Tibetan healing tradition

In Central Asia, Tibet has long been regarded as the pure land source of medicine. A unique Tibetan system of medicine developed that belongs to the most ancient practised holistic medicine system in the world. It incorporated the best of the most important medicine systems in Asia, from the Indian Ayurveda and the original Chinese Medicine to the Unani of the ancient Greeks and the local shamanistic Bön tradition.

The diverse and complex structure of Tibetan medical science is intimately linked with Buddhist philosophy and employs sophisticated methods of diagnosis and treatment, as well as highly refined ethical principles.

In Buddhist philosophy, ignorance is the root cause of all suffering, while in Tibetan medicine it is considered to be the ultimate cause of disease. Ignorance gives rise to desire, hatred and delusion, which are the long term causes of an imbalance in the three states that constitute the basic energy system in the body: rLung (‘wind), mKhris-pa (‘bile’) and Bad-kan (‘phlegm’). The four short term causative factors responsible for the imbalance of these states are the dietary habits and lifestyle of the patient, seasonal factors and the influence of spirits.

Diagnosis is carried out through observation (including urine analysis), pulse reading and questioning. Tibetan physicians strive to cure the root cause of the disease (as opposed to the symptoms) by re-establishing a balance of the three humours.

This Tibetan Medical tradition belongs to the great cultural treasures in this world still being practiced today as it was in the ancient times as well as adapting to the needs of the modern age.

• Tibetan healing tradition

• External therapy & massage

© dewa 2004–2005