Madelèn Vernooij

Why did you choose to become an acupuncturist? What or who inspired you?

After working as a physiotherapist for twelve years, I started to wonder more and more why people had the complaints they came to us with. My search for the why led me to acupuncture.
The way of looking at the whole picture in the form of the heaven-earth-human model inspired me to pursue acupuncture training.
In this model, the human is seen as the connection between heaven and earth.
This model still inspires me.

Madelèn Vernooij

NVA member since December 2000

Interview: August 2014

What is your most beautiful experience with a patient?

I find it difficult to name just one beautiful experience. There are several. But I find it very beautiful when people are further helped by my treatment, when they and/or their complaints start moving and changing. Even more beautiful is when they are amazed by it themselves.

What are you still amazed by in your profession?

What I find very astonishing about the profession is that it encompasses so much. The complete human image with all those different perspectives; physical, mental, emotional, spiritual ... In a good refresher course, I sometimes learn to look at things in a different way. This keeps it fascinating for me. I also learn a lot from the people who come to me.
What further amazes me is how difficult it is to make acupuncture seem 'normal' to people. Just yesterday, I read in a profile paper that acupuncturists must possess occult gifts...

Is there something in your practice that embodies the essence of Traditional Chinese Medicine for you?

First of all, the symbol for yin and yang and my practice logo. They both express movement, change, and infinity. Additionally, I am currently very fond of my jade stone, which I use for Gua Sha. The Sha represents evil qi (stagnated life energy) and is removed from the body by Gua (scraping).

Madelèn Vernooij:
www.acupunctuur-demeern.nl