Présent & Future

In the past two thousand years, the development of acupuncture went through many ups and downs in China. Due to the overwhelming predominance of Western medicine in all aspects of health care in China, the biggest challenge for the future development of acupuncture and Chinese medicine in China is to keep its integrity and core strength （望闻问切 辨症施治）.

 

INTEGRATED APPROACH

Chinese Medicine and Western medicine have very different perspectives and treatment techniques for all illnesses and they have been proven to have their own strengths and limitations. We are firm believers of an integrated medicine, where Chinese Medicine and Western medicine work together harmoniously to provide the best care for our patients.

It is remarkable that the trend of integration is progressing rapidly in main areas, such as, pain control, integrated oncology and infertility treatment in North America. In our personal experience, the openness to acupuncture and Chinese medicine from the medical establishment is nothing less than spectacular. Just 10 years ago, I might only get one to a handful of patients referred by Western medicine health professionals. And today, over 30% of my patients are referred by various medical professionals.

From a public health point of view, the integration of acupuncture and Chinese medicine to the mainstream public health system seemed inevitable, when more and more patients are benefiting from these ancient healing arts. They are effective, safe, without side-effects and a cost-effective treatment for many mental and physical illnesses.

 

Acupuncture & public health care

British Columbia became the first North America jurisdiction to provide public funded acupuncture treatment several years ago. In Quebec, there is a currently attempt to include acupuncture in the publicly funded IVF treatment program, because it is remarkably cost effective for all stakeholders – the provincial government, patients, western medicine fertility doctors and acupuncturists.

The greatest challenge for Chinese medicine practitioners is to integrate acupuncture and Chinese medicine to the publicly funded health care system without any disintegration from the core values and strength of acupuncture and Chinese medicine.

Présent & Future

In the past two thousand years, the development of acupuncture went through many ups and downs in China. Due to the overwhelming predominance of Western medicine in all aspects of health care in China, the biggest challenge for the future development of acupuncture and Chinese medicine in China is to keep its integrity and core strength （望闻问切 辨症施治）.

 

INTEGRATED APPROACH

Chinese Medicine and Western medicine have very different perspectives and treatment techniques for all illnesses and they have been proven to have their own strengths and limitations. We are firm believers of an integrated medicine, where Chinese Medicine and Western medicine work together harmoniously to provide the best care for our patients.

It is remarkable that the trend of integration is progressing rapidly in main areas, such as, pain control, integrated oncology and infertility treatment in North America. In our personal experience, the openness to acupuncture and Chinese medicine from the medical establishment is nothing less than spectacular. Just 10 years ago, I might only get one to a handful of patients referred by Western medicine health professionals. And today, over 30% of my patients are referred by various medical professionals.

From a public health point of view, the integration of acupuncture and Chinese medicine to the mainstream public health system seemed inevitable, when more and more patients are benefiting from these ancient healing arts. They are effective, safe, without side-effects and a cost-effective treatment for many mental and physical illnesses.

 

Acupuncture & public health care

British Columbia became the first North America jurisdiction to provide public funded acupuncture treatment several years ago. In Quebec, there is a currently attempt to include acupuncture in the publicly funded IVF treatment program, because it is remarkably cost effective for all stakeholders – the provincial government, patients, western medicine fertility doctors and acupuncturists.

The greatest challenge for Chinese medicine practitioners is to integrate acupuncture and Chinese medicine to the publicly funded health care system without any disintegration from the core values and strength of acupuncture and Chinese medicine.

Risques Et Effets Secondaires

The safe practice of acupuncture and herbal medicine has been continually documented over many centuries. Reports of adverse reactions to acupuncture & herbal medicine are extremely rare in clinical practice. Most reported accidents and infections to organs or tissues appear to be related to violations of sterile procedure, negligence of the practitioner, or both.

 

Studies prove safety of acupunture & tcm

A systematic review of case reports on the safety of acupuncture, involving 98 papers published in the English language from 22 countries during the period from 1965 to 1999, found only 202 incidents. The number of incidents appeared to decline as training standards and licensing requirements were enhanced. Very few hepatitis or other infections associated with acupuncture have been reported since 1988, when widespread use of disposable needles was introduced and national certification requirements for clean needle techniques were developed and enforced as an acupuncture licensing requirement.

For cancer patients, and other patients with a compromised immuno system, extra precautions must be taken and strict clean needle techniques must be applied when acupuncture treatment is given.

Minor adverse effects of acupuncture, such as pain at needling sites, hematoma, tiredness, lightheadedness, drowsiness, and localized skin irritation, have been reported. These minor adverse effects can be minimized by appropriate patient management, including local pressing and massage at the needling site after treatment.

 

Safety compared with other treatments

Commenting on the relative safety of acupuncture compared with other treatments, the NIH (National Health Institute of USA) consensus panel stated that “(a)dverse side effects of acupuncture are extremely low and often lower than conventional treatments.” They also stated:

  • “…the incidence of adverse effects is substantially lower than that of many drugs or other accepted medical procedures used for the same condition. For example, musculoskeletal conditions, such as fibromyalgia, myofascial pain, and tennis elbow… are conditions for which acupuncture may be beneficial. These painful conditions are often treated with, among other things, anti-inflammatory medications (aspirin, ibuprofen, etc.) or with steroid injections. Both medical interventions have a potential for deleterious side effects but are still widely used and are considered acceptable treatments.”

Risques Et Effets Secondaires

The safe practice of acupuncture and herbal medicine has been continually documented over many centuries. Reports of adverse reactions to acupuncture & herbal medicine are extremely rare in clinical practice. Most reported accidents and infections to organs or tissues appear to be related to violations of sterile procedure, negligence of the practitioner, or both.

 

Studies prove safety of acupunture & tcm

A systematic review of case reports on the safety of acupuncture, involving 98 papers published in the English language from 22 countries during the period from 1965 to 1999, found only 202 incidents. The number of incidents appeared to decline as training standards and licensing requirements were enhanced. Very few hepatitis or other infections associated with acupuncture have been reported since 1988, when widespread use of disposable needles was introduced and national certification requirements for clean needle techniques were developed and enforced as an acupuncture licensing requirement.

For cancer patients, and other patients with a compromised immuno system, extra precautions must be taken and strict clean needle techniques must be applied when acupuncture treatment is given.

Minor adverse effects of acupuncture, such as pain at needling sites, hematoma, tiredness, lightheadedness, drowsiness, and localized skin irritation, have been reported. These minor adverse effects can be minimized by appropriate patient management, including local pressing and massage at the needling site after treatment.

 

Safety compared with other treatments

Commenting on the relative safety of acupuncture compared with other treatments, the NIH (National Health Institute of USA) consensus panel stated that “(a)dverse side effects of acupuncture are extremely low and often lower than conventional treatments.” They also stated:

  • “…the incidence of adverse effects is substantially lower than that of many drugs or other accepted medical procedures used for the same condition. For example, musculoskeletal conditions, such as fibromyalgia, myofascial pain, and tennis elbow… are conditions for which acupuncture may be beneficial. These painful conditions are often treated with, among other things, anti-inflammatory medications (aspirin, ibuprofen, etc.) or with steroid injections. Both medical interventions have a potential for deleterious side effects but are still widely used and are considered acceptable treatments.”

Histoire

Les archéologues ont trouvé dans le nord de la Chine des aiguilles d’acupuncture de jade et de pierre, Bian Shi (砭石）datant de 3000 ans a.v.J.-C. Cependant, les premiers écrits qui font mention de l’acupuncture est le Huang Di Nei Jing Su Wen (黄帝内经) ou Classique Interne de l’Empereur Jaune.

L’Empereur Jaune (黄帝), dans une conversation célèbre avec son médecin Qi Bo (岐伯）, discute de l’ensemble de l’Art médical chinois. Ces conversations deviendront plus tard le texte monumental qu’est le Nei Jing. On croit jusqu’à maintenant qu’il a été compilé par différents médecins autour de 230 av. J.-C. L’ouvrage est constitué de deux parties :

  1. Le Su Wen （素问）ou les Questions simples, introduit les notions d’anatomie et de physiologie, étiologies des maladies, les pathologies, le diagnostic, la différentiation des syndromes, les théories fondamentales du yin-yang et des cinq mouvements, les règles d’harmonie entre l’homme et la nature, les règles de prévention et les traitements.
  2. Le Ling Shu (灵枢）ou Pivot Spirituel dédié à l’acupuncture, avec la description des méridiens, la fonction des organes zang-fu, les 9 types d’aiguilles, la fonction des points d’acupuncture, les techniques d’aiguilles, types de Qi et la localisation de 160 points.

 

De l’époque classique à aujourd’hui

Durant la période des Royaumes Combattants (475 à 221 av. J.-C.) les aiguilles de métal ont remplacé les aiguilles de pierre. Quelques aiguilles d’or et d’argent ont été retrouvées dans une ancienne tombe datant de 110 av. J.-C. Le Ling Shu, rédigé probablement à cette époque, présente neuf techniques d’acupuncture fondamentales. D’autres ouvrages historiques permettent de constater que plusieurs médecins pratiquaient l’acupuncture au cours de cette période.

Une autre œuvre majeure de cette époque, le Nan Jing (难经）ou le Classique des Difficultés, aborde la théorie des cinq mouvements, le diagnostic par la langue, les huit méridiens extraordinaires et d’autres aspects importants de l’acupuncture. C’est le premier ouvrage qui apporte des innovations importantes à l’acupuncture depuis le Classique Interne de l’Empereur Jaune.

À partir de 260-265 ap. J.-C., le célèbre médecin Huang Fu Mi （皇甫谧）compila l’essentiel de la littérature déjà existante sur l’acupuncture dans un ouvrage marquant – Le Classique de l’Acupuncture et Moxibustion. Le texte contient 12 volumes et décrit 369 points d’acupuncture. L’ouvrage est organisé selon la théorie des organes zang-fu, du Qi et du Sang, des méridiens et des Vaisseaux-Luo, des points d’acupuncture et de leurs applications cliniques. Ce livre est connu comme étant l’un des ouvrages les plus influents de l’histoire de la médecine chinoise.

L’acupuncture était très populaire durant la dynastie des Jin （晋朝）et les dynasties du Nord et du Sud (南北朝）(265-581 ap. J.-C.). Pour plusieurs générations, la famille Xu Xi était connue comme des experts dans l’art de l’acupuncture. Au cours de cette période, de nombreux textes et un ensemble de chartes ont augmenté les connaissances et l’application de l’acupuncture.

L’acupuncture a connu un développement important durant la dynastie des Sui et des Tang （隋唐 (580-907). Sous la requête du gouvernement des Tang, (627-649 ap. J.-C.), le célèbre médecin Zhen Quan a revisité les plus importants textes et chartes d’acupuncture. Un autre médecin célèbre de cette époque, Sun Simiao （孙思邈）, écrit les Prescriptions majeures de mille onces d’or (650-692). Ce texte inclut de nombreuses informations sur l’acupuncture issues des siècles précédents. Durant cette période, l’acupuncture devient une branche particulière de la médecine chinoise et les praticiens sont dorénavant nommés des acupuncteurs. Des écoles d’acupuncture apparaissent et l’enseignement de celle-ci est intégré à l’éducation médicale impériale.

Au cours de la dynastie Song (960-1279), le médecin célèbre Wang Weiyi écrivit Le Manuel Illustré des Points d’Acupuncture et de Moxibustion. Ce livre contient la description de 657 points d’acupuncture. L’auteur a également coulé deux statues de bronze sur lesquelles les méridiens et les points sont gravés afin de faciliter l’enseignement.


La dynastie Ming (1568-1644) est la période la plus riche pour l’avancement de l’acupuncture. Plusieurs développements se sont produits durant cette période dont :

  1. La révision des textes classiques
  2. Raffinement des techniques d’acupuncture et des manipulations
  3. Invention des bâtons de moxa pour la moxibustion indirecte
  4. Création de points d’acupuncture hors des méridiens principaux
  5. L’ouvrage encyclopédique en 120 volumes- Principe et pratique de la Médecine- rédigé par le célèbre médecine Wang Gendung
  6. 1601 – Yang Jizhou rédige le Zhenjin Dacheng (Principes de l’Acupuncture et de la Moxibustion). Ce grand traité sur l’acupuncture renforce les principes du Nei Jing et du Nan Jing. Ce travail est la fondation des enseignements de George Soulié de Morant qui a introduit l’acupuncture en Europe.

De la dynastie Qing jusqu’à la Guerre de l’Opium (1644-1840) la médecine par les herbes est l’outil principal des médecins et l’acupuncture, de son côté, n’est plus utilisée.

 

Modern History of Acupuncture

Following the Revolution of 1911, Western Medicine was introduced and Acupuncture and Chinese Herbology were suppressed. Due to the large population and need for medical care, Acupuncture and herbs remained popular among the folk people, and the “barefoot doctor” emerged.

In 1950 Chairman Mao officially united Traditional Chinese Medicine with Western Medicine, and acupuncture became established in many hospitals. In the same year Comrade Zhu De reinforced Traditional Chinese Medicine with his book New Acupuncture.

In the late 1950’s to the 1960’s Acupuncture research continued with – further study of the ancient texts, clinical effect on various diseases, acupuncture anesthesia, and acupuncture’s effect on the internal organs.

From the 1970’s to the present, Acupuncture continues to play an important role in China’s medical system. China has taken the lead in researching all aspects of acupuncture’s application and clinical effects. Although acupuncture has become modernized, it will never lose its connection to a philosophy established thousands of years ago.

Avantages

Acupuncture has endured the test of time for thousands of years in China. In the last millennium, it spread to China’s neighbouring countries like Japan, Korea and Vietnam. And lately it is gaining popularity steadily in the west, all for very good reasons.

 

powerful, versatile yet simplistic

First, acupuncture is very powerful, versatile, and yet simplistic to the extreme – all one needs are acupuncture needles, cotton balls and alcohol. In an expert acupuncturist’s hands, it can bring health benefits to just about anyone for any illness. The World Health Organization recognized acupuncture’s therapeutic value in treating hundreds of illnesses in 2003.

Studies have found out that acupuncture can be used to treat both physical and mental illnesses. It is also useful for treatment of chronic diseases. It helps in improving memory, boosting immune system, and in regulating hormones. Many people have reported that they get relief from headache, back pain, joint pain, insomnia, stress and fatigue after completing prescribed acupuncture sessions. It restores energy and increases overall stamina of the body.

 

no side effects

Second, acupuncture is extremely safe and has virtually no side effects – if carried out by an experienced and lisenced acupuncturist. The NIH (National Institutes of Health) has reported that acupuncture has lower adverse effects compared to the prescribed medications and other medical procedures followed for treatment of the similar conditions.

 

complementary therapy

Third, acupuncture can be an effective complementary therapy to treat some of the most complex and difficult diseases, such as severe migraine, cancer and infertility. As a matter of a fact, pain control, integrated oncology and infertility treatment are probably three most applied fields for acupuncture in the USA and Canada.

Acupuncture, Acupuncture & herbes

Historically, Traditional Chinese Medicine has five healing techniques: acupuncture (针灸), herbal medicine (中药), massothreapy(按摩), dietary regulations (食疗) and therapeutic exercises, such as Tai Chi (太极), Kong Fu (功夫) and Qi Gong (meditation, 气功).

 

herbal medicine in China

In clinical practice, herbal medicine is much widely used in China. In addition to it long historical use, herbal medicine is effective, versatile, easy to take, economical, accessible and acceptable. There are many Chinese medicine doctors in China use acupuncture rarely or not at all.

 

herbal medicine in North America

In the USA and Canada, however, Acupuncture is the predominant branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine being practiced. There are many probable reasons:

  1. The herbal medicine is not in the required curriculum in many Acupuncture / Traditional Chinese medicine schools. So it is not widely taught, therefore not widely used. As a result, not many patients have benefited from herbal medicine.
  2. The effective application of herbal medicine is relatively easy to learn, but quite challenging to master. In north America, due to the limitation of the educational system and working environment, most of the acupuncturists do not have the opportunity to follow a master or work with experienced practitioners for a few years to nurture their skills and building confidence, after their graduation. For most of them, a weekend seminar or two per year is all they get for their professional development. As a result, some acupuncturists don’t use herbal medicine at all, while others can only use pre-packaged Chinese herbal formulas to supplement acupuncture treatment.
  3. The safe practice of herbal medicine has been continually documented over many thousands of years and reports of adverse reactions to herbal medicine are extremely rare in clinical practice. Most of the reported cases are caused by poor quality control of herbs (reports of heavy metals, pesticide residues…) and misuse of herbal medicine. Take Ephedra or Ma huang (麻黄）, for an example. It has been safely used for thousands of years to treat asthma, hay fever and cold in TCM, but misused in dietary supplement industry. As a result, it tarnished the image of Chinese herbal medicine and it is currently banned by USA FDA and Health Canada. With expereience and careful adiministration, the risk of complications from herbal medicines are minimal.

Knowledgeable Chinese medical practitioners often combine two or more of these methods to treat certain conditions. If co-ordinated properly, the combined treatment often brings much better and faster therapeutic results.

For example, to treat a digestive system dysfunction caused by long term stress, a combination acupuncture, herbal medicine and even Tuina are often prescribed:

  • Acupuncture works by inserting needles in specific points to promote energy circulation in meridian channels and further regulate the internal organs functions
  • Herbs taken orally work on a much deeper level and provide nutrition or detoxification directly to the internal organs
  • Tuina is applied directly to areas of muscle pain or nodes, which often accompany a digestive system dysfunction, to help these muscle groups relax and expel toxins into the blood stream and eventually to discharge these toxins from the body

　

These three therapies often supplement each other, so the speed and quality of recovery can be greater in many cases.

 

　

benefit based on individual needs

Patients will benefit fully from the herbal remedies, when prescribed and composed to address their individual needs.

We will obviously provide patients with the exact treatment they ask for, but it is really better for patients to listen to our recommendation, whether it is acupuncture, massotherapy, herbal therapy or any combination of these three. After all, we have many years of experience of treating wide variety of illnesses, and you may only have preconceived notions of certain therapy. To dictate a therapy before consulting with us is the equivalent of telling a plumber you hired to do his work only with left hand or right hand – you may not get the full benefit of what you paid for.

Acupuncture & herbes

Historically, Traditional Chinese Medicine has five healing techniques: acupuncture (针灸), herbal medicine (中药), massothreapy(按摩), dietary regulations (食疗) and therapeutic exercises, such as Tai Chi (太极), Kong Fu (功夫) and Qi Gong (meditation, 气功).

 

herbal medicine in China

In clinical practice, herbal medicine is much widely used in China. In addition to it long historical use, herbal medicine is effective, versatile, easy to take, economical, accessible and acceptable. There are many Chinese medicine doctors in China use acupuncture rarely or not at all.

 

herbal medicine in North America

In the USA and Canada, however, Acupuncture is the predominant branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine being practiced. There are many probable reasons:

  1. The herbal medicine is not in the required curriculum in many Acupuncture / Traditional Chinese medicine schools. So it is not widely taught, therefore not widely used. As a result, not many patients have benefited from herbal medicine.
  2. The effective application of herbal medicine is relatively easy to learn, but quite challenging to master. In north America, due to the limitation of the educational system and working environment, most of the acupuncturists do not have the opportunity to follow a master or work with experienced practitioners for a few years to nurture their skills and building confidence, after their graduation. For most of them, a weekend seminar or two per year is all they get for their professional development. As a result, some acupuncturists don’t use herbal medicine at all, while others can only use pre-packaged Chinese herbal formulas to supplement acupuncture treatment.
  3. The safe practice of herbal medicine has been continually documented over many thousands of years and reports of adverse reactions to herbal medicine are extremely rare in clinical practice. Most of the reported cases are caused by poor quality control of herbs (reports of heavy metals, pesticide residues…) and misuse of herbal medicine. Take Ephedra or Ma huang (麻黄）, for an example. It has been safely used for thousands of years to treat asthma, hay fever and cold in TCM, but misused in dietary supplement industry. As a result, it tarnished the image of Chinese herbal medicine and it is currently banned by USA FDA and Health Canada. With expereience and careful adiministration, the risk of complications from herbal medicines are minimal.

Knowledgeable Chinese medical practitioners often combine two or more of these methods to treat certain conditions. If co-ordinated properly, the combined treatment often brings much better and faster therapeutic results.

For example, to treat a digestive system dysfunction caused by long term stress, a combination acupuncture, herbal medicine and even Tuina are often prescribed:

  • Acupuncture works by inserting needles in specific points to promote energy circulation in meridian channels and further regulate the internal organs functions
  • Herbs taken orally work on a much deeper level and provide nutrition or detoxification directly to the internal organs
  • Tuina is applied directly to areas of muscle pain or nodes, which often accompany a digestive system dysfunction, to help these muscle groups relax and expel toxins into the blood stream and eventually to discharge these toxins from the body

　

These three therapies often supplement each other, so the speed and quality of recovery can be greater in many cases.

 

　

benefit based on individual needs

Patients will benefit fully from the herbal remedies, when prescribed and composed to address their individual needs.

We will obviously provide patients with the exact treatment they ask for, but it is really better for patients to listen to our recommendation, whether it is acupuncture, massotherapy, herbal therapy or any combination of these three. After all, we have many years of experience of treating wide variety of illnesses, and you may only have preconceived notions of certain therapy. To dictate a therapy before consulting with us is the equivalent of telling a plumber you hired to do his work only with left hand or right hand – you may not get the full benefit of what you paid for.