TIBETAN MEDICINE

WHAT IS TIBETAN MEDICINE?

• One of the world’s oldest treating traditions.

• Has been practiced for more than 4000 years in Tibet.
• It is called "Sowa Rigpa" in Tibetan, means the knowledge and
science of healing. "Sowa" means to heal imbalances, and
"Rigpa" means the knowledge or science of a particular subject.
 BACKGROUND

• The major goal of Tibetan Medicine is maintaining a healthy

constitution through balance as an overall preventative
approach, by providing treatment methods for sick people,
aiding in longevity, and assisting those who want to be
successful in their physical body, emotional and spiritual fields.
• In the 7th century AD, Indian Buddhism was flourishing in northwestern
countries, and Persian empires were enjoying prosperity. The Chinese
Tang Empire, inspired by the Indian Mahayanic Buddhism and Trans-
arabian wealth, developed the Meridian like Silk Road to the West.
• This time was a spring for the Tibetan people as the young and powerful
king Srongtsen Gampo constructed his kingdom and brought Buddhism
and Medicine from India. He also took advantage of the Silk Road to
invite scholars from Persia and neighboring countries and thus develop art
and medicine.
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE OF TIBETAN
MEDICINE
•T
​ he fundamental principle of Tibetan medicine is that the body, disease,
and treatment, all share common principles and are comprised of the five
elements, earth, fire, water, air, and space.
• This approach recognizes that everything in the universe - plants, animals,
and human beings including all our body tissues, internal organs, skin,
skeletal system and even emotions, are composed of these five elements.
• Each one of them plays a major role, both individually and in combination
as aspects of all matter.
• Since each individual disease is caused by disharmony or disturbances in
one of the five elements, the treatment principle is to balance the elements
through diet according to an individual's constitution and behavior,
utilizing herbs, and other accessory therapies such as blood-letting, Mey-
tzar (Tibetan moxibustion), external therapy (heat or cold), natural or
medicinal bath, enema, and Ku-nye (Tibetan Massage ).
 FIVE ELEMENTS

• Earth - provides the hard and stable quality involved in the development of the flesh,
bone, nose, and the sense of smell.
• Water - moisturizes and lubricates body tissues involved in the development of blood, the
tongue, the sense of taste, and the fluid portion in the body during conception.
• Fire- controls and regulates body temperature and provides maturation of the body tissue
and organs, generates heat throughout the body, provides color of skin or complexion,
eyes, and contributes to the growth and development of the body.
• Air - provides the ability to move and breath, an essential element for respiration, the
skin, and the sense of feeling.
• Space - provides an empty space or place to allow things to grow, develop, mature, and is
involved in movement, pores, the ears, and sound.
 CAUSES OF DISEASE

• Tibetan medicine also borrows and shares certain ideas with the Buddhist
tradition. For instance, "cause and effect" is one of the major concepts that
Tibetan Medicine shares with Buddhism.
• The long-term causative factors are results of the three poisons or negative
energies of desire, hatred, and ignorance at work in our physical,
emotional, and mental levels.
• On the other hand, the short-term causative factors are due to physical
trauma, injury, improper eating or behavior, and sudden or acute onset of
illnesses.
METHODS OF DIAGNOSIS

• Bloodletting - is the withdrawal of blood from a patient to prevent or cure illness

and disease. Bloodletting, whether by a physician or by leeches.
• Fire therapy - procedure consists in the application of a herbal product with a
specific formula for each disease under treatment on the area of the affected organ.
The area is covered with a towel soaked in alcohol and it is then lighted. The heat
produced by the burning of the alcohol is easily born by the patient. The procedure
is stopped when the patient announces a discomfort. eg: backbone diseases
• Rubbing therapy
 BENEFITS OF TIBETAN MEDICINE

• Beyond treating symptoms, Tibetan Medicine concentrates on treating the

whole person to promote healing through diet, physical exercise, herbal
formulas, and spiritual practice. When Tibetan physicians treat a patient,
they focus equally on both the mental and physical states because they
believe that the mind and body are inseparable.
TIBETAN MEDICINE PROMOTES THE HEALING
OF:
• many chronic illnesses
• mental and emotional disturbances such as anxiety, agitation, frustration, stress, and insomnia
• indigestion and digestive-related disorders such as jaundice, diabetes, hepatitis, irritable bowel
syndrome, food stagnation or food poisoning
• acute or chronic, skin problems
• heart disorders, angina, stroke, poor circulation
• neurological related problems such as nerve compression, spinal stenosis, sciatica, nervous
• system, multiple sclerosis, motor and sense impairment of the body or limbs
• respiratory disorders such as the common cold, asthma, cough, pneumonia, and bronchitis
sinus problems such as congestion and sinus headaches