I featured on Joe Duffy's TV show, "Spirit Level" which was on RTE 1 from January 3rd until February 7th 2010. You can view it here.

Joe Duffy's Spirit Level RTE

Part 1 - 5

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImDF6Bd4R7A

Final Part

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ye3ac-zuvQ

I have also been featured on RTE's "The Health Squad" and on a TV3 news feature on complementary medicine. 

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Newspaper Articles

The seven they retained, all published since 2002 and carried out in four Western countries, involved 1,366 women. In all the trials the women were given acupuncture immediately before or after the test-tube embryo was transferred to their wombs. All the acupuncture sessions lasted 25 to 30 minutes.

In British Medical Journal online, the team reports that almost all these trials reported positive findings. Taken together they showed a 65 per cent increase in establishment of pregnancy, an 87 per cent increase in continuing pregnancy, and a 91 per cent increase in live births.

All these results were statistically significant, measured by the criterion of odds of less than one in 20 of having come about by chance. But the team says that these figures overestimate the benefits, since success rates even without acupuncture are relatively high.

It is more realistic, the report says, to measure the results on a “number needed to treat” basis. This is the method that assesses how many women need to be treated to achieve a single extra pregnancy — and the answer is ten.

Even on this basis it is a striking result, especially as nobody has any idea why acupuncture should be having this effect.

Professor Edzard Ernst of Peninsula Medical School in Plymouth said: “On the face of it these results sound fantastic. I would, however, be very cautious as much of the observed effect could be due to a placebo response. IVF may not seem to be ‘placebo-prone’ but it probably is: if women expect it to be helpful they are more relaxed which, in turn, would affect pregnancy rates.”

Success rates in IVF vary greatly from clinic to clinic, and the analysis found that where success rates were high the benefit of acupuncture was smaller and not statistically significant. That may mean that acupuncture was simply a “marker” for clinics where a lot of care is taken to see that women are calm and relaxed.

The team suggests that acupuncture may influence the menstrual cycle, stimulate blood flow to the womb, or produce mood chemicals that reduce the stress response to IVF.

— Acupuncture-like techniques have been used for more than 5,000 years. A comprehensive system was developed in the Far East and was introduced to Europe in the 17th Century

— It is available in most hospital pain clinics and used by an increasing number of GPs and hospital doctors

— Common uses are: pain relief for conditions such as osteoarthritis, pelvic cramps, migraine and back ache; nausea, especially post-operative nausea; menstrual and menopausal problems such as period pains and hot flushes; sinus problems and allergies such as hay fever; skin conditions such as ulcers, itching and rashes

— Placebo-controlled trials have found that acupuncture can help reduce pain, but not much else

— Some studies suggest that real acupuncture is no better than using dummy needles

— One explanation for its success is that small injuries such as needle punctures prompt the body to make endorphins, its natural painkilling chemicals.

Source: British Medical Acupuncture Society, Times Database

Acupuncture is an integral component of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which has evolved over the last 2,500 years. Acupuncture uses very fine needles to rebalance disharmony in the body. TCM involves a detailed diagnostic process to ascertain where the problem lies. On the first visit to an acupuncturist a comprehensive case history will be taken including an account of a woman’s menstrual cycle to give an insight into the general state of her health. Acupuncture treatment is tailored to each individual case and 10 people experiencing the same condition may be given 10 different diagnoses and thus be treated totally differently. TCM treats the root of the problem in order to stop symptoms and therefore the results are often more effective, long lasting and holistic.

Because of the attention paid to menstrual cycle and menses TCM has amassed a great understanding of all aspects of gynaecology and obstetrics over the centuries. Acupuncture has been used over millennia to treat women at various stages of pregnancy. As it is a natural therapy it is totally safe at all stages of pregnancy providing the practitioner is informed of what stage the pregnancy is at and they are registered and experienced acupuncturists.

Acupuncture is very affective at treating many of the menstrual conditions that women may experience. It is frequently used to regulate irregular cycles, to resolve painful periods, PMS, and endometriosis. Acupuncture and TCM help to regulate hormone balance, move blood and nourish the body to alleviate uncomfortable symptoms. Unlike conventional western medicine TCM can treat the underlying cause of such conditions as migraine, night sweats, constipation and mood swings related to the menstruation. Acupuncture treats the whole body and therefore is often used to enhance fertility and to improve the likelihood of a pregnancy going to term. Endometriosis, fibroids and PCOS are commonly seen chronic conditions which respond well to acupuncture and herbs. The practitioner will often suggest dietary and lifestyle changes to improve the results.

Women who have been given a diagnosis of any of the above complications are often led to believe that in order to conceive they will have to embark on an artificial reproductive technique (ART) such as IVF. This is not necessarily the case and a course of acupuncture will often result in fertility being restored or improved. Fertility is 90% sub conscious and often a diagnosis or flippant comment by a health professional can result in a mental block being set up, leading to a belief that conception will not occur naturally. Acupuncture and TCM can also help with male fertility issues (which accounts for 40% of infertility in couples), it can improve the amount and quality of the sperm. As a practitioner I have seen men’s semen analysis results improve from a count of 4.5 million per (millilitre) ml to 48 million per ml following a course of acupuncture treatment.

Acupuncture has been shown to improve the result of IVF by up to 65% (British medical times. See. www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article3327648.ece.). In the experience of the author clients who have a course of acupuncture before conceiving generally have an easier pregnancy often without any morning sickness.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a very special time in a woman’s life and acupuncture is a safe way to treat any complications that may arise.

Nausea and morning sickness can occur up to week 20 of gestation and these symptoms can range from mild to debilitating. Acupuncture treats this very effectively and supplemented with the likes of ginger tea can alleviate the symptoms completely. As the pregnancy progresses the demands on the woman’s body become greater and greater. In TCM terms the kidney energy is especially important and nourishing the kidneys would always be a part of any treatment by an acupuncturist.

Various other complications can occur such as pre-eclampsia, which can result in severe headaches and high blood pressure, fluid retention and carpal tunnel syndrome (painful wrists and hands due to pressure on the nerves). This can result in hospitalisation and medication to maintain blood pressure. I have treated this in a hospital situation and have seen the blood pressure drop from very high to normal following a 20 minute session of ear acupuncture. Severe headache and carpal tunnel were also treated with good result so that no medication was necessary.

Back ache and other muscular skeletal problems such as pelvic dysfunction can occur resulting in the sufferer being bed bound, acupuncture can be used to relieve the pain and restore some normality to one’s life.

Breech presentation between weeks 34 -36 can be treated using heat treatment (moxibustion) on an acupuncture point on the foot, clients often feel increased foetal activity within moments of the treatment starting and the baby usually turns naturally without further intervention.

In the final number of weeks women often suffer with varying degrees of heart burn, this also responds well to acupuncture and can result in massive savings on Gaviscon!! If there are a number of different symptoms occurring at the one time they can usually all be addressed at the same time as they are a result of 1 or 2 organ disharmonies.

I recently treated a client who was very worried about acupuncture, she was in the final 6 weeks of pregnancy and had hormonal Urticaria (extremely itchy all over body rash). She was in severe discomfort and could not use anything but bath in baking soda for relief. After the first session of acupuncture she slept for the first night in weeks, she had 3 more treatments and the symptoms almost completely disappeared.

As the pregnancy moves towards term fatigue can become an issue, acupuncture helps to nourish the qi (vital energy) of the body and improve general vitality. Towards the end of the gestation period the practitioner will often focus on improving the energy levels and will also encourage the tendons and ligaments to soften to facilitate a natural delivery.

Acupuncture is regularly used to induce labour and to help speed up and ease delivery. As a practitioner I have induced a number of clients with great success. One client had a family history where all pregnancies had to be delivered by caesarean section. She was very eager to break this cycle and embarked on a course of acupuncture at 40 weeks. After 3 sessions she had a natural, uncomplicated delivery. Ear acupuncture can be used during labour to reduce pain and calm the expectant mother and baby. This has the advantage of allowing freedom to move during labour where body acupuncture can restrict movement but will improve the affects in more complicated deliveries.

A nursing mother can experience painful mastitis which responds very well to acupuncture, (the affected area does not have to be touched).

Acupuncture and TCM are a powerful and yet gentle form of therapy which are very safe to use pre and post conception, it is often used to prevent miscarriage and to remedy the myriad of conditions that can occur throughout pregnancy. Treatment’s should only be performed by a registered and confident practitioner with experience in gynaecology and obstetrics.

Dave Shipsey of Dan-tien complementary health studio has been in practice for almost 10 years, he is an affiliated acupuncturist with the Zita West fertility network. Dave is a founder member of Dublin’s first integrated fertility clinic Achieve Fertility (www.achievefertility.ie). Dave is registered with the Acupuncture Foundation Professional Association. He is fully insured and treatments are approved by all major health insurance providers. If you would like to discuss anything with Dave please contact him on, Phone; 087-9618344, email; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or see www.dan-tien.com.

Fertility can be child’s play with Achieve Fertility, Dublin’s first

integrated fertility clinic

By Dave Shipsey B.Sc, Grad Dip, C.Ac, A.Ac, M.A.F.P.A ,M.B.B.A .

Affiliated  Acupuncturist to the Zita West fertility clinic

Fertility problems affect 1 in 6 couples in Ireland. There are a huge number of contributing factors that have led to the overall decrease in fertility. These include pollution, stress, lifestyle, age of couples trying to conceive, to name but a few.

As a result of the increased need for choice amongst couples seeking help to conceive naturally or through artificial reproductive techniques (A.R.T.) such as I.V.F. (in-vitro fertilisation), Achieve Fertility was set up in 2009. It is made up of 7 practitioners from both complimentary and conventional medical backgrounds. Our mission is to provide comprehensive and expert advice on all aspects of fertility, pregnancy and post natal care. Through our affiliation to the Zita West fertility clinics and our special relationship with embryologist Dr. Declan Keane, Achieve Fertility has massive resources and expertise in all areas of fertility, gynaecology and obstetrics.

With the increasing pace and demands of modern living, further exposure to various forms of everyday chemical pollutants fertility has decreased.

• Male factors account for 40% of fertility problems
• Female factor accounts for 40% of fertility problems
• 20% of problems are combined problems or are due to unexplained causes.

Couples marry later and due to financial constraints or career choices decide to start families in their mid thirties. At this time a woman’s chance of conceiving in any month has declined from 20% in her teens and 20’s to 3% in her 40’s. Incidence of miscarriage increases also with age, as does sperm quality.

Statistics are very useful but it should be remembered that, that is all they are, and often couples get put into categories that are not necessarily appropriate. There is huge media pressure on women to be aware of their body clock (“TICK, TOCK”) and pressure on couples to seek A.R.T. after only a short time trying to conceive. Often the love and spontaneity of love making is lost and things become regimented and mechanical as modern technology takes over with the likes of ovulation prediction kits (which can be useful), nature knows when the fertile window is open the signs are there but often we have become conditioned not to see them. It is common that couples who having failed to conceive after huge effort decide to adopt a child and soon after conceive naturally themselves, the pressure is off them and they can once again enjoy each other and suddenly they are pregnant.

At achieve fertility we use an integrated approach to fertility, we encourage both partners to complete a detailed case history which looks at all relevant aspects of their life. From this information the team will work with the couple to decide on the best course of treatments to help realise the couples dream.

Achieve fertility therapies include:

A male and female acupuncturist, chiropractor, fertility nurse, hypnotherapist & psychotherapist, nutritional therapist and a reflexologist.

Acupuncture has been shown to improve likelihood of IVF succeeding by 65%; it helps balance hormone levels, improves sperm quality and quantity and can regulate menstrual cycle and egg quality. It relieves stress and restores the body’s natural harmony. Dave has been specialising in fertility and women’s health for a number of years and is an affiliated acupuncturist to the world renowned Zita West fertility clinics.

Chiropractic therapy can help to correct any misalignments in the spinal column which may impede nerve transmissions to the vital organs and prevent normal function.

Fertility Nurse will advise on any necessary medical tests and the results from such tests. She can also help with decisions on various clinic and options available.

Hypnotherapy & counselling; as fertility is 90% subconscious it can address any blockages that may exist due to trauma guilt or fear.

Nutritional therapy can help couples to tailor their diet for optimum health and therefore improve the chances of conception.

Reflexology; can address any hormonal imbalance and help to regulate the cycle, it can also ease stress and help the body function at its optimum.

Achieve fertility offers comprehensive, confidential, compassionate and expert fertility solutions tailored to a couples individual requirements. Please feel free to contact Dave at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 087 9618344.

Getting the Point

The Sunday Business Post

November 2003

by Fiona Ness

These days, you’re not anybody unless you’ve had your Qi (chi) rebalanced.   Even six-week-old babies are having theirs tampered with, so that their parents can grab a few hours uninterrupted sleep.

So who was I to whimper when it was suggested I try having my qi rebalanced to treat a chronic knee injury, on which conventional medicine had, had no effect?

I had been suffering pain from a floating kneecap for about five years, so more than one acupuncture session would be necessary to heal the condition, according to David Shipsey of Dan-Tien complimentary health studio.  Shipsey says abdominal acupuncture will be the fastest method of achieving results.He says this ancient form of Chinse medicine has been largely forgotten about by practitioners, because body acupuncture was standardised during the cultural revolution in China.

As I am a complete novice on the subject of acupuncture, Shipsey explains to me how the treatment will work. In traditional Chinese medicine, the body is believed to have 12 meridian lines. Energy – Qi – circulates along the meridian lines.  When these channels become blocked, the energy cannot flow, resulting in low energy and sickness. Each meridian is connected to a specific organ, and the body has more than 350 acupuncture points. When treating a condition, the acupuncturist isolates these points and inserts a needle.  Each acupoint acts as a gateway to the channels, so when a needle is placed here, the energy is released and the body’s own healing process can continue.

The session began with a detailed consultation, tongue examination and six pulse readings. Initially reluctant to discuss the intricacies of my digestive process with a total stranger, I was soon rattling off my list of self-diagnosed ailments, from knee pain to insomnia and beyond.

Shipsey says many mental and emotional problems can be treated with acupuncture, including depression and stress. Shipsey also treats hospital patients with chronic pain as the practice is approved by both VHI and Bupa.

After the consultation, I removed my shoes and socks and lay down on the couch. Shipsey dotted points on my abdomen, but also on my head, hands and feet, where he would place the needles. I was told to expect a buzzing when the needle was inserted, and was encouraged to keep talking as the needles went into my stomach. When the needles were placed in my feet and hands, I felt my nerves jump, as though I was biting down with a filling on a piece of silver paper. However, this feeling was instantaneously replaced with a warm, pulsing sensation spreading up my hand and arm. The stainless steel needles vary in size from half an inch to three inches long, the length determined by the illness and the patient’s size. They come in sealed packs and are disposed of after use.

Shipsey says clients often drift off to sleep for the rest of the session, but I lay stock still, acutely aware of the needle I knew was sticking out of the top of my head.

Although it was not a miracle cure in one session, the effects of the treatment were surprisingly immediate. One week and a weekend of surfing later, my knee joint is markedly more mobile. I was also able to sit through a five-hour car journey without having to pull over and flex a painful knee joint. And all for the price of a visit to the doctor.

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The Gentle Art of Acupuncture

E.S.B Magazine 2002

by Dave Shipsey B.Sc (Hons) Grad. Dip. C. Ac.

Nanjing China (Registered Acupuncturist)

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) & Acupuncture are ancient forms of natural healing.  They originate from Taoist and naturalist philosophies and developed over approximately 3,000 years of theory, clinical trials and observation.  These are holistic therapies and as such they try to restore a sense of balance in all aspects of one’s life.  This is achieved by manipulating Qi (the bodies essential energy) either through needles, acupressure, massage, heat or electric pulses, to restore health, harmony and well-being.

Qi circulates throughout the body in a network of channels or meridians connecting yin and yang organs, internal and external aspects of the body.  Each acu-point acts as a gateway to the meridian, so that the acupuncturist  can stimulate the body’s own healing process to restore its natural balance.  The diagnostic principles of TCM enable the practitioner to decide on the best possible combination of points to use, in order to relieve the symptoms and treat the underlying cause.

As a therapy it is recognised by the World Health Organisation in the treatment of over 100 conditions.  It can be used to treat both Acute and chronic. internal & external disorders.  The range of conditions treated are wide and varied and includes both physical and emotional problems such as arthritis, migraine, allergies, stress, depression, high/low blood pressure, hepatitis, insomnia etc (see www.dan-tien.com).

Ireland has two regulatory bodies, Acupuncture Foundation Professional Body and Acupuncture Chinese Medicine Organisation, which govern practitioners.  Members must be trained and certified to a minimum standard and must comply with strict codes of ethics and practice.

Registered acupuncturists are approved by VHI, BUPA  and the ESB’s medical provident fund, which will reimburse up to €19 per session. In the UK 2 out of 3 GP’s refer clients to have acupuncture, and 84% of NHS pain clinics use acupuncture.

Why Acupuncture?

• Natural Holistic Therapy
• Virtually no side effects
• Helath enhancing/cures ill health
• No contra indications with prescribed drugs/can ease side effects of drugs
• Suitable for all ages
• Suitable during pregnancy
• Suitable for Immuno compromised people.

What does acupuncture feel like?

Needles are very fine (often as fine as a human hair) and designed to pass through the skin.  There should be little or no awareness of the needle being inserted.  When it reaches the acu-point, the feeling varies and is often described as a warm radiating feeling or tingling sensation as the qi flows to the point (the feeling can be increased or decreased according to the patients body constitution and wishes).  During treatment people often feel so comfortable and relaxed they fall asleep.  As well as relief from a particular condition patients often report such benefits as improved sleep, increased energy, vitality and concentration and an improved sense of general well being.  Needles are sterile and disposed of after one use.

As a practitioner there is nothing more safisfying than to see the look of delight, disbelief and amazement on a persons face as stimulating one point in the leg releases a frozen shoulder, or as a couple of ear points resolve the pain of sciatica.  One should not have to accept pain and discomfort as being due to ‘growing pains’, ‘old age’ or ‘stress’.  Because a condition has become a familiar part of one’s life does not mean that it has to be part of one’s life; its never too late to try acupuncture.

Although it may seem paradoxical, acupuncture is a gentle healing art, which encourages the body’s natural power to heal itself.

If you would like to make an appointment or for further information please contact Dave at 087-9618344 or check out  the website: www.dan-tien.com

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Garda Review

February 2004

Speaking In Tongues

Many people misunderstand acupuncture as a tool for well-being. Neil Ward accepted an invitation by Dan-Tien’s expert Dave Shipsey to give it a try.

Pinpointing The Problem

On arriving at Dave Shipsey’s  complimentary health studio in Christchurch, Dublin, I was filled with curiosity and a little apprehension.  I needn’t have worried.  By the time we actually got around to any treatment I was completely at ease, having spent nearly half an hour discussing my digestive and sleeping habits, and general well-being in the kind of detail that my GP has never had the time to go into.  There was even something of a therapeutic value in having someone listen to my medical history and take a keen interest in my dietary and resting habits, as well as my emotional states and anxieties.  To help Dave pinpoint any problems he used ‘Tongue Diagnosis” – an age old technique that involved lookin at my tongue four or five times.

The Tongue Tells All

Dave says, “Tongues vary – in colour, moisture content and texture – some may even quiver.  It takes experience to read a tongue but it is an accurate indicator of the body’s state.”  This diagnosis is often augmented by taking the pulse.  There are six pulses on each wrist which correspond to each of the organs e.g. right hand pulse indicates the condition of the Lung/ Large Intestine, Stomach/ Spleen/Kidney/Urinary Bladder.  “The pulse will confirm your diagnosis from the other methods such as asking, observing palpatating tongue, etc.”

At The Sharp End

It was not at all painful – for me the very notion of acupuncture had always conjured images of the old ‘Hellraiser’ posters.  How wrong I was.  The sensation is not unpleasant, almost unnoticeable if coninciding with an intake of breath.  The Chinese-made needles are very fine, sterile and used only once.  Treatment typically involves 8-10 needles, “Less is more, “ says Dave.  I slept very well, without a single ache or pain.

Each needle provoked a different reaction.  Some seemed electric; others more anaesthetic – some radiated outwards and some just concentrated energy.  For fifteen minutes or so, I was left in a state of grace – not daring to move – or perhaps incapable of movement.  But the brain was left with a child-like clear view of the world.  I could possibly have drifted off to sleep, but stayed awake to enjoy the feeling.

Dave explained, “Different treatments suit different people The same treatment may treat different conditions in different people; the same ailment may be treated in a variety of different ways depending on the person.”

Getting The Point

It was several hours later that I was still feeling the benefits – almost like a mild hypnosis – but it raised as many questions as it answered.  Yes, I probably do drink too much coffee; life would be better without that rushed lunch...

This session would have cost the same price as a visit to a GP – yet the therapist spent significantly more time in diagnosis through an extensive consultation – and also provided a therapy.  Dave diagnoses were accurate and several days later – and the treatment on my right knee is still effective; the lasting effects were that I have taken a longer look at myself regarding the common habits that I know should change – and I felt I had more energy for the first few days after the treatment.  I simply would not have visited the doctor without something very specific for him to treat.  Like most people I suspect, I sould go to my GP when I need antibiotics, strong pain killers or a referral to the hospital.

Acupuncture has now been widely accepted and recognised by the medical profession in Ireland.  The Garda Medical Aid Society ( and other health insurances) will pay towards treatment by registered acupuncture professionals.  The Garda Medical Aid Society will cover up to €30 per visit for a maximum of ten visits in a 12 month period, subject to a letter fo referral from a GP.

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Alternative Options

GCN March 2004

by Rachel Armstrong.

As anyone who suffers from insomnia knows, the minute you tell someone about your condition they’ll have some weird, wonderful and useless cure.  Well, I’ve tried them all, including meditation relaxation and inebriation with varying levels of short term success.  Acupuncture, I was assured, is different.  It gets to the heart of the problem and unblocks the energy flows that are keeping me up at night.

Acupuncture was first discovered as a result of arrow wounds suffered by soldiers on the battlefields of ancient China. Sometimes a soldier with an arrowhead embedded in his leg or arm would report the sudden disappearance of long-standing symptoms in other parts of his body, such as headaches or digestive disorders. Since then, it’s become the main medicinal practice in China – people use it to treat almost every ailment there – and it’s now a firm fixture on the alternative therapy scene across the globe.

Dave Shipsey, who runs Dan-Tien, a complimentary health studio in Dublin’s Christchurch, must be one of the greatest men I have ever met. If his chilled out demeanour is anything to go by, acupuncture is the way forward for stress heads like me.

He started my session by very thoroughly going through my medical history and asking such delightful questions as the colour of my pee.  Then he asked me to stick out my tongue.  Every part of your body has a corresponding point on your tongue so, along with my medical history, Dave could determine the areas that needed work.  Then he took my pulse with three fingers, each pressing at a different time, as if my arm was a trumpet.  He continued to scribble things down and nod sagely.  Then he talked me through what parts of my body he thought I might be having problems with and advised me on foods to avoid and so on. All this and I hadn’t even seen an arrowhead yet.

When it was time for me to get up on the bench, Dave explained that I was to get Abdominal Acupuncture (he is Ireland’s only practitioner of Abdominal Acupuncture) which is a very ancient, micro form of acupuncture that was almost totally lost following China’s cultural revolution.  It is very gentle and there is little sensation.  It is powerful in its action and is particularly useful for stubborn conditions.

As Dave put each needle into my skin he spoke to me explaining what each should do, what sensation I should feel and how long it would last.  Then a heat lamp went on over my torso, classical music in my ears and I was left to my own devices.  Lying there, I was aware of the needles in my body but they didn’t hurt in the slightest and I drifted off to sleep.

Dave advises that people get a few sessions of acupuncture, the number depending on the condition being treated, to really feel the effects.  As Dan-Tien is VHI and BUPA approved, this shouldn’t cost the earth.  My sleep patterns improved immediately, though.  I’m not as angst ridden at bedtime anymore and the tossing and turning has at least temporarily abated. My girlfiriend now swears by acupuncture and she’s sending me back for more.

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The Sunday Business Post

10 November 2002

Just A Little Needlework

by Elizabeth McGuane

THE TREATMENT

What it is: Acupuncture

What it promises: Everything from general health to relief from sports injuries, back pain and arthritis, migraines, insomnia, depression, addiction, infertility, and so on.

How it works: The basic tenet behind the therapy is that energy, or Qi, passes through a series of channels beneath the skin that connect the interior and exterior of the body and the internal systems to each other.  The aim is to bring these systems into balance, by inserting needles (the width of a human hair) into points along the channels connected to organs seen to be sources of imbalance.

Pain rating: 0 out of 5 – if done properly.

What it costs: At Dan-Tien clinic on Dublin’s Bride Street, the first diagnostic session is €65, and each subsequnt session €50-55.  The number of sessions recommended will vary depending on the individual.

What it delivers: It’s possible to get results immediately, while some patients will see improvement after several weeks.  It’s important to make sure you see an acupuncturist registered with The acupuncture foundation of Ireland or similar.

Suggest acupuncture to most people and you might be met with a pupil-dilating expression of terror, as if you’d mentioned a nice relaxing trip to the dentist.  But, while misconceptions about the therapy are rife, the actual experience can be one of deep relaxation and surprisingly immediate and effective results.

Arriving at the Dan-Tien clinic on a wet and manic Friday afternoon, my session began with a very thorough interview about my physical and emotional wellbeing.  This made me a bit too aware of my own digestive processes and it was a bit odd having someone inspect my tongue four or five times.  But it is the most important part of acupuncture treatment as, much like a western medical diagnosis, it pinpoints the source of health problems.

After a question and answer session lasting 45 minutes, the treatment began.  With peaceful music playing, I removed shoes and socks and lay back with more than a little apprehension, despite my best efforts to seem nonchalant.  As each needle was inserted, I was told what the benefits of each point being treated were, and found I felt very much in control (it helps not to look at the needles).

Once they had all been inserted – one in each arm, two in each leg, and one between the eyebrows (this gave a wonderfully warm radiating glow all across the forehead and wiped out the headache I’d had al day), I was left to relax under a heat lamp for about half an hour, and nearly drifted off to sleep.

Afterwards, I felt light, headache-free and almost giddy.  That night I had the first good night’s sleep I’d had in weeks, and feel the benefits were enough to make me want to brave the needles a second time.

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About Magazine August 2010

Breath Free Naturally with Buteyko Breathing

By; Dave Shipsey B.Sc. Grad. Dip. C.Ac. A.C.Ac M.A.F.P.I. M.B.B.A.

Do you suffer from Asthma or breathlessness?

Are your summers spoiled due to hay fever or other allergies?

Do you snore?

Have you got Bronchitis or a chronic cough?

Do you suffer with Emphysema or C.O.P.D?

If the answer to any of the above questions is yes, then Buteyko Breathing can help.

Buteyko breathing is a drug free breathing re training program which helps those suffering with respiratory problems to stop their symptoms and in the majority of cases reduce medication by between 50 and 90%.

Buteyko breathing was developed in Russia in the 1960’s by Dr. Constantine Buteyko. After extensive research he developed a system of breathing exercises which has had a huge impact on tens of thousands of asthmatics and people with other respiratory problems such as hay fever, bronchitis, and emphysema around the world. Buteyko has been used in Australia and New Zealand since 1990 and has been practiced in Britain and Ireland for about 15 years. It is now an N.H.S. (National Health Service) approved therapy, and is completely safe. It can be used on children from about 5 years of age to adults of all ages.

Asthma is defined as the reversible inflammation of the bronchioles which can cause shortness of breath, audible wheeze and cough, it can lead to hospitalisation and even death, at the very least it is very distressing and can have major impacts on the quality of life of the sufferer.

Buteyko Breathing is taught over 5 or 6 weeks. The program covers all areas of the sufferer’s disease and is tailored to cater for each individuals particular needs, such as minimising and avoiding triggers.

Buteyko is a breathing retraining exercise and so the results achieved depend on home participation, client’s complete 3 sets of exercises (15minutes) each day and keep a diary of the results. The results can then be used to monitor progress and can be shown to medical professionals to indicate the improvement in symptoms. Information from the diary can be used to influence decisions relating to changes in medication.

What the course teaches

· Correct breathing methods

· To clear and maintain clear sinuses

· How to stop cough

· To stop and reverse asthma attacks

· Avoiding exposure to allergens that trigger attack

· Dietary advice and lifestyle choices to stay symptom free

· Correct use of medication

What do the exercises entail?

Most exercises are done in a seated position and are simple breathing techniques similar to meditation. A quiet space and a comfortable chair is all that is required. A gentle 15 minute walk is encouraged and can count as one of the 3 sets of exercises per day.

Benefits of completing a course of Buteyko breathing

· Control over symptoms rather than symptoms controlling you

· Respiratory symptoms will be improved

· Elevated energy levels

· Improved sleep

· Better Digestion

· Reduced stress levels

As a lifelong sufferer of asthma, Buteyko breathing has completely changed my life I can now participate in sports without getting exercise induced asthma. I no longer panic upon realising I don’t have my asthma medication as I don’t use any.

For enquiries please contact Dave Shipsey at Dan-tien complementary health studio. Ph 0879618344 or 01 4738845. See www.dan-tien.com.

Dave Shipsey is a registered acupuncturist and a Buteyko Breathing teacher he is a member of the Buteyko Breathing Association and the Acupuncture Foundation Professional Association and is fully insured and approved by most medical insurance providers.

Acupuncture Foundation Professional Association Magazine August 2010

An Introduction to Abdominal Acupuncture

By Dave Shipsey (B.Sc), Grad dip, C. Ac, A.Ac, Dip. Tuina, Dip. Buteyko Breathing

Abdominal acupuncture (AA) is one of the newest and most exciting forms of acupuncture to evolve from China in decades, if not centuries. It was developed by Dr. Bo ZhiYun and it has been in use since 1991.

It was discovered in 1972 as a result of a particularly difficult case of sciatica which did not respond to conventional or other microforms of acupuncture. When Dr. Bo tried using points (Qihai) Ren 6 and (Guanyuan) Ren 4 the back pain eased within minutes of starting treatment and the patient recovered completely without further treatment. Dr. Bo realised the potential of AA and dedicated the next 30 years of his life to developing and refining this system. It uses standard and new abdominal acupuncture points known as the Abdominal Meridian System (AMS).

AA is a micro-system of acupuncture and like other microforms such as Auricular acupuncture all the organs and body parts are contained within a small area. Unlike other Micro-systems AA is much more powerful as a result of its location with the zang fu organs and because it connects with all the meridians of the body (discussed later). It uses the Tortoise or Turtle as a blueprint to reflect the body parts at the superficial level.

As a therapy it has become very popular in China because of its powerful results and its gentle nature (needle sensation). Indications include: orthopaedic problems, respiratory infections, coronary artery disease, hypertension, digestive problems, neurological conditions, gynaecological problems, and difficult-to-treat diseases like Parkinson’s, insomnia, depression, diabetes mellitus, eye diseases, obesity, deafness and tinnitus. It is particularly good for treating painful and chronic conditions and has proved to be very effective at treating conditions such as Haemaplegia from wind stroke. Results are often instantaneous and long lasting for these reasons it has become known as “Miracle Therapy”.

Special significance of the abdomen

The abdomen is energetically very important in Chinese medicine and has been written about in such ancient books as the “Neijing”. The abdomen includes the area known as the Dantian or field of elixir. This area is where our life force eminates from and is a focal point in most forms of meditation Qi Gong, Tai qi and other martial arts practices. In ancient times the abdomen was used more for diagnosis and the book the “Nan Jing” stated in chapter 8 that the abdomen was more diagnostically relevant than the pulse. Diagnosis using the abdomen requires a sensitivity that takes approximately 3 years to cultivate.

From the embryological stage Shenque Ren 8 forms the epicentre which regulates qi and blood flow of the body. It forms the core from which all other meridians in the body derive known as the Shenque system or AMS (Abdominal Meridian System). The AMS is a network of meridian acupoints governed by Shenque (Ren 8). As mentioned above,all the zang fu organs reside in this area and can be accessed either directly or through the AMS connection. This explains some of the mechanisms by which AA works and how puncturing points on the abdomen can address disharmonies anywhere in the body. AA works on 3 levels Heaven, Human and Earth these are similar to, but different to the traditional acupuncture sequence.

• Heaven / superficial level, treats head, torso, upper and lower limbs. It is represented by the Turtle / tortoise.

• Humanity / middle layer connects the internal and external. Based on the Jing Luo theory and treats channel problems.

• Earth / Deep level treats the Zang fu organs and is represented by the Ba Qua / 8 trigrams.

AA Points and some indications;

AA is 2 dimensional in nature so that points on the Ren can be used to treat the Du mai and likewise points along the kidney channel can be used to treat the urinary bladder channel. It should be noted that point location is different with AA but for simplicity conventional location methods can be used. (See fig 1)

• Ren 12 (Zhongwan) Treats head , heart or lungs and also acts on 1^st cervical vertebra

• Ren 10 (Xiawan) treats spleen / stomach and relates to the 1^st thoracic vertebra.

• Ren 6 (Qihai) activates the system brings Qi home, it coincides with the 1^st Lumbar vertebra.

• Ren 4 (Guanyuan) Treats kidney and also brings qi home. It is the tail of the turtle relates to the 5^th lumbar vertebra.

• St 25 (Tianshu) is the front mu of the Large Intestine and is used to clear heat and strengthen the back.

• Sp 15 (Daheng) is the outer boundary of the Turtle along the horizontal axis and treats spleen problems.

• St 24 (Huaroumen) and 26 (Wailing) can act as the 4 gates and also act as Shoulder and Hip points respectively.

• Upper rheumatism point is 0.5cun lateral and superior to shoulder and also acts as the elbow point.

• Lower rheumatism point is 0.5cun inferior and lateral to the hip points and also acts as knee points.

• Wrist points are 0.5 cun lateral and inferior to elbow points (so that the shoulder elbow and wrist look like an upside down V).

• The ankle point is on a line 0.5 cun lateral and inferior to the knee point. ( Hip, knee and ankle should look like a back slash \)

• Kidney points between Kid 19 and Kid 13 are used bilaterally to treat equivalent points along the Urinary bladder or to strengthen the overall effect of the treatment.

Therapeutic effect is thus dependent on the location and depth of the needles, making it different from other forms of acupuncture. The depth of the needles ranges from very superficial to deep at 1.5cun.

Author’s experience & Case Histories

I have been practicing AA since I first studied it with Dr. Yan Han in 2000; I have practised it intently and am always amazed with the results that can be achieved with it. I return regularly to Nanjing to further my training and realise that it is only by trial and error and a willingness to explore different methods that one develops skill in this form. I use AA 90% of the time in my practice and I have only had 2 clients who did not prefer it as a therapy. I have used it for a multitude of conditions and most respond very well with it. Painful conditions are particularly good to treat as one can gauge the results instantaneously. I ask clients to put a maximum score of 10 on their pain before starting treatment. This is used as a reference point and as the needles are being inserted I check for changes on the pain level, usually clients will report pain down from 10 to 2 or even zero within minutes. Very slight adjustments of the needle depth or location will dictate the final result. Palpation of the abdomen to locate ahshi points is paramount and with sensitivity practitioners will feel anomalies relating to the area of pain and by needling these points and breaking down local adhesions the pain is resolved.

Case Bob the Builder (name changed for confidentiality!) Age 38.

Bob had chronic pain due to a Slipped disc (T-3). He was prescribed Diaphene and was using Neurofen plus and other over the counter medication to try and control the pain. As a result of almost 18 months of medication he had spleen qi vacuity and kidney yang vacuity. He was nervous and didn’t want to have the back needled after a previous treatment with a physiotherapist. He had tried chiropractic and osteopathic therapy and had not responded to either.

Within minutes of starting the treatment the pain moved and after some fine tuning of the needles the pain had totally gone. He returned for his second session 4 days later and was delighted that he had not had to use any medication and was able to enjoy normal activities. He had a total of 7 treatments and was able to return to work.

I have clients who have had MRI scans before and after treatment. The scan results testified that discs had moved back into the correct position following a course of AA.

Cindy, a choreographer, dancer and actress.

Acute Sciatica

Cindy hurt her back during rehearsals on the day of the opening night of a show. She complained of severe pain around L-4 with radiating pain down the U.B. channel to UB 57. She could barely walk let alone dance. Using AA her pain went within 5 minutes of needling and she was able to stand up straight and walk without any pain after the 45 minute session. She performed a very physical show that night and went on to complete the 6 week run of the show with only a couple more treatments.

Conclusion

AA is known as miracle therapy for good reason, it has continuously proven its therapeutic efficacy and there have been a number of studies done to endorse this. It has many advantages over other micro systems and it is particularly effective for treating clients with weaker constitutions. Clients prefer it because it is less painful and generally more effective than other forms of acupuncture. It is also safer as the needling tends to be more superficial. It can treat a wider variety of complaints (e.g. pain in all areas as a result of rheumatism etc.) in one treatment than other forms.

I will be running a 2 or 3 day workshop on abdominal acupuncture in the autumn and would be delighted to receive any enquiries to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or phone 0879618344.