Who am I?
What do I do?
How I can enrich your clinical practice
As 'they' say in Ireland,I was born and bred in West Cork many years ago.
I had the good fortune to have fields, woods, hills, lakes and sea at my doorstep and this beauty formed a love and respect for all the elements of nature and my surroundings. As the years passed my knowledge, my respect, and love of plants grew until I finally made the decision to explore their world more fully and train as a medical herbalist. I didn't just want to know more about them but, more importantly, their relationship with us ... how did they fit into our life and did we fit into their world.
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Like other health-care professionals my training involved the study of the biological sciences, clinical diagnostic techniques, and the tradition and science of plants that can be used therapeutically. I obtained an M.Sc in herbal medicine from the University of Wales, and a PhD from University College Cork. My MSc thesis concentrated on the scientific foundation for the therapeutic use of Crataegus monogyna and My PhD dissertation examined Irish vernacular medicine in the 21st century.
These in-depth studies, involving the integration of science and traditional knowledge, as well as continued participation in research groups, allow me to approach health care issues from a very broad perspective.
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Even though I was trained through the conventional route of university, I am blessed in knowing many traditional healers, both in Ireland and abroad, who were taught through their family lineage. Such healers belong to the world of vernacular medicine, and their skills, stories, and therapeutic practices, are of great interest to me. These healers have acquired their skills and practices through clearly defined pathways, as well as 'dream-time, and they continue to inform and improve my approach to clinical practice and patient care due to their wisdom, insight, and extensive knowledge.
I also teach, as an adjunct lecturer, in the Dept of Ethnology, University College, Cork, where my main area of research is Irish indigenous medicine. The wisdom and insights contained in this tradition continues to improve and refine my approach to medicine and patient treatment.
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It is this broad sweep of interest, which combines both the Irish vernacular tradition and modern research, that allows me to help you, whether you are a primary care physician, nurse, therapist, or other health care practitioner, to enlarge and enrich your expertise and bring a new and unique approach to your clinical practice.
I had the good fortune to have fields, woods, hills, lakes and sea at my doorstep and this beauty formed a love and respect for all the elements of nature and my surroundings. As the years passed my knowledge, my respect, and love of plants grew until I finally made the decision to explore their world more fully and train as a medical herbalist. I didn't just want to know more about them but, more importantly, their relationship with us ... how did they fit into our life and did we fit into their world.
*****************
Like other health-care professionals my training involved the study of the biological sciences, clinical diagnostic techniques, and the tradition and science of plants that can be used therapeutically. I obtained an M.Sc in herbal medicine from the University of Wales, and a PhD from University College Cork. My MSc thesis concentrated on the scientific foundation for the therapeutic use of Crataegus monogyna and My PhD dissertation examined Irish vernacular medicine in the 21st century.
These in-depth studies, involving the integration of science and traditional knowledge, as well as continued participation in research groups, allow me to approach health care issues from a very broad perspective.
********************
Even though I was trained through the conventional route of university, I am blessed in knowing many traditional healers, both in Ireland and abroad, who were taught through their family lineage. Such healers belong to the world of vernacular medicine, and their skills, stories, and therapeutic practices, are of great interest to me. These healers have acquired their skills and practices through clearly defined pathways, as well as 'dream-time, and they continue to inform and improve my approach to clinical practice and patient care due to their wisdom, insight, and extensive knowledge.
I also teach, as an adjunct lecturer, in the Dept of Ethnology, University College, Cork, where my main area of research is Irish indigenous medicine. The wisdom and insights contained in this tradition continues to improve and refine my approach to medicine and patient treatment.
*****************
It is this broad sweep of interest, which combines both the Irish vernacular tradition and modern research, that allows me to help you, whether you are a primary care physician, nurse, therapist, or other health care practitioner, to enlarge and enrich your expertise and bring a new and unique approach to your clinical practice.
Peer reviewed articles – sole author.
Folk Medicine and Its Second Life. EstudiosIrlandeses. 2017.
Available at https://www.estudiosirlandeses.org/2017/10/folk-medicine-and-its-second-life/
A Tale of Two Bonesetters Béascna 8 (2013) 89-102
Available at https://www.ucc.ie/en/media/research/corkfolkloreproject/folkloredept/KingstonATaleofTwoBone-setters.pdf
The Evil Eye and Biomedicine. Béascna 2017·
Selected Herbs and their Uses in the National Folklore Schools Collection (NFCS), Co. Clare: A Case Study. Béascna 2011 ·
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Peer reviewed papers, with others.
Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. M.Tassel, R.Kingston, D.Gilroy, M.Lehane, A. Furey. Pharmacognosy reviews. 01/2010; 4(7):32-41
Looking Backward to find the Path Forward. A. Furey, R. Kingston. Pharmacognosy Research 05/2010 2(3) 121-4
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Conference presentations
2019: Irish Conference of Medievalists, University College Cork
The Provenance of Some Plant Knowledge Today.
2019: Herbfeast, Lough Lannagh, Co. Sligo
Do We Need to Take Heed of Culture in Clinical Practice, Especially our Own?
2016: Irish Institute of Medical Herbalists: AGM conference
Worldview and Clinical Practice
2013. Magic Moments in Maynooth, Maynooth University. An examination of the therapeutic role of charms and rituals
2016: New Crops Old Fields. Re-imagining Irish Folklore. Queens University Belfast The Evil Eye and Bio-medicine
2014. Botanica. Trinity College Dublin. Irish Traditional Medicine within the Global Context
2013. Magic Moments in Maynooth, Maynooth University. An examination of the therapeutic role of charms and rituals
2011 Collins Barracks, Dublin: Irish Ethno-Medicine: The lineage, validity and the reasons for the non-development of Irish Traditional Medicine
Folk Medicine and Its Second Life. EstudiosIrlandeses. 2017.
Available at https://www.estudiosirlandeses.org/2017/10/folk-medicine-and-its-second-life/
A Tale of Two Bonesetters Béascna 8 (2013) 89-102
Available at https://www.ucc.ie/en/media/research/corkfolkloreproject/folkloredept/KingstonATaleofTwoBone-setters.pdf
The Evil Eye and Biomedicine. Béascna 2017·
Selected Herbs and their Uses in the National Folklore Schools Collection (NFCS), Co. Clare: A Case Study. Béascna 2011 ·
*********************
Peer reviewed papers, with others.
Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. M.Tassel, R.Kingston, D.Gilroy, M.Lehane, A. Furey. Pharmacognosy reviews. 01/2010; 4(7):32-41
Looking Backward to find the Path Forward. A. Furey, R. Kingston. Pharmacognosy Research 05/2010 2(3) 121-4
*********************
Conference presentations
2019: Irish Conference of Medievalists, University College Cork
The Provenance of Some Plant Knowledge Today.
2019: Herbfeast, Lough Lannagh, Co. Sligo
Do We Need to Take Heed of Culture in Clinical Practice, Especially our Own?
2016: Irish Institute of Medical Herbalists: AGM conference
Worldview and Clinical Practice
2013. Magic Moments in Maynooth, Maynooth University. An examination of the therapeutic role of charms and rituals
2016: New Crops Old Fields. Re-imagining Irish Folklore. Queens University Belfast The Evil Eye and Bio-medicine
2014. Botanica. Trinity College Dublin. Irish Traditional Medicine within the Global Context
2013. Magic Moments in Maynooth, Maynooth University. An examination of the therapeutic role of charms and rituals
2011 Collins Barracks, Dublin: Irish Ethno-Medicine: The lineage, validity and the reasons for the non-development of Irish Traditional Medicine