what is Tibetan medicine



	H.H. Dalai Lama


	Tibetan medicine probably is the best medical system there is. The Tibetan doctors may be considered among the best in the world. Although the Chinese occupied Tibet, the Tibetan medical system fortunately has been saved as an authentic medical system. This is due to the fact that the Tibetan medical school was transferred from occupied Tibet to India. Tibetan medicine has always been part of ancient old Tibetan culture and Buddhist belief. According to Tibetan medicine illness originates from aggression, desire and shortsightedness. Because we do not know what is what and cannot differentiate, we wind up in emotions like aggression, desire and shortsightedness. Lack of harmony can be issued from behaviour, diet, emotion and seasons.

Diseases are manifested as follows:

Diseases influenced by activities in former lives.
Diseases originated in the beginning of this life.
Diseases caused by negative energy.
Diseases caused by behaviour and diet

Diseases are immediately caused by wind disturbances (prana, caused by desire), bile disturbances (tripa, caused by anger, or aggression), or phlegm disturbances (pégèn, caused by languor and indifference). The Tibetan doctor carefully diagnosis the disease. Little children are diagnosed differently from adults because a child is still unable to speak and tell what is wrong. The doctor examines the back of the child's ear by holding the ear against the light. This way the doctor can examine the little veins that run through the ear and tell the functioning of the various organs, because these veins in the ear are linked to the various organs. Also the blood colour in those veins tells something about the condition of the organs. If the child cries, the Tibetan doctor listens to how it cries and interprets the crying in terms of health. The Tibetan doctor diagnosis an adult patient by questioning the patient, feeling his pulse extensively in order to examine all body functions, and taking urine test.


	Feeling the patient's pulse is extensive and requires great knowledge and skill. With three fingers the doctor feels on each wrist the pulsation of the six organs. The doctor examines the urine by holding the transparent bottle containing the urine sample against the light, thus observing the patient's disturbances or possible illnesses. The doctor checks the urine on vapour, colour, air bubbles, deposit, smell, veil and other aspects. The doctor asks the patient a lot of questions about nutrition. In Tibetan medicinal drugs are carefully prepared. Many ingredients are used: for instance flowers, detoxicated gems, detoxicated precious metals, various timber, roots, plant saps, bark, animal ingredients and leaves. Also acupuncture, massage and moxa are applied.



		medicin Buddha

Tibetan medicine is based on the notion that health is greatly influenced by the circumstances of living, behaviour and nutrition. For most patients the advice given is to relax, and worry less. According to Tibetan doctors worrying is a habit that can easily be abandoned. To have fun and enjoy life can prevent and clear many diseases. Tibetan doctors often recommend taking Tibetan herbal pills. For a good use of these Tibetan drugs it is important to bear these aspects in mind. The Buddhist religion is intertwined with Tibetan medicine. However, this does not mean that people who are not Buddhists will not benefit from them. On the contrary. Tibetan medicine tries to help everyone open to this form of medicine in a very caring way. Especially in cases where regular medicine fails Tibetan medicine may well find a solution.

It takes at least five years to become a Tibetan doctor. It is a fulltime and heavy course, usually taken by Tibetan monks. Only few westerners are trained Tibetan doctors. One should understand the Tibetan language to be able to take the course. The trainings are no longer in Tibet because The Chinese destroyed the training institutes and no longer allow authentic Tibetan medicine to be practised or taught. In 1696 in the city of Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, the first medical course was given. In 1959 this training institute was totally destroyed during China's invasion of Tibet. The Tibetan medieval school is now transferred to Northern India. There are two training institutes: one in Dharamsala -the residence of the exiled Dalai Lama - the other in Darjeeling. Dr. Trogawa Rinpoche manages the Darjeeling school.