EXPERIENCED practice nurse, Therese Nolan, turned to alternative medicine when orthodox methods did not cure her back pain.

Now with acupuncture, life coaching and nutrition coaching skills, the Turlough, Castlebar, native, has launched her New U Acupuncture clinic in the county town and has returned to her native county after 10 years in Dublin. 

Therese told me: “I have always had a big passion for natural remedies and alternative medicine. That is the route I would have taken to heal my own ailments.

”I decided in February 2020 to go down the route of acupuncture, just before Covid. I signed up for it and went to college in Bath. The college was open because it was also a clinic. I was able to do my studies and I completed them in March  this year.”

She added: “I can sense very quickly when I meet someone what will work for them. It maybe acupuncture or nutritional advice and I may also have to carry out a food intolerance test or it can be a combination of things.

“I have a strong and imediate sense of knowing what a person needs. I never knew that was a gift until I started going down the route of natural healing. I just presumed it was something that everyone has. It was a blessing when I was nursing but now I hope to utilise it more.

“My new career didn’t just start there. It actually began back in the 1990s when I started my nurse training in London. I had a fascination for all sorts of healing not just orthodox medicine. It was only when I got sick myself with back pain and was on non-steroidal medication that upset my stomach and then on medication for by stomach. I ended up on a whole load of medication and it just made me see what it was like to be on the other side of the bed. 

“I realised that while orthodox medicine had a whole lot to offer and I would not knock it, there wasn’t a cure for me and in fact it was the same for many of my patients. 

 “That’s when my true journey began. I started just out of interest, doing different courses. I studied anatomy physiology, massage and quantum physics. I realised we were much more than physical mass. We are energy and that’s when I started to explore more through energy work.”

She continued; “I found myself going to acupuncturists when I needed help because they would work outside my work hours and I did not have to be asking for time off.

“I did night courses, life coaching courses and nutritional coaching  in Dublin. I am heading to the UK to do battlefield acupuncture which is done on the ears. It can be done sitting in a chair and it is instant pain relief. It can also do a great detox.

“I initially went into practice nursing because I liked the idea of preventive medicine. Having had certain illnesses myself I realised they were all preventable if I had known how. But it wasn’t as preventive as I thought it would be. I was very frustrated.

“When I was working away in my nursing role  I was only using 'the tip of the iceberg' and I had so much to offer with all I had learned but wasn't using it.

“Everything that I do now, everything I have to offer the client I have healed in myself. It is not just something I read from books. It is stuff I know truly works.”

Therese admitted some clients might have an aversion to needles, but she assures them: “I am going to invest in a device that works on acupuncture points. It is a super device and there are no needles involved. It is an amazing piece of technology. Anything that I introduce to my business has to work on me.”

She concluded: “While prevention and well-being are high on my list I also treat back, neck and shoulder pain, insomnia, sciatica, arthritis, fatigue, women’s problems, sinusitis, nausea, anxiety, depression, digestive issues, headaches and asthma and much more.”

Acupuncture is traditional Chinese medicine and has been in existence for thousands of years. 

It is a technique that balances our life force otherwise known as Qi which is believed to flow through pathways in our body known as meridians. When these pathways are blocked it causes 'dis-ease.' It is widely known as a therapeutic practice to relax and heal the body by using very thin needles. Many people have tried this procedure and are satisfied with the results.

Thin hair-like needles are pressed into the skin. The body may feel slight pain which only lasts a couple of seconds. I recently had a client who described it as ‘good pain’. It is a very beneficial way to obtain instant results. 

One main benefit of acupuncture is that it improves the overall well-being of the individual as well as pain relief and relaxation. It promotes changes that enable rapid positive emotional and physical changes. 

Therese Nolan has her clinic at Kachina in Castlebar and appointments can be made by contacting (089) 9616623 or visit www.newuacupuncture.com.

Mental and emotional problems I can help you with

Grief

Insomnia

Anger

Frustration

Lack of contentment and joy

Missing a sense of purpose

Anxiety

Depression

Post natal depression

Emotional pain

Post traumatic stress syndrome

Addiction

Feeling in a rut

Lacking a sense of purpose

Initial consultation with holistic assessment: 60 to 90 minutes

Regular sessions 30 to 60 minutes as you prefer

It is recommended to have a minimum of 4 sessions to see lasting results

Explore and attend to your spiritual side to feel whole and happy. We all have one. Don’t compare yourself to anyone else. Embrace your uniqueness. Dance to the beat of your own drum and be your true authentic self. Meditate for at least 10 mins per day. It clarifies your inner vision and keeps you on track. Keep a gratitude journal and be grateful for at least 10 things per day. When you realise how blessed you are, you immediately feel happier. Two heads work better than one. Always share a problem. Make pure mineralised water, clean air and local sourced and organic food a priority for a healthy mind, body and soul. Spend time in nature every day as it is grounding and is wonderfully calming.