Meet Dr. Liliane Papin,Lic. Ac., D.O.M, Ph.D 

An Interview with Shawngela Pierce

 

To start with…what does “East West Holistic medicine” mean?

Dr. Liliane PapinThe East-West connection represents a big part of my interests and studies. I am French, living in the States and lived in Japan for 6 years, studying Buddhism, making many trips to China to study Qi Gong. That’s the beginning of the East West connection! I really see myself as a citizen of the world and the medicine I like to practice is a bridge between different cultures, between East and West. Voilà…

I also think we are at a very exciting and unique point in history where our modern technology actually validates the ancient models of medicine such as Chinese Medicine. Microscopic imaging for example does reveal the “wood nature” of our nails and our modern knowledge of liver functions validates its Tree nature in Chinese medicine, as you can see in the pictures.This double East West aspect is also relevant to my practice.I use microcurrent technology together with or instead of needles for people who are scared of needles. This technology, combined with the meridian principles and understanding of Chinese medicine, is a great tool and gives fantastic results.

Western tests are great to see where there are deficiencies in minerals or vitamins. I certainly do not reject those tests, on the contrary. However, I think that, linking them to traditional tools of assessment such as pulse or tongue diagnosis, you get more accurate pictures. The Chinese medicine model helps determine for example, that if there is a vitamin D deficiency, you also need to look at liver functions. Otherwise, you get people diagnosed with low vitamin D levels even though they spend hours in the sun or take supplements. If their liver is not functioning properly, if the “Tree” photosynthesis is blocked, no amount of supplement will remedy the situation.

 

What about the holistic part?

We often talk, nowadays, of the “mind-body” connection. If you deepen symptoms beyond the physical level, you will always discover or bring to light an emotional and spiritual aspect. We think this is a modern finding but it is already completely embedded in the old Oriental medicine model that considered emotions as a major factor of illness. Each organ system in Chinese Medicine is associated to a positive emotion that sustains it or a negative emotion that depletes it. Gratitude and satisfaction for exemple nourish our Stomach, spleen and pancreas as much as good food. Chronic worry, bitterness and obsession, on the other hand, are forms of acid reflux of the mind and will affect our Stomach and Spleen negatively. On a spiritual level, our Spleen represents our connection with the Earth, its food and water and our ability to integrate lessons on the heart plane. “Digestion” also refers to the way we digest challenges and events in our life.

Finally, Oriental medicine offers an ecological model of medicine, meaning one that integrates the human body within the natural world. What hurts our planet hurts our bodies. When we cut forests and deplete our air of oxygen, our lungs suffer. When we spoil our water with toxins, our kidneys and those of the planet suffer. The word ecological did not exist but it is completely there. in the Chinese medicine model where the liver is called “tree”, the stomach “earth” or the kidneys water. Unfortunately many practitioners today fail to see that connection and they bypass the importance of organic food for example. Many TCM practitioners also fail to address diet issues altogether although diet is central to the Yellow Emperor, the classic of Chinese Medicine.

 
Show comment form

Related Articles