College of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture

The White Lotus College of Oriental Arts and Medicine is a new college and promises it’s students the very best in tuition in Traditional Chinese Medicine (hence TCM) and Acupuncture.

What is Traditional Chinese Medicine?

First of all it hails from China a country that is made up of many indigenous nationalities and historically many states that have been wedded together to form this huge country we nowadays call the Peoples Republic of China.

Secondly we call it traditional as it is one of the oldest forms of medicine still being practiced today. Traditional Chinese Medicine has a History that goes back many thousands of years and has spread through-out all of the Far East and has drawn from many of the traditions it has encountered..

Even though we call it traditional, that does not mean it has not been subject to change over the centuries. Many famous Chinese doctors wrote many treatises correcting various theories until over many centuries of constant field trials we arrive at the wonderful Medical resource we have today in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Traditional Chinese Medical Theory

From the get go it is important to understand that Chinese Medical theory bears no relationship whatsoever to modern Western Medical theory. As practitioners we always take into serious account any western medical diagnosis, however we cannot treat on that basis alone. Unfortunately there are practitioners and colleges who fail to understand this most basic and vital distinction and try to hammer one or other theory to make it fit its opposite counterpart e.g. Traditional Chinese Medical theory fit into a Western understanding. That is a mistake and will only lead to poor practice where the client will suffer. Both theories should stand alone.

Chinese Medical theory starts off with an understanding of what are the most basic aspects necessary for a healthy life and then progresses to discuss the energetic processes within the human body that create and maintain health. After a full understanding of these basic building blocks we then discuss how those energetic processes break down, the causes of how they break down and how do we recognise the area of most concern that will allow us to ultimately treat the client and obtain a successful outcome.

How does Traditional Chinese Medicine deliver its treatment to the patient?

The methods of treatment are many and varied however they all adhere to and are dependent on one thing an excellent understanding of Traditional Chinese Medicine theory that leads initially to a correct diagnosis. Without a comprehensive diagnosis one cannot treat successfully regardless of the modality of treatment. The following list is by no means exhaustive of all modalities, but represents the more commonly used methods of treatment:

• Acupuncture
• Moxibustion
• Cupping
• Gua Sha (scraping)
• Food therapy
• Traditional Chinese Herbal medicine
• Tui Na = Specialised Traditional Chinese Medical Massage
• Qi Gong to promote health – Using very gentle exercises to guide and circulate the body’s energy
• Medical Qi Gong – Qi Gong developed to allow the practitioner treat the client using his/her own Qi.
• Tai Ji Quan – Grand Ultimate fist – a martial art that utilises knowledge of TCM and Qi Gong to promote the circulation of Qi throughout the body.
• Many other Traditional Chinese Martial Arts cross over into this area.

What will you learn in our TCM College?

In our college you will learn the basics of Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture. In your first year. You will receive all of the building blocks, in terms of philosophy, medical theory, Traditional Chinese Medical Anatomy, and the location of the most commonly used acupuncture points on the arms and legs that you will use throughout your careers in your future surgeries.

In your second year you will learn all of the rest of the acupuncture points upper arms and upper legs, body, back and head, plus

• diagnostic principles
• differentiation of disease
• questioning diagnosis
• palpation diagnosis – feeling for disease including feeling the pulse
• looking diagnosis – diagnostically looking at the persons for signs and symptoms including looking at the tongue
• Listening and smelling – As well as looking the person certain areas of the body if diseased have their own sounds and indeed what are known as pathological odours

In short Traditional Chinese medicine uses all of the practitioner’s senses to aid in diagnosis, building up a picture of the client and how the present condition is now presenting itself.

It is only from this full picture that the practitioner can formulate a strategy of treatment and select the method of treatment.

In the White Lotus College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (WLCTCM), you will learn all of this and be able to apply you knowledge for the benefit of your clients. You need never fear, that, your medical training and the application of that training will not benefit your clients to the degree that not only will you be able to treat their illness but be in a position to change their lives for the better.

Medical Qi Gong

You will also learn Qi Gong for health promotion in the first year. You will come to an understanding as to the intimate connections between TCM, Acupuncture and Qi Gong. In your second year you will be shown how your health promotion Qi Gong can be used as part of your treatment where it becomes specifically medical Qi Gong and integrated with your acupuncture treatment. The Qi Gong that you learn with us is specific to this course and is designed as a fully integrated system. For example when we are studying Fei Zang Fu (Lung Organ) you will be taught some Qi Gong specific to that Organ and the same will be true for the whole course. In this way you will receive a fully integrated course without gaps.

Clinical Year/Third year

The third year is the clinical year in which you will be putting it all together and treating patients for the first time. During this time all of your theory will be put into practical effect and you will be shown how to take case histories, develop a treatment strategy, and deliver the treatment to the best effect. You will also be taught clinical management, patient management, correct note taking and all of the other areas necessary to run and maintain a successful practice.

Western Medicine Module

For those students who do not have a western medicine qualification, you are required to complete a Western Medicine Module. This will be undertaken in the first year and will cover such basics of Western Medical theory as anatomy, physiology, bodily systems, various diseases and also red flag issues. The Western Medicine module is a requirement from our insurers as well as being an educationally invaluable tool that you will employ in your later work. Particularly as your clients may come to you with a western medicine diagnosis.

Acupuncture and Qi Gong

As part of your course you will also learn Medical Qi Gong. This Qi Gong is primarily for you to develop your own Qi, improve your own health and charge your own body.

In most colleges this aspect is completely ignored. That is the health of the practitioner. The health and welfare of our students is also of concern. It is of concern from two points of view, the first, practitioners that look after themselves and develop their Qi will be better practitioners and second but of co-equal importance, the power of their treatment will be stronger benefiting the client meaning that in all likelihood treatment outcomes are better and the time necessary to make the changes required are shorter.

The difference in treatment from a practitioner who does not practice Qi Gong and a practitioner who does can be compared to trying to drive a screw with a hand held screw driver and driving the same screw with an electric screwdriver. In the first instance the screw will be driven but will take time and more energy, in the second instance the result is the same, the screw is driven but with more speed and power.

However, the screw driver analogy only goes so far. Acupuncture is not just about inserting needles in the most carefully selected areas on the body but really is about contacting and directing the Qi of the client. The practice of Qi Gong not only allows the practitioner to contact the clients Qi more easily through the needle but can also enhance and direct that flow powerfully.

From the get go in our college you will be introduced to health promoting Medical Qi Gong.

Traditional Chinese Medicine and Traditional Chinese Martial Arts

Chinese Martial Arts can be classified in to two broad areas, Modern and Traditional. Modern Chinese Martial Arts came into being after the founding of the present Peoples Republic of China and the more Traditional Chinese Martial Arts were developed over many centuries incorporating the knowledge of Traditional Chinese Medicine such that in many cases one was not sure where Martial Arts (MA) stopped and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) began.

Modern Chinese Martial Arts

• San Shou
• Modern Shaolin Kung Fu
• Wu Shu
• Competitive Tai Ji Quan

These arts above were developed by the PRC drawing on the knowledge of many masters to create a homogenous system that could be taught to the population as a whole. However in this distillation many of the excellences that derived from many years of practice and understanding found in the old styles were necessarily lost. 

Traditional Chinese Martial Arts

Most of these are practised outside of mainland China, though some are still taught privately on the mainland. Traditional Chinese Martial Arts draw on and keep alive traditions, training and expression of art forms that have been developed over many centuries or practice.

Traditional Shaolin Kung Fu

Thousands of family styles of Kung Fu such as Hung Gar, Li Gar, Lau Gar, Pai Lum, Wu Mei, Wing Chun, White Crane etc.

Also many internal styles such as:

• Yang style Tai Ji Quan
• Chen Style Tai Ji Quan
• Ba Gua Zhang
• Xing Yi
• And many more

These types of Gong Fu not only developed fighting skills but were infused with the philosophy and practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Many of the fighting techniques and abilities were developed around an excellent knowledge of TCM (such as the practice of Dian Xue, striking “points”), and TCM also gained from these practices such that Traditional Chinese Medicine and Traditional Chinese Martial Arts became both sides of the same coin.

 College Director

Your college director Alan Sheehy is uniquely placed in that he has been steeped in Traditional Chinese Arts over forty years.

He is qualified in Acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine, Medical Qi Gong and Traditional Chinese Gong Fu.

He also holds a specialist Diploma in TCM Gynaecology and Obstetrics an area of TCM that is gaining in importance such that many IVF clinics recognise the value that Acupuncture has in aiding any couple to conceive and successfully bring a baby to full term.

Alan has studied in Ireland, England, China, France and USA.

Clinical Experience:

Alan has close to thirty years clinical experience and brings a wealth of clinical knowledge.

Teaching Experience

Alan spent his formative TCM years (6) teaching in a TCM college. He has also been running a school in Kerry as well as a clinic and teaching Gong Fu over the course of forty years. He has on a regular basis provided post graduate courses in Qi Gong for qualified practitioners of TCM. He has also taught on behalf of the Acupuncture Council of Ireland and has provided many courses on Health promoting Qi Gong for lay people.

Alan epitomises the traditional “Dr” of Traditional Chinese Medicine in that in line with many of the “old” traditional Doctors of TCM he came up through that time honoured route of being drawn to Traditional Martial arts and naturally flowed into studying and teaching traditional Chinese Medicine. As has been said before Traditional Chinese Medicine and Traditional Chinese MA are both sides of the same coin.

Alan has trained with many recognised “masters” of Medical Qi gong and Gong Fu.

Governing Experience

Alan was invited on to the governing boards of three separate Registers of traditional Chinese Medicine in Ireland. He has served as the Ethical Officer, Honorary Secretary, Treasurer and Chaired “The Education and Standards Committee” for the Acupuncture Council of Ireland.

Governing bodies

Our successful students will be eligible to join the Acupuncture Council of Ireland/Traditional Chinese Medicine Council of Ireland and will be encouraged to do so as it is an independent Register of practitioners.

White Lotus Association

They will also be eligible to join the White Lotus Association of Ireland. This is our in house Association dedicated to promote and support our practitioners such that our practitioners should never feel isolated or lacking in legitimate support in relation to their practice.

Professional Indemnity Insurance

Newly qualified practitioners are required to take out professional indemnity and malpractice insurance and our practitioners qualify for this insurance.