The most important relationship I seek to nurture in the treatment room is the one a patient has with their own body. We live in a culture that teaches us to override pain, defer to outside authority, and push through discomfort. Patients often arrive hoping I can “fix” them, but the truth is, we can’t do the work for them. We can offer guidance, insight and support, but healing requires their full participation.
Brenda Loew, MAc, LAc
Brenda Loew, MAc, LAc, specializes in Toyohari meridian therapy, shonishin (pediatrics) and Manaka treatment approaches at her practice in Seattle, Wash. She is the president of the Toyohari Association of North America, one of the founding members of the Japanese Acupuncture Institute, and has been teaching Japanese-style acupuncture systems since 1994. She can be reached at gentleacupuncture@earthlink.net.