The history and development of indigenous Tibetan medicinal herbs, Tibetan medical practices and a combination of Persian, Indian and Chinese traditional medicines are all components of Tibetan medicine. As Tibet is a part of China and their histories so interwoven, Tibetan medicine and Chinese medicine in particular have a great deal of overlap.
What is Tibetan medicine?
Tibetan medicine is traditional medicine that has been developed and practiced on the Tibetan plateau for many centuries. Tibetan medicine practiced by the Tibetan community in India is a little different to Tibetan medicine in Tibet. This has little to do with Chinese influence. To see Tibetan medicine practiced in its true and original indigenous form, it must be surveyed in its indigenous setting and land of development.
The difference between Chinese and Tibetan medicine
There are two main differences between Chinese and Tibetan medicine. One of these differences is in the ethnicity and therefore the practices of the healers. I say healers because many Tibetan doctors in Tibet (as opposed to India or Nepal) are doctors in name only and often haven’t received any formal training or certification.
The second main difference is the traditional Tibetan medicinal herbs used. These are harvested in remote mountainous areas of Tibet and Tibetan healers use different herbs for different diseases. Traditional Tibetan medicinal herbs are used in the form of poultices (ground and mixed herbs) or ground down to make edible tablets.
Tibetan medicine diagnosis
There are two main ways a Tibetan healer reaches a diagnostic conclusion. One is by feeling a person’s pulse; the rhythm, strength of beat and pulse rate are all assessed and examined. The other way is to taste the patient’s urine. There are native Tibetan doctors around Shangri-La and in other Tibetan areas that do this. Urinalysis is used in Western medicine, but never by using taste.
Tibetan medicine treatment
Tibetan medicine uses natural and herbal medicinal remedies, such as cordyceps. These are prescribed to treat different illnesses ranging from high blood pressure to cancer. I have personally seen patients using Tibetan medicine to treat high blood pressure and these patients have had some results. Unfortunately due to lack of research, these medicines are too inconsistent to be relied upon.
Tibetan medicine practices
Apart from Tibetan medicinal herbs, Tibetan medicine also employs dietary modification and physical therapy techniques such as acupuncture and moxibustion. Dietary changes include the prescription to drink more butter tea, milk or eat more yak meat. From the many patients I have seen in Tibetan areas, the thing Tibetan people need the most in their diet is fruits, vegetables and to drink more water.
Acupuncture is very similar to the acupuncture methods used in Chinese medicine. Moxibustion is also a method employed in Chinese medicine. The mugwort herb is aged and processed into fluff or a thick stub. Sometimes this is used in combination with acupuncture or burned directly onto a patient's skin. I have seen many patients with chronic back pain, joint pain and arthritis with deep and numerous scars on the affected area due to this treatment.
Is Tibetan medicine research based?
Tibetan doctor in India, Dolkar Khongkar states of Tibetan medicine “ … there is very little facility for research and scant resources.” There has been very little research done on Tibetan medicine and therefore it will continue to remain classed as ‘alternative medicine’. After seeing patients in Tibetan areas for many years, I believe it has something to offer, but until some legitimate research is conducted, results will be inconsistent and always defer to hearsay.
Sources:
The times of India, Tibetan medicine cures cancer, accessed online at http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Health--Science/Tibetan-medicine-cures-cancer/articleshow/4647903.cms February 2011.
Woesel, D. J. L, FAQs about Tibetan medicine, accessed online at http://www.paltulrinpoche.com/tibetanmedicine_faq.htm February 2011.
Rhys Emmanuel - Living and doing development work as a medical professional in Asia has given me unique insight into many areas of life and work and a ...
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