The Development of Acupuncture in France

Abstract

The earliest informations about acupuncture were introduced in France 1671 by an anonymous handbook of Chinese pulsology written by a French Jesuit. It preceded by more than a decade the books of Cleyer, Ten Rhyne and Boym.
During the 17 th century, the French society was fascinated by China and was familiarized with Chinese medicine through the medium of the abundant reports of the French Jesuits from the Peking court, but its interest was focused on the correlations between East and West through topics like pharmacopoeia and sphygmology. Acupuncture was just considered as an exotic and unscientific therapy, in spite of the influence of Kaempfer who brought many valuable informations.
The first clinical experiments of acupuncture were made in the beginning of the 19 th century by Berlioz, Cloquet and followers. A few later, Sarlandière was the first to supply electricity to implanted needles. But all these pioneers had a personal approach and did nothing but a “needle therapy” in loco dolente. Their misunderstanding, their excess and their failures resulted in giving up acupuncture from the middle of 19 th century. The remarkable work of Debry de Thiersant could not get it out of oblivion.
In the 1930's Soulié de Morant who had a deep knowledge of the Chinese world, achieved the renaissance of the true Chinese acupuncture in France. His followers keep on developing acupuncture till now through many active schools shared by scientific and traditional currents.
We point out here and there some facts that show the sporadic influence of Japan along the history of acupuncture in France.