Intro to Traditional Tibetan Medicine

mipmup — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 17:43:22 -0600

This guide is the part of a series exploring "alternative" therapies.

My interest in Traditional Tibetan Medicine (TTM) has been piqued by a recent series on Tibet's medicinal plants by NPR's Elizabeth Arnold. TTM is between 1,100 and 2,500 years old and incorporates medical knowledge from China and India. Like Ayurveda, it offers a holistic approach to health, but it is also a science, art and philosophy. Sounds good to me.

As stated by Men-Tsee-Khang, the official site of the Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, TTM is:

a science because its principles are enumerated in a systematic and logical framework based on an understanding of the body and its relationship to the environment
an art because it uses diagnostic techniques based on the creativity, insight, subtlety and compassion of the medical practitioner
a philosophy because it embraces the key Buddhist principles of altruism, karma and ethics

dharmaqueen is interested in indigenous medicine and has selected Tibet as her area of specialty.

chartandwaters discusses her visit to a museum of Tibetan medicine (and a butter sculpture of the Dalai Lama!).

Digital Music Blog discusses how Tibetan Medicine uses music to heal.

Axis of a?vil of Finland posts a recipe for a cake using the tyrni berry, or sea buckthorn, which was found in Tibetan materials — including "the RGyud Bzi" (The Four Books of Pharmacopoeia) — from as far back as the seventh century. Traditionally, the berry is used for treating skin disease and digestive disorders. Plus, it has chocolate. Talk about a feel-good cake!

sun_sista posts about how TTM uses Goji berries and outlines their nutritional benefits. According to an article by Ingrid Naiman at Kitchen Doctor, they are "not quite as sweet as a raisin and not as tart as a dried cranberry" and often referred to as a "happy berry." She writes: "It is said that a handful in the morning will make you happy all day." I like the fact that they are wildcrafted from regions that have never used pesticides.

You can find a TTM doctor here.

Related guides:

Suggested reading:
Tibetan Medicine. Men-Tsee-Khang. 22 February 2006 http://www.men-tsee-khang.org/medicine/medicine.htm.

Suggested listening:
Arnold, Elizabeth. "Sacred, Threatened Plants of the Himalayas." Natl. Public Radio. 19 Feb. 2006. 20 Feb. 2006. 21 Feb. 2006. 22 Feb. 2006. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5222677.

art credit: China Tibet Information Center
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mipmup.
Contributing Editor, Health & Wellness

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Intro to Traditional Tibetan Medicine