Why is self-cultivation relevant to acupuncturists? An interview with Dianne Sommers

1. Home
2. Week of Acupuncture

‘Self-cultivation is not so much about getting more out of yourself, but about getting out of your own way.’

The theme of Acupuncture Awareness Week 2026 is Vitality Throughout Life with Acupuncture. We explore the role acupuncture, rooted in Chinese medicine, can play at different stages of life.

During this week, Dianne Sommers, philosopher, acupuncturist and physiotherapist, will present a webinar for NVA members on self-cultivation and personal development as an acupuncturist. Dianne studied Classical Chinese at the Institute of Sinology in Leiden and has written several books, including De Chinese fascinatie voor de geest (The Chinese Fascination with the Mind), in which she translated a classical text on inner work and self-cultivation. She has also published several books on auriculotherapy and is active as a lecturer and speaker in the fields of acupuncture, philosophy and Eastern healing traditions.

But what exactly does self-cultivation mean, and what can we learn about it from the classical Chinese tradition? We asked Dianne to share her views and experiences.

What exactly is self-cultivation, and why do you believe it is relevant to acupuncturists?
Dianne: In the classical Chinese tradition, self-cultivation is a broad concept. It is not just about inner development, but about cultivating the whole person. This includes how you care for your body, regulate your emotions and attention, refine your behaviour and build relationships with others. At its core is the ability to become increasingly attuned to yourself and your surroundings. This also involves learning to recognise your own patterns, expectations, insecurities and preferences, so that they do not unnecessarily get in the way during treatment.

It is not about constantly working on yourself or continually striving to improve. Self-cultivation is more about nurturing, refining and harmonising your own nature. This is reflected, among other sources, in the Neijing. This classical text addresses not only illness, but also the way we live: how we balance activity and rest, adapt to the seasons, and approach emotions, nutrition, sleep and sexuality. A harmonious approach to these aspects supports the natural course of life.

As an acupuncturist, you do not treat patients through knowledge and techniques alone. You always bring yourself, and your own state of being, into the treatment room. Whether you feel rushed or calm, how quickly you draw conclusions and how well you listen all influence what you perceive. Self-cultivation helps you avoid jumping to conclusions and instead truly observe what is happening with the patient. It is not so much about getting more out of yourself, but about getting out of your own way.

Can you give an example of how an acupuncturist's personal development can influence the way they perceive or listen to a patient?
Dianne: A simple example is the urge to find a solution quickly. As a newly qualified acupuncturist, you may find yourself looking for familiar patterns during a consultation and already thinking about how to address them. This is entirely natural and part of the learning process.

However, as you develop, it becomes easier to leave a situation open for a little longer. You feel less pressure to reach an immediate conclusion and become more comfortable with the fact that some things are not yet entirely clear. For example, someone may tell you that they feel exhausted. Your first thought might be that they are experiencing an energy deficiency. But if you listen more closely, you may discover that there is more to the story. Perhaps a new stage of life calls for change, while the person is trying to hold on to the way they have always lived and functioned.
This changes the question. It is no longer just: ‘How can I help this person regain their energy?’ but also: ‘What does this stage of life require of them, and how can I support them in adapting to it?’

Through personal development, you learn not to view situations too quickly through the lens of your own assumptions. This creates more space to understand what is happening for the individual in front of you.

What can the classical Chinese tradition teach us about developing ourselves as acupuncturists?
Dianne: Classical Chinese medicine places great emphasis on the development of the practitioner. The highest level is described as that of the ‘superior physician’ (shang yi). This involves much more than medical knowledge and technical skills. Personal and spiritual development are also important. After all, an acupuncturist brings not only professional expertise to the treatment room, but also themselves as a person.

The classical texts emphasise that practitioners should work with compassion and inner calm. Every patient deserves the same level of attention and dedication, regardless of age or background. Professional knowledge alone is therefore not enough. Self-awareness and the ability to approach others with an open mind are also essential.

This perspective remains relevant today. High-quality treatment requires not only knowledge and technical skills, but above all attentiveness and the ability to attune yourself to the person sitting in front of you. In this way, medicine becomes more than the application of individual techniques: it becomes a practice of the dao, the path that gives direction to life.

What has your own development as an acupuncturist taught you about your interactions with patients?
Dianne: I have come to realise that effective treatment depends much less on knowledge and technique alone than I once thought. Listening, observing and genuinely allowing space are often at least as important as the intervention itself. Over time, I have therefore become less focused solely on the complaint or the underlying pattern.

I have discovered that it is not enough to approach knowledge as something external to yourself; you have to come to know it through your own body. You only truly learn how to put knowledge into practice by continually reflecting on your own physical and mental state. In this way, theoretical insights gradually become part of your own approach and way of being. Bridging the gap between knowing and doing requires ongoing personal development.

With experience, you gain a clearer understanding of your abilities and the treatment options available to you. But that does not necessarily mean that the therapeutic approach you have in mind is also the most appropriate one for the person in front of you at that particular moment. For me, that is the essence of therapeutic maturity: not only knowing what you can do, but also developing a better sense of what is truly needed — and sometimes, more importantly, what is best left undone.

Discover More During Acupuncture Awareness Week
What does it mean to maintain vitality throughout life, and what role can acupuncture play in this? Discover more during Acupuncture Awareness Week about the Chinese medicine perspective on health and well-being at different stages of life.