Qin Liangfu(1924-2019)，Traditional Chinese Medicine，Professor, Former Deputy Director of the Teaching and Research Section of Traditional Chinese Medicine at Renji Hospital

Introduction

“Balance movement and stillness, cultivate tranquility and simplicity, control anger and moderate desires—this is the path to longevity.”

He was a master of traditional medicine, building a legendary career on his profound knowledge of Chinese medicine and exceptional acupuncture skills. He was both an inheritor and a pioneer, seamlessly blending ancient healing wisdom with modern scientific insight.

With a single silver needle, he built a bridge between Eastern and Western medicine. Through countless clinical successes, he demonstrated the power and efficacy of Chinese acupuncture. Facing initial skepticism in France, his remarkable treatments forced the medical community to recognize the extraordinary value of Chinese medicine, earning him the respect of experts who had once doubted its validity.

He healed not only the body but also the spirit. His most celebrated triumph was treating the Prince of Morocco, whose suffering was alleviated by Qin’s benevolent heart and masterful skill, granting him a new lease on life. This victory earned Chinese acupuncture international respect and showcased the profound depth of Chinese culture to the world.

As an ambassador for his field, he shared his art from the lecture podium at France’s Pasteur University. His clear, insightful lectures introduced Chinese medicine to a new generation of students. He imparted not just knowledge, but a spirit—a spirit of boundless passion and relentless pursuit of the healing arts.

The Path to Medicine

Qin Liangfu (1924-2019) was born on December 26, 1924, into a respected family of physicians in Wujin, Jiangsu province. As the sixth-generation heir to the Qin family medical lineage, he inherited a legacy of healing passed down through generations.

Qin’s great-grandfather, Qin Renqi, was a renowned specialist in traditional Chinese ophthalmology. His grandfather, Qin Chanrong, was also skilled in eye medicine and made significant contributions to internal medicine. His father, Qin Zhicheng, was widely respected for his unique approach combining acupuncture and herbal medicine. Growing up immersed in this environment, Qin Liangfu shouldered the responsibility of advancing his family’s medical legacy.

His father, Qin Zhicheng, treated all patients with equal care, regardless of their wealth or status, often waiving fees and providing free medicine to the poor. This dedication and compassion deeply influenced the young Qin Liangfu, fostering his early interest in medicine and his understanding of a physician’s humanitarian duty.

Qin Liangfu began his medical education at the age of nine by memorizing the Yaoxing Fu (Ode to the Properties of Medicinals). This classic text uses rhymed verse to summarize the properties of 248 common herbs, providing an essential foundation for any student of Chinese medicine.

Under his father’s guidance, he gradually grasped the core principles of the discipline. His father often told him, “It is better to be a good physician than a great minister,” instilling in him the virtue of a life in medicine. Qin Liangfu never considered himself exceptionally gifted, but his diligence was extraordinary. While others might memorize a text after five repetitions, he would repeat it thirty times, ensuring he never forgot. This method gave him an unshakable theoretical foundation.

While studying Chinese medicine, he also attended modern “Western-style” schools, where he excelled in subjects like English and consistently ranked at the top of his class, even winning scholarships. For Qin, learning was a matter of self-respect and high standards. This discipline extended to his calligraphy, where each stroke reflected his precision and serious attitude.

In 1945, Qin Liangfu began practicing medicine independently. He treated all patients equally, listening carefully to their concerns. By day he saw patients, and by night he studied medical texts, constantly refining his skills. His dedication quickly earned him his community’s trust and praise.

In 1946, he passed the First National Examination for Chinese Medicine Practitioners, a comprehensive test of knowledge and skill. His outstanding performance earned him one of the first nationally recognized medical licenses, a major milestone in his career.

After receiving his license, his clinic became renowned, attracting patients from across the country. He was known for precise prescriptions and a holistic approach to health, offering advice on diet, sleep, and lifestyle to treat the root cause of illness. This comprehensive care was deeply appreciated, and many former patients remained his lifelong friends.

A New Physician in New China

With the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, the nation entered a new era, bringing changes to all sectors of society. For Qin Liangfu, this period marked a significant turning point in his career with the introduction of the “public-private partnership” policy. This government initiative aimed to standardize the healthcare system by incorporating private clinics. Qin’s clinic was brought into this new framework, a shift that presented both challenges and opportunities, altering its management and mission.

In December 1958, Qin Liangfu was invited to join the prestigious Renji Hospital, affiliated with the Shanghai Second Medical College. His arrival brought high-level Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) expertise to the institution, invigorating its medical services. He was joined by his wife, also a skilled TCM physician specializing in acupuncture. At Renji Hospital, Qin provided exceptional care to countless patients and pursued innovative research, achieving remarkable success in the field of integrated Chinese and Western medicine.

In 1963, Qin published groundbreaking research in the Shanghai Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine on using “Leech Decoction” (Shuizhi Tang) to treat thrombocytosis (an increased platelet count) following splenectomy for portal hypertension. This was a novel approach to a complex condition where traditional treatments often fell short. The herbal formula, known for its ability to improve blood circulation, proved highly effective. Through systematic clinical trials, Qin provided new evidence for the application of Chinese medicine in treating complex diseases, further enhancing his reputation.

Today, Qin Liangfu is synonymous with the world’s first acupuncture-anesthetized heart surgery. In 1972, he designed and performed this pioneering operation, causing a sensation in the global medical community. The patient was a teenager with congenital heart disease who required surgery. While traditional general anesthesia carried risks, Qin’s acupuncture technique offered an innovative alternative.

Twenty minutes before the surgery, Qin inserted eight silver needles into acupoints on the patient’s hands and feet. This technique helped prevent arrhythmias and provided analgesia, allowing him to reduce the dosage of anesthetic drugs by up to 90%. Remarkably, the patient remained conscious throughout the procedure. When the surgeon made the initial incision, he asked the patient if he felt pain. The patient replied, “No pain.”

This breakthrough demonstrated the safety and efficacy of acupuncture anesthesia, reducing surgical risks and improving patient outcomes. The achievement earned Qin and his team the National Science Conference Collective Award in 1978 and the First Prize for Scientific and Technological Progress in Chinese Medicine in 1989. Notably, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognized his research as one of China’s five major achievements in medical science, cementing acupuncture’s place on the world stage.

Chinese Medicine Belongs to the World

In 1980, as a member of the Chinese medical team to Morocco, Qin Liangfu undertook an extraordinary challenge: treating the chronic ailments of the brother of King Hassan II, the Prince of Morocco. The prince, over seventy years old, suffered from gout, heart disease, and severe limb pain that made even simple actions like walking or holding a cup difficult. Qin understood this was not only a medical test but also a chance to showcase Chinese medicine to the world.

During his first visit, the atmosphere was tense, with seven Moroccan military commanders observing the treatment. Moroccans were highly sensitive to acupuncture pain, and the prince cried out at the first needle insertion. Recognizing the prince’s severe arrhythmia, Qin knew the stress could be dangerous. He wisely paused the treatment after the second needle, promising to return.

That night, Qin reflected on the challenge. To succeed, he had to eliminate the pain. After numerous trials on his own body, he invented a new technique: the cannula-insertion method. By using a thin, protective tube over the needle, he could minimize skin stimulation and dramatically reduce pain.

At his next visit, Qin used his new technique. The treatment was painless and proceeded smoothly. Over ten sessions, combined with moxibustion therapy, the prince’s condition improved miraculously. After the first treatment, he could stand and hold a teacup. By the fourth, he could walk slowly. After the seventh, his health was nearly restored. This remarkable recovery earned Chinese acupuncture international recognition and respect.

Learning Knows No Bounds: An Ambassador of Medical and Cultural Exchange

After successfully treating the Prince of Morocco, Qin Liangfu’s reputation spread globally. Over the next decade, he traveled to France nine times to lecture, becoming a vital ambassador for Chinese medicine.

Initially, the French medical community was deeply skeptical, with some viewing acupuncture as a form of hypnosis or witchcraft. However, Professor Mons, the Dean of Pasteur University, saw Qin’s potential and, despite opposition, invited him to lecture for a three-month trial. In the autumn of 1986, Qin became the first Chinese physician ever invited to the 400-year-old university.

His lectures were a sensation. He combined theory with live demonstrations, attracting large crowds of students and practitioners. During one medical exchange, he was asked to treat a patient who had suffered persistent hiccups for ten days after thoracic surgery. French doctors had been unable to help. As Qin began the treatment, the room fell silent. Minutes passed with no effect, and students began to whisper. Then, at the twentieth minute, the hiccups suddenly stopped. The room erupted in cheers. This single display of skill made him famous in France.

He was invited to lead an “Advanced Acupuncture Class,” training generations of French acupuncturists, and was awarded the prestigious “Hippocrate Medal” by the French medical establishment. His skills, hailed as the “Magic Needles of the East,” cured numerous rare conditions, and French television produced instructional videos on his techniques.

Admirably, even in his sixties, Qin never stopped learning. To better connect with his French audience, he taught himself French, memorizing vocabulary and grammar daily. He believed, “If a young person can remember something after reciting it three times, I, in my sixties, can remember it by reciting it thirty times.” This dedication allowed him to write papers and deliver lectures fluently in French, laying a solid foundation for the spread of Chinese medicine.

Qin Liangfu was a firm believer in integrating Chinese and Western medicine. He actively promoted international cooperation, demonstrating the unique advantages of TCM to a global audience. In medical education, he advocated for a model that combined the fundamental theories of Chinese medicine with modern Western knowledge, creating a new generation of practitioners skilled in both.

In 2019, Qin Liangfu passed away. His death was met with deep sorrow from disciples, patients, and colleagues, who remembered him not only as an outstanding scholar but also as a great cultural ambassador and innovator. He dedicated his life to the future of Chinese medicine, guided by his own belief: “Learning knows no bounds. Inheritance and innovation are the mission of every practitioner of Chinese medicine.”

Editor: Chen Qing @ ShanghaiDoctor.cn

Note: Chinese Sources from “The Path of Benevolent Medicine” which was published in 2024. It records 90 important medical figures in the history of Renji Hospital. Yewen Renyi (ShanghaiDoctor.cn) team was one of the major writers of the book and is authorized by Renji hospital to create English version on the website of ShanghaiDoctor.cn