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Having faith in France's TCM master

By Ye Jun (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-11-11 10:40

Jacques Pialoux thinks he may have been a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) doctor in a previous life.

"To me, studying acupuncture and moxibustion was like unsealing old memories," writes the 79-year-old Frenchman in his book, Guide to Acupuncture and Moxibustion.

Pialoux learned his skills from professors Charles Laville-Mery and Borsarello in the 1970s, and has since practiced TCM for more than 30 years. He bases his practice on ancient Chinese teachings, such as The Yellow Emperor's Internal Classics, The Book of Changes, and The Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion.

Pialoux finds that much of what he has learned is absent from modern China. He says his teacher's teacher was Chinese and his knowledge came from China.

"I hope to bring back to China what I learned - the soul of acupuncture and moxibustion, which originated in ancient China," he says.

He recently ran a training course in Shanghai, giving lectures to students from China and abroad. The course was jointly organized by Acupuncture Without Borders (AWB) and Shanghai's Insight Ancient Chinese Medicine Institute. Over two weeks, Pialoux worked about 10 hours a day, training his students.

Xu Yarong, assistant manager at the institute, says TCM doctors, even those from China, can benefit from Pialoux.

"The content of his book has been lost on the Chinese mainland," says Xu, who holds a master's degree in acupuncture and tuina (Chinese manipulative therapy) from Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

"It belongs to the jingjin (channel and tendon) school of treatment, which was lost after the Tang and Song dynasties (AD 618-1279), but was preserved in Japan and Vietnam, and then passed on to Europe," she says.

Pialoux says his methods involve analyzing the different levels of energy flow in the human body. Treatment is based on replenishing, dissipating or diverting this energy.

According to Pialoux, certain channels of qi (energy) act as antenna between the human body and heaven and earth. He also stresses the use of shen (mind power), and instinct, by the acupuncturist or moxibustionist during treatment and the exchange of spiritual energy between doctor and patient.

"Pialoux has interpreted clearly the system of energy for the human body. His knowledge is based on ancient Chinese medical literature and his experience," says Li Xin, principal of the Shanghai institute.

"His level of understanding of jingluo (acupuncture points) is rare even in China," adds Li.

"Many TCM graduates from universities on the Chinese mainland are dubious about the existence of qi and shen, but TCM doctors from abroad understand and believe the concepts easily."

He compares the understanding of qi and shen to learning anatomy in Western medicine.

"It (qi and shen) is supposed to be basic training in TCM," he says.

Pialoux, secretary general of AWB, also links cancer with energy deficiency and suggests meditating, serving other people and TCM treatments as ways to prevent it.