.

Yin Wei and Yang Wei

These "Linking Vessels" bridge past experiences to present awareness, facilitating insights and personal growth. They help individuals integrate lessons from the past with gratitude and to move forward confidently.

Yin Qiao and Yang Qiao

Known as the "Heel Vessels," these meridians strengthen one's stance in life, enhancing self-assurance and resilience. They enable individuals to establish healthy boundaries and navigate interpersonal relationships with confidence.

Dai Mai

The "Belt Vessel" addresses issues of repression and emotional conflict, particularly around the abdomen. It aids in releasing past trauma and creating psychological boundaries, empowering individuals to embrace their journey towards healing and self-acceptance.

The first treatment lasts 90 minutes, allowing us to explore which of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians is needed. We begin by incorporating elements of mindfulness to help the mind settle. Then, after inserting the needles to activate one or two of the meridians, using a combination of Medical Qigong healing practices and Focusing, I will guide you to bring your awareness inward, helping you experience your inner energy system and any emotional blockages that may be calling for attention.

06/09/2024

"It can be difficult for many of our parts to go toward pain (their job is to escape or suppress pain after all), so it can be helpful to propose a small experiment of going toward the pain, with curiosity and compassion, for just 2 minutes.

Asking the pain how old it is (and waiting for a number to arise, even if there’s no response - some parts do not want to give their age, and you can just be with their pain), can help us understand that We are separate from the pain and can give loving attention to it.

In IFS, this moment when we realize we are not one but many parts and a loving witness/Self, is called “unblending.”

Getting an age can help us give age-appropriate comfort - for example rocking for an infant, a self-hug for a toddler, or patient, nonjudgmental listening for a teen."


Courtesy of 'The Ordinary Sacred'