German Lang. Media: Acupuncture’s dubious past
It was George Soulié de Morant, a Frenchman (1878-1955), who is considered to be the “father” of western style acupuncture practice. His descriptions in his books, how and where to put the needles into the skin of patients, guided all his followers. Unfortunately he was a fabulist, according to an article published in the Süddeutsche Zeitung (a short version of a text published in Deutsches Ärzteblatt). The author (Hanjo Lehmann) is a physician and head of the German Institute for Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which aim it is to research the scientific basis of TCM. He seems to be the first ever, who really looked into the roots of the western style acupuncture and the ridiculous stories of Solié de Morant. The article explains Soulié de Morant’s fraud in detail, starting with his name – he himself added the aristocratic “de Morant”. Although he writes, that he spoke Chinese, when he arrived in China in 1901 (only 23 years old!), there is no hint, that he ever studied Chinese or lived with Chinese people. Also his rank as viceconsul and judge seems implausible, because he never visited any university or diplomatic school. Regarding acupuncture, Soulié de Morant describes, that he first saw and practiced the technique himself during a cholera outbreak in Bejing in 1901 – unfortunately, no records of such an outbreak at that time exist. These and dozens of more inconsistencies are interesting, but what consequences do they have for “modern” acupuncture therapies? Well, Soulié de Morant’s fiction and misconceptions not only found their way into but are the basis of current acupuncture protocols, the official course book of acupuncture of the German physician association “Bundesärztekammer”. Reading the article, it seems like the whole philosophy of western acupuncture, with energy streams and stuff like that, are based on sloppy translations, misconceptions or even blank fantasy. Only one example (because I won’t make the mistake to translate German acupuncture slang into English): The “Qi” in Chinese acupuncture tradition meant a fine substance – Soulié translated it into the disembodied, current-like “energy”. A whole different concept with consequences for the all-day therapy.
George Soulié de Morant
One might say, “Who cares? In most cases, acupuncture doesn’t work, anyway.” Well, to get an “official approve” to offer acupuncture, German physicians need to pay a substantial amount for a course, based on the course book of the Bundesärztekammer – which is in turn based on Soulié de Morant’s quackery. Not to speak of the patients, who get pinned with needles based on the fantasy of a fraud.
And: Until now, the positive effects of acupuncture, against migraine e.g., seem to be caused by a classical placebo effect. But have these studies been based on Soulié de Morant’s “misconceptions”? Isn’t it possible, that the wrong application of acupuncture misguided research, that tried to explain the effects of this type of TCM?
And, finally, since 2006 acupuncture is included in the catalogue of benefits of the German health insurance companies (at least for a few indications) – a therapy based on the doctrine of a fraud.
The article was published at Süddeutsche Zeitung a few days ago (together with a comment). I really thought, that this would spur some discussion and questioning of the Bundesärtzekammer, acupuncture societies etc., how they react to these new findings. But, apparently, I waited to no avail.
- Sascha Karberg
September 21st, 2010 at 8:55 am
As a former physiotherapist who treated patients with acupuncture, I was taught a western approach that did not speak to energy flows, etc. but endorphin response, circulation changes and stimulation of immune response. I did see some benefits in many of my patients.