'Over two decades, food intolerance has become a growing problem'

An expert in traditional Chinese medicine, Gerald Cullane has run a health shop in Macroom for 22 years.

He has had a holistic approach to treating various ailments since he began practicing at Nature’s Corner in the town in August, 2004.

He found himself on this career path after seeking treatment for a minor injury in his younger days.

“In my late teens, I went for acupuncture for a minor injury and I was instantly fascinated by the practice,” said Gerald.

“I loved eastern philosophy and alternative medicine, so I went and studied traditional Chinese Medicine in college in Dublin for four years.

“I did two six-weeks sessions in China and got to work in the local hospital on both occasions, which was fascinating.”

Is acupuncture in any way similar to western medicine?

“Just like with western medicine, you have branches of the practice, so you’ve got acupuncture as one branch, herbal medicine as another and so on,” explained Gerald.

“One of my friends at the time was a nutritionist and I could see the benefits of approaching a client’s ailments with an overview of overall health.”

He now treats a multitude of health issues at his shop

“We treat muscle pain, digestion problems, sports injuries, symptoms of menopause, infertility, fatigue, and more.”

Some people might have preconceived ideas about acupuncture.

“It doesn’t hurt as the needles are so very thin, it’s a little pinch,” said Gerald.

“It’s so interesting - you will feel a surge of energy flowing out from the area. Most find it a pleasant sensation, but many will feel tired afterwards. This is because the body is redirecting its energy towards the area that needs heeling. But then their energy levels will improve greatly.

“The length of treatment will vary, the initial consultation, which will assess the person’s overall health, will take about an hour. After that, it’s about 40 minutes per session.”

Gerald explained: “We have to look at how long the person has the condition, what are the underlying reasons are for the condition.

“For example, if someone tweaks a muscle while running, it will be a short course, whereas something more complex will take longer.”

The needles may not necessarily be placed where the ailment is.

“No, the full assessment will determine where the issues are,” said Gerald. “Your symptoms may be the side-effect of the actual problem.

There are four treatment rooms at Nature’s Corner, and the shop also does food intolerance testing and vitamin and mineral testing, massage therapy, reflexology, and more.

“We have practitioners that use the rooms here and offer other alternative treatments,” said Gerald.

Food intolerance diagnoses have become more common in recent years.

“A food intolerance is different to an allergy, said Gerald, “an allergy is where you have a full-blown reaction and you may need to carry an EpiPen.

“An intolerance can cause symptoms such as bloating or tiredness and once you remove the offending food, the symptoms will be alleviated.

“In some cases, the food can be reintroduced at a later stage.”

Gerald agrees more people are developing food intolerances and says there are a number of reasons for this.

“The ground where our food is grown has less nutrients than in the days of our grandparents.

“Crops are sprayed with chemicals and we are eating more preservatives and additives than ever before.

“Breads are made with mixed grains. Gluten, for example, is a difficult protein to break down and can lead to digestive issues.”

So, can a food intolerance be treated with acupuncture?

“Yes,” said Gerald. “First, you identify the offending food, or the condition might be seasonal, for example, we have a lot of hay fever sufferers at the moment.

“In the winter it will be respiratory issues, then we put the treatment plan together.”

The demographic of his clientele has changed since his shop launched in 2004.

“Yes. It used to be older people but now I see all ages,” said Gerald.

“Young people are very aware of alternative treatments to mainstream medicine and I get a lot of men coming in, which I wouldn’t have seen before.

“Many parents are bringing in their small children for advice on Chinese medicine, as they like the idea of not using medication if there is an alternative.”

People have become more interested in their overall health, said Gerald.

“Maybe it is thanks to Google, but many will know what supplements they would like to try and will have a list of questions ready for me.

“At this time of year, many are looking for natural sunscreens and natural antihistamines.”

Gerald says he loves the variety his job offers.

“Every day is different. Every client is different.

“Irish people are very open to trying new things and have an understanding of how nature works and how important our link with nature is.

“Macroom people are very open to alternative medicine and I love seeing repeat customers coming in to the shop and discussing how they’re getting on.”

Nature’s Corner, South Square, Macroom. Check out the Facebook page, call 026 20964 or 087 6210669, or email info@naturescorner.ie