Meet Dr Anthony Sharkey MB BCh BAO DCH
Lasting relief—Not lifelong meds
Functional & Integrative Physician, practising since 1982 in Ireland.
Every day, I meet patients who are exhausted by symptoms and by the search for answers. My role is to cut through the noise, illuminate the root cause, and remind you that your body has an inbuilt ability to heal and rebalance itself—it just needs to be given the right conditions to do so. When this innate ability meets the precision of Functional Medicine, your cells start to remember exactly how to repair, renew and thrive.
Why Functional Medicine Is the Backbone of Everything I Do in Medicine
On the day I graduated from Trinity College Dublin (1982), one question ignited my career:
“How can I uncover the root causes stealing my patients’ vitality—and hand them a practical roadmap back to health?”
Conventional medicine offered many lifesaving tools, yet often stopped at symptom management. My curiosity pulled me further – into Chinese medicine, osteopathy, homoeopathy, mindfulness, movement therapies and the emerging science of systems biology. When Functional Medicine came on the scene it wove these threads into a single, evidence‑based tapestry that honours the best of Western Medicine, cutting‑edge diagnostics and the timeless wisdom of ancient healing traditions.
What makes my practice different
- 40+ Years of Medical Wisdom, One Purpose – I bridge orthodox training with holistic innovation so you are never forced to choose one at the expense of the other.
- Root‑Cause, Drug‑Free Solutions – From anxiety to chronic fatigue, the aim is to correct the underlying imbalances causing symptoms rather than mask them with medication.
Highlights along the way
- Mind‑Body Pioneer – I led Ireland’s first mindfulness programme for medically diagnosed illness (1996) and have guided 4,000+ people to learn the self healing skills of meditation and yoga.
- Creator of Healing Spaces – Founded Ireland’s first purpose‑built yoga & meditation studio and the Dublin Meditation Centre; pioneered holistic coronary‑rehab programmes.
- Buddhist Teacher since 1988 – Two‑and‑a‑half years in intensive retreat deepened my conviction that mindset, emotion and physiology are inseparable.
My philosophy: Personalised care
illness never fits a one‑size‑fits‑all protocol. Together we will:
- Listen deeply – Your story, lifestyle, medications and goals. You are the ultimate authority on your well-being.
- Identify root causes – Using precision lab testing to find nutrient gaps, infections, gut‑brain‑hormone loops, unresolved stress.
- Design a custom plan – Nutrition, botanical & orthomolecular medicine, osteopathy, mindfulness, movement—all integrated into your conventional medical protocols.
Conditions I Commonly Treat
I work with women and men dealing with long-standing issues that often don’t respond to standard care. If you’ve been told “everything looks normal” but you still don’t feel well—this is the kind of work I specialise in.
Energy & Resilience
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Chronic fatigue and burnout
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Long COVID recovery
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Low stamina and post-viral fatigue
Hormones, Mood & Sleep
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Perimenopause and menopause transitions
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Thyroid and adrenal imbalances
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Anxiety and low mood (without harsh side effects)
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Poor sleep and chronic stress patterns
Digestive & Gut Health
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IBS, bloating, reflux, constipation
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SIBO and microbiome imbalance
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Food sensitivities and chronic inflammation
Autoimmune & Mystery Illnesses
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Autoimmune flares and immune dysfunction
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“Medically unexplained symptoms”
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Complex, undiagnosed or multi-system issues
Musculoskeletal & Pain Relief
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Back, neck and joint pain
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Tension-related body pain
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Structural and energetic imbalances
Healthy Ageing & Prevention
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Metabolic and mitochondrial health
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Brain fog and cognitive decline
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Personalised prevention and rejuvenation
If you’ve tried different doctors, bounced between specialists, and filled your shelves with supplements—but still don’t feel well—you’re not alone. Let’s take a fresh look together. Book your free 15-minute call and and feel into whether working with me is your next aligned step.
What Patients Say About Dr Sharkey
Dr. Sharkey was the first medical doctor I met who understood how difficult it is to access real help if you are in the medical system when you have had breast cancer surgery and now have lymphodema to deal with. Marie, Dublin
Four years ago, we took our 9-year-old to Dr. Anthony Sharkey because of nosebleeds. We had already been to the ED department several times, and the ENT doctor didn’t have much to offer. In 10 minutes, Dr. Anthony Sharkey performed an energy Medicine technique. He suggested a traditional remedy; she had not had one nosebleed since. E. Dublin
Menopause has been a difficult journey for me. I have been sceptical of alternatives before but when I knew that Dr. Anthony Sharkey had a foot in both camps I decided to book an appointment. before I consulted with Dr. Anthony Sharkey I had a lot of anxiety and I was having panic attacks. I found this very difficult to deal with. There was a build up inside of me – I was worried about my loved ones. I am delighted and thrilled to have discovered Dr. Sharkey. Meeting him has been a huge benefit to me. I definitely found these few months were so much easier to get through compared to all the other years especially last year. I now have a fantastic inner calm physically and mentally and I can handle panic and anxiety much more easily. Thank you! P. Kildare
My 17-year-old had a painful knee that was causing him to limp and to have to use a crutch at school. He loves GAA and had to stop training and playing. We brought him to physios, etc., who suggested he had a ligament issue and recommended an MRI scan. Before the scan, I got him to Dr Anthony Sharkey. After three sessions, he was walking normally and training usually. It is like a miracle. Also, we have not needed get a scan. R. Naas Co. Kildare
Our 7-month-old granddaughter had terrible eczema on her face. Her doctor prescribed a mild steroid cream that worked only when we used it. When we stopped using it, the eczema returned in a day or two. After advice from the first phone call session with Dr Sharkey she immediately started improving.
Previously, I had to go to Turkey to find a functional Medicine doctor. It is so great to now have my own medically trained doctor who can can understand the advanced functional medicine blood tests. Y. Dublin
I took one of Dr. Anthony Sharkey’s Mindfulness courses several years ago, and I can mark that time when all relationships changed for the better. Why? Because I learned how to love myself. The first of many benefits I noticed was that I was sleeping better. Denise, Galway
Why Work With Me
When you consult with most conventionally trained doctors, you’re often given a prescription or a set of instructions. You might start with good intentions, but without the right support, momentum tends to fade.. That’s where my approach differs. You won’t just get a plan—you’ll receive a clear, actionable path, ongoing guidance, and continuous support to ensure real, lasting transformation.
Our work together isn’t just another consultation. It’s a practical system designed to truly transform your health, making sure this becomes the solution, not just something you “tried.”
1. Conditions Not Improving
Chronic diseases are defined as conditions that last a year or more and require ongoing medical attention and/or limit activities of daily living.
According to the National Risk Assessment Report 2018 more than 60% of people aged over 50 in Ireland have at least one chronic condition, and 18% have two or more.
For many patients conventional medical treatments either don’t appear to be working, or cause more suffering through adverse side effects.
The majority of my patients come to me looking for alternative treatments because they don’t feel they are getting any better and are worn out and disillusioned with conventional medicine.
Some will continue with conventional medicine but use complementary treatments to alleviate side effects or improve results. Others find more effective alternatives. This can sometimes be as simple as as treatment through diet rather than medication.
2. Worry & Confusion
Most doctors and consultants working within a conventional medical setting are so overworked that they are unable to give their patients the time to listen properly or to fully explain conditions and treatments.
It may take many months or even years to get an appointment, and when you do finally see your specialist, the consultation often feels far too rushed.
When you are ill and vulnerable if you don’t feel heard or are subjected to impersonal, by-numbers care this creates more worry and confusion.
I will take the time needed to listen to you, to explain the medical point of view if necessary, and also what potential complementary or alternative treatments are options for you.
There are now many excellent treatments in integrative and functional medicine that use more advanced diagnosis and treatment than mainstream medicine which can take a very long time to catch up with the latest knowledge.
3. Empowerment
Recent studies indicate that patients seek alternative therapies because they see them as less authoritarian and more empowering. They also find them to be more congruent with their own values, beliefs, and philosophical orientation.
I concur with this and the experience with my own patients shows me that empowerment should not be underestimated.
At the very least, alternative therapies such as meditation, reiki and aromatherapy can help promote relaxation and a general sense of wellbeing.
This is important for patients and therefore complements conventional treatment by helping patients to feel better.
My role is to help you navigate your way safely through all the options because natural treatments are not risk free. For example, antioxidant supplements can interfere with chemotherapy, and herbal remedies can affect the way our bodies metabolise prescription drugs.
What Is Your Next Step?
- Your first step is to arrange an initial phone consulation which usually lasts 20 or 30 minutes and costs €60.
- This call will help us decide whether you should invest any more of your time and money in working with me. If we decide to work together, you can register with my practice, and the fee for the this pre-registration call will be deducted from your first full patient consultation.
- Call us now on the number below or use the form to request a call back.
Request A Call Back
Use this form to request a free 15-minute call back with Dr. Sharkey, or to arrange a follow on consultation.
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