Wilma van Maarschalkerweerd

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

When my father had a hernia and didn't know where to turn because of the pain, I had just graduated from the Academy for Natural Medicine in Hilversum. I called one of the teachers asking if he could help my father. He came over and placed a retention needle in my father's ear. Finally, he could relax and sleep reasonably well. I thought: I want to learn that too! Studying worked well for me with two young children, so I started studying acupuncture. When I first looked into the study books, the incomprehensible Chinese terms greeted me, along with many points and lists of symptoms. But I got used to it. Traditional Chinese Medicine turned out to be a beautiful, complete system. On his deathbed, my father had me open a box that was on the windowsill. The ear needle from so many years ago was inside. 'Remember, child?' Ah yes, that was the beginning...

Wilma van Maarschalkerweerd

NVA member since December 1991

Interview: January 2015

What is your most beautiful experience with a patient?

I immediately think of a patient who unfortunately passed away a few years ago. And then I think of the involvement, the journey we shared over ten years, making a little difference with acupuncture in various phases. It started when his wife was terminally ill and passed away. His loneliness, his struggle with religious dogmas, his search for a loving woman. He found her and thus light came back into his life and faith. Throughout that whole period, he came for acupuncture at regular intervals, due to tension, tight muscles, back and leg pain, insomnia. And then he could go on for a while. Until he came with symptoms that persisted and set off my alarm bells. It turned out to be cancer, which ultimately proved fatal for him. Even during that time, he came regularly for pain relief and symptom alleviation, even during the chemotherapy and radiation treatments. His daughter eventually informed me that he had been admitted to a hospice. I said goodbye to him over the phone. I fondly remember the conversations we had, where physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual aspects were discussed, just like during the acupuncture treatments.

What still amazes you in your profession?

Those are the unexpected successes. When I myself think after a treatment: 'I wonder ...' (due to a difficult issue, a heavy life story, or illness) and the patient comes back next time saying: 'I don't know what you did but ... .' And then it comes: better sleep, clearer mind, calmer, less pain. Or the baby in breech position at 36 weeks of pregnancy, who after four moxibustion treatments neatly turns head down and descends. I am convinced of the effectiveness of acupuncture and yet I can still be so surprised by the effect. It evokes a mix of feelings: happy, amazed, humble, grateful that I get to do this, that it happens.

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

When I started my practice, I bought a figurine of the god of longevity, Shou Xing, at a Chinese store. With his friendly face, I found him to be a valuable addition to my room. Honestly, I had no idea of his significance. At that time, my colleague who shared my room had a sinologist as a client. He saw my figurine and mentioned that these types of figurines are ubiquitous in China, akin to our garden gnomes. Since then, my deity is known as Tinus Garden Gnome. Sometimes, my colleague and I communicate through Tinus. We leave a note under his feet saying something like, 'Look at what Tinus has been up to now...' When I go on vacation, I ask my colleague to take good care of Tinus. She informs me that Tinus missed me.
Shou Xing is one of the three lucky stars or gods of Taoism, symbolizing longevity, the passing on of life, and wisdom. But when I see Tinus, I don't immediately think of that. He's just part of us, our Tinus.

Wilma van Maarschalkerweerd
(practice closed as of 01-01-2016)