Classic Acupuncture Articles

Classic Acupuncture vs/ TCM: Are Practitioners Technicians or Engineers? In the first part of this article , we looked at the historical making of the rift and the role played by some French doctors and scholars in preserving the authentic tradition. Let us look now at the difference between the two practices when it comes to practitioner's ability to truly treat patients not as technician who applies ready-made recipes but as an engineer capable of designing its own protocol on a case by case basis. The difference of approach translates as a difference in results As explained above, TCM is based on a study of organ syndromes, while Classic Acupuncture emphasizes the Yin/Yang and Five Elements theories. TCM is limited to the study of organ pulses and infers treatments, which most often require the additional use of pharmacopoeia. When it comes to diagnosis and treatment choices, TCM refers to the organs (Zhang Fu) whereas in Classic Acupuncture they only come as the last...

Classic Acupuncture vs/ TCM: History and a Curious French Connection Most acupuncturists nowadays have been trained according to TCM principles, which stands for Traditional Chinese Medicine. But what if this type of acupuncture was traditional only in name? The difference between TCM and Classic (or authentic / truly traditional) is an important one, as it has a direct consequence on the efficacy of treatment. 1/ The historical making of the rift Today's approach of TCM was developed about 300 years ago by Cheng Zhong Ling (a.k.a. Cheng Guo-Peng). This medical theory is based on the Eight Principles, which studies the Tsang/Fou (Zang/Fu) or organ syndromes and combines acupuncture and pharmacopeia or Chinese herbs. TCM is therefore a relatively new discipline. On the other hand, Classic Acupuncture remains true to the ancient taoist tradition, based on the Yin/Yang and Five Elements theory, which dates back 2,400 years. Between the nineteenth and mid-twentieth centu...

LI 4: Your acupuncture atlas is most probably wrong The 4th point on the Large Intestine channel, or LI 4 point (Ro Kou / He Gu) is one of the most commonly used in acupuncture. Locating it correctly is therefore an absolute necessity, yet the international nomenclature* provides an unclear and, unfortunately, wrong location: - Either in the middle of the outer edge of the 2nd metacarp, - Or, with the thumb and index finger tight, at the top of the eminence formed by the soft parts. (*) International nomenclature established from documents of the People's Republic of China. These contradictory descriptions are a problem: in acupuncture, there is no place for approximations. Every point is effective under the very necessary condition that the practitioner needles in exactly the right place. Below are photos from the works of George Soulié de Morant, J. A. Lavier by Nguyen Van Nghi and Charles Laville-Mery / Dr. Jean Borsarello. These men brought invaluable and precise...

An Energetic Approach to our Sex Drive In the first part of this article , we explored the issue of the Libido through climate and other environmental factors, the reason why our sex drive changes as we age and the fundamental differences between genders. In this part, we will go deeper and look at the issue of the sex drive in the Five Elements as well as the Triple Burner. With all this in mind, some solutions may offer themselves so we can be in control when the topic becomes problematic. Libido and the Metal Element: a Societal Issue In recent decades, our society has changed considerably. Women now have not only the opportunity but are under cultural and economical pressure to emancipate themselves from the old models, including by taking jobs that once were the preserve of men. Professions such as finance, law, commerce, corporate management or the military involve a very large expenditure of Yang energy. Any profession that is confrontational in nature require a la...

An Energetic Approach to our Sex Drive The libido is as popular a subject as it is a problematic issue. It is also a very touchy topic which not many dare approach, as it lays right in the middle of the gender minefield. So before we delve any further, let us make it very clear that, from the perspective of the ancient oriental tradition, neither approach nor terminology implies sexism in any way. Our discipline forces us to consider the male and female as different -yet equal. To put it clearly: equality of the sexes does not mean that both are identical in their traits and functions. When we talk of the yin as feminine and yang as masculine, we are not implying that those qualities only belong to either of the sexes. In fact, in the pure Taoist tradition, yin and yang are present in everything, so that there is yin in man as there is yang in woman. The secret is in how we find and maintain balance and harmony between the two. 1/ Libido and Climate It is easily obser...