The Elmtree Clinic · Galway
Ian
Claxton
MSc Chinese Medicine · Fertility Specialist
CBT & Mindfulness Therapist · 20 Years in Practice
Ian's story
A winding path
to a life's work
The athlete — finding comfort in unlikely places
People often ask how a man came to dedicate his life to women's health, fertility, and pregnancy. It's a fair question — and the honest answer is that the path was anything but straight.
As a boy, Ian's world was competitive swimming. Irish and European youth champion. Part of the first team to swim around the coast of Ireland. The intense, disciplined life of an elite athlete shaped him early — but what stayed with him most wasn't the medals. It was discovering how naturally at ease he felt listening to women, understanding their concerns, and being trusted with what mattered most to them.
The scientist — looking for something more
At university, Ian studied biotechnology and chemistry, moving into medical diagnostics after graduating. He was good at it. But something was missing — a depth of human connection that lab work and diagnostic reports couldn't provide.
He began researching medicine. And then, in the middle of an internet search for the right graduate course, the words Chinese Medicine appeared. He describes it as recognising something he'd been looking for without knowing it was there. He read everything he could find, began his acupuncture training, and not long after found himself working in a hospital in China.
Watching people respond to treatment — to herbs, needles, and the kind of care that sees the whole person — confirmed everything. He returned to Ireland and opened The Elmtree Clinic in Oranmore, Co. Galway in 2007.
"Most people who are struggling to conceive aren't broken — they're out of balance. What they need isn't another test or another intervention. They need someone to look at the whole picture, explain what's actually going on, and give their body what it needs to restore itself."
— Ian ClaxtonThe father — the thing that changed everything
In 2009, Ian became a father. He will tell you it is the greatest influence on his life and work — and not only in the way you might expect.
He and his partner experienced their own struggle with infertility. He saw first-hand what it does to a relationship, to a person's sense of self, and to hope. And he saw — also first-hand — how a mind-body approach to treatment could turn that around.
That experience became the heart of everything. He wanted to share what he'd learned with as many couples as possible. Fertility support became not just a specialism but a calling. Today, as the father of four children, he describes the competitive drive of his athletic years as something that has been quietly replaced — by a deep wish to help as many families as possible to begin.
The clinic — where science meets two thousand years of medicine
The Elmtree Clinic was built on a conviction: that Chinese medicine and modern science belong together, not in opposition. Ian's background in biotechnology means he reads the research. His training in CBT and mindfulness means he understands the psychological dimension of fertility — the anxiety, the grief, the relentlessness of it — as clearly as he understands a tongue diagnosis.
Every formula recommended at The Elmtree Clinic is tailored to the individual. Every consultation starts with listening. Every patient is seen as a whole — not a set of test results, not a diagnosis, not an age.
The Elmtree Herbal range is the extension of that clinic into the world — so that the same standard of care can reach women and men who can't get to Galway, wherever they are in Ireland or beyond.
I look forward to working with you,
Ian"After two years of trying and one failed IVF, Ian's treatment changed everything. Six months later, I was pregnant naturally. I believe he saved my dream of becoming a mother."
"My husband's sperm analysis improved dramatically after 12 weeks of herbal treatment. The doctor couldn't believe the numbers. We're now expecting our first child."
"I was told my chances were very low due to poor ovarian reserve. Ian gave me back not just hope, but results. Our daughter was born last spring. We call her our little miracle."
The next step
Start with a
conversation
Whether you want to come in and see Ian in Galway, or you'd like to understand your pattern first with the free assessment — there's a right next step for wherever you are right now.
A question I am often asked is how come a guy ended up specialising in the area of health and in particular women’s health, pregnancy and childbirth. Of course it is not something I would have guessed when I was a kid if someone asked what I wanted to do when I grew up!
Like most journeys in life, my path to working in fertility has been a winding one. As a boy my absolute passion was competitive swimming. I was an Irish and European youth champion and part of the first team to swim around the coast of Ireland. At the time I loved the intense life of a competitive athlete, and I discovered how comfortable I felt in the company of women, listening to their thoughts and concerns.
In University I studied biotechnology and chemistry and began working in the area of medical diagnostics. Before long however I felt a pull to work with people in a more connected way. I contemplated returning to university to study medicine, but in my internet searches to find the best course, the words ‘Chinese Medicine’ jumped out at me like long-lost friends. I read everything I could about this inspiring holistic approach and began my acupuncture training. I soon found myself working in a hospital in China and feeling absolute joy at seeing people respond to their treatment. The more people we treated, the more I could see the effectiveness of natural foods, herbs, acupuncture and lifestyle change. On returning to Ireland I opened
The Elmtree Clinic in Oranmore, Co. Galway in 2007.
In 2009 I became a dad and this has been the greatest influence on my life so far. We endured our own struggle with infertility and I saw first-hand how a mind-body treatment approach could turn infertility around. I wanted to share my learning with as many couples as possible, and in time this became the main focus of my practice and my life’s work.
As a parent of four small children I can see how much my edges have softened in the past few years. Whatever competitive streak I had has disappeared and been replaced with a yearning to help as many couples have a successful pregnancy as I possibly can. The Elmtree HERBS and Clinic are the means to help me do that. I am so inspired about how this work can help people’s lives and families to bloom!
I look forward to working with you,
Ian
Founded by Ian Claxton in 2007, the mission of the Clinic is to give you all the support you need to bring your body back to wellness and health.
We provide a wide choice of complementary therapies which can support you on your health plan, including massage, nutrition and psychotherapy.
Contact me on 0863034593 or visit our Clinic website for more information.
Over the years we have helped thousands of people back to health from fertility issues to back pain. We develop an individual programme for you and your body.