Paper short abstract:

This paper studies from an historical and anthropological point of view the insertion and reception of Chinese Medicine in two European countries, France and Italy. More precisely, I'm interested in the figure of the physician that decides to practise these non-conventional medicine techniques.

Paper long abstract:

For the last thirty years, non-conventional forms of medicines have undergone a remarkable expansion and growth. Among these medical practises, those coming from China are without a doubt very important, and particularly the acupuncture. I have chosen to study from a historical and anthropological point of view the insertion and reception of this medical practise in two European countries, France and Italy. More precisely, I'm interested in the physician figure that decide to practice Chinese Medicine (often the acupuncture). I have also chosen to give to my work a comparative dimension, studying the situations in France and in Italy, two countries where the processes of integration and recomposition of Chinese medicine are not the same, although linked by exchanges concerning the teaching and the integration of Chinese Medicine.

This analysis permits to outline a field of cultural and social meeting ground, where the contributions of two medical traditions (conventional medicine and Chinese medicine) are searching and finding shape as they mix and are accepting compromise. Their practice demonstrates and proves their efficiency and, at the same time, they are gaining institutional acceptance and are in public demand. All this makes us wonder about both the motivations, and the future aspirations connected in this example of cultural exchange.