Medical News: Surgeries Performed Under Acupuncture Anesthesia at Hospitals in Lyon, France

According to an article published in the overseas edition of People’s Daily on July 17, 1997, two hospitals located in central Lyon, Antiquaille and Hôtel-Dieu, collaborated with Zhu Yueping, Deputy Director of the Acupuncture Research Department at the Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine in China, to conduct surgical procedures under acupuncture anesthesia.

The first operation using acupuncture anesthesia took place at Antiquaille Hospital and involved a thyroidectomy. On that day, around 20 medical professionals, including anesthetists, surgeons, and nurses, gathered in the operating room to observe—some out of curiosity, others with skepticism. In the absence of an electroacupuncture stimulator, all eyes were on Zhu's hands as he tirelessly manipulated the acupuncture needles. Before the surgery, the patient was given a sedative. During the procedure, the patient remained conscious, chatting and joking with the doctors and spectators. When the skin was incised, the patient felt mild pain, and during muscle dissection, the surgeons noted slightly more tension in the muscles compared to patients under conventional anesthesia. However, when the thyroid was removed, the patient expressed only mild discomfort.

The surgery, which lasted about 40 minutes, was a resounding success, earning a round of applause. Zhu Yueping was warmly congratulated by his French colleagues. This success not only convinced skeptics of traditional Chinese medicine but also provided an alternative solution for patients who could not tolerate drug-based anesthesia. Even more remarkable was that patients undergoing acupuncture anesthesia did not experience the intense post-operative wound pain typically associated with conventional anesthesia.

Following this success, Hôtel-Dieu invited Zhu Yueping to practice as an independent consultant while training assistants in acupuncture anesthesia. The method was later extended to procedures such as gastroscopy, colonoscopy, as well as gynecological and obstetric surgeries, including childbirth. In his clinic, Zhu Yueping successfully treated patients suffering from various conditions, including bone spurs, sciatica, lower back pain, limb joint pain, frozen shoulder, as well as disorders like depression, insomnia, neurosis, and allergic rhinitis. Patients came not only from France but also from neighboring countries such as Switzerland and Italy, and even from farther afield, including the United States and Canada.

Zhu Yueping also established a traditional Chinese medicine school in Lyon, named "San Cai." He expressed his happiness and pride in helping to bring the rich heritage of Chinese traditional medicine to the West.

Edited by: Dr. Yang Yibin

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