“Afraid of Needles? So am I.”
Hi. I am Renata Rooney — Paul’s wife and the editor of these pages and The Acupuncture Reader, our quarterly newsletter.
I was there when Paul was attending Seattle’s Northwest Institute of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (now part of Bastyr University). I experienced his first treatments.
I am very sensitive to any pain, so it happened that Paul started to gravitate towards the Japanese style of acupuncture with its subtle needling technique, fewer needles in each treatment, and thinner needles. He developed a uniquely sensitive approach to treatments. He responds to his patients’ individual needs and works with them to ensure a positive and comfortable outcome.
He also started to incorporate other treatment techniques: the use of magnets, acupressure, white flower oil, herbal therapy, far infrared lamp that relaxes muscle tissue and increases circulation, nutritional therapy, and stress reduction techniques (see classes).
Our nine-year-old daughter is terrified of needles. Paul uses white flower oil, magnets instead of needles, tiny, easy to swallow herbs, nutritional and lifestyle adjustments, and visualization techniques when needed.
Our four-year-old daughter loves to be treated by needles and joyfully chews on horrible tasting Chinese herbs instead of just swallowing them. Go figure. As she tells her sister: “It does not hurt at all!”
I have learned to appreciate my acupuncture treatments for their effectiveness and deep relaxation. It helps that Paul is very responsive and accommodating to my “extra super sensitivity.”
I just take a deep breath in and slowly breathe out — one needle at a time.
Then I let the treatment shift me into that wonderful, restful, healing state of relaxation where I am no longer worried about, or even thinking of needles.”