I wish to go over a few points very rapidly, and point out of course that the use of Chinese therapies such as qi gong and acupuncture fit into a historie and cultural context différent from ours in many respects. It should be remembered that, in the scientific and medical field, China did not undergo the saine epistemological upheavals as those experienced by the West in the 17th and 18th centuries roughly speaking. This means we don't have the saine requirements as China from the viewpoint of scientific rationality.

Applying Chinese 'recipes' directly in an entirely différent cultural context therefore requires precautions, and yet we are terapted to do so when we ask for a few acupoints, a few qi gong exercises or a few Chinese pharinacopoeia recipes that could relieve pneumoconiotics. But it is difficult for Chinese practitioners to give a precise idea of their specifie vision of the body and of the disease, since all of that fits into a far broader context.

Mention should also be made of the extreme wealth of traditional Chinese pharmacotherapy. Also, although the Chinese traditionally use several thousand plants, Chinese flora may be still much richer for us, pharmacologists. Generally speaking we cannot limit ourselves to the plants used by traditional or local medicines, and sometimes we have pleasant surprises by making far broader inventories. Regarding the number of taxons, Chinese flora is one of the richest in the world, just after the floras of Brazil and Malaysia.

It should also be stressed that the concept of pneumoconiosis does not exist in traditional Chinese medicine; this disease is included in traditional nosologie categories whieh makes documentary research difficult. You don't find the specifie treatment of pneumoconiosis but, for example, that of dryness of the lungs. Also, regarding the use of Chinese plants, it should not be forgotten there are other problems. One of these is their identification according to our Linnean classification of plants. Recently in Belgium, we saw cases of nephritis caused by slimming diets using Chinese plants and containing inter alia aristolochia; however aristolochie acid can cause serious nephritis. One of the problems in importing and selling Chinese plants is their precise identification.

We are in fact faced with two solutions: on the one hand, using traditional Chinese medicine formulas which often comprise ten or so plants or minerals, and, on the other hand, adopting a différent approach-that of western pharmaceutical companies already on the spot in China-involving the study and use of plants from the point of view of their active principles. But I dont see why this would be called Chinese medicine, if s simply the use of Chinese flora.

Lastly, Iwould like to recall, like Mrs LEMEE could, that very precise legislation lays down the limits for the sale and import of plants. Nevertheless, the cases of medicinal treatinent of pneumoconiotics mentioned by Mrs WANG should be the subject of further research.

 

Mr COCUDE

We are drawing to the end of our symposium. It has been an opportunity to examine the different aspects of Chinese medicine studied which were each concluded by remarks on what they could contribute in treating pneumoconiotics.

I feel this day has been particularly enriching and I hope that all what we said and all what we told each other will be followed up. In any case I am pleased to think about the bilateral contacts that can arise between the symposium participants.

It only remains for me to close this session by thanking first of all the speakers and all the participants for their presence and their speeches.

I also wish to thank Dr TRIADOU, absent today, thanks to whorn this symposium could be organised and took place so smoothly. My thanks also go to the DARPMI team for its essential contribution not only to the preparation and holding of the meeting but also, Pra sure, to the after-symposium.

Top of page
Liste des intervenants
Summary