An Introduction to Tibetan Medicine

Tibetan Medicine

Tibetan medicine is a herbal medicine mainly practiced in the land of snow from immemorial time. Traditional medicines such as Ayurveda, Greek medicine, Chinese medicine and Sita greatly influenced the traditional system of Tibetan medicine at large, thereby calling synthesized form of medicine. The similarity among these traditional medicines is many as all based on the five elements: earth, water, fire, air and space. The difference among these lies on  the principle of religious faith. The basic concept of Tibetan medicine deeply rooted in Buddhism and thus makes it different from the rest of the traditional medicines as well.

The fundamental principle of Tibetan medicine

 "The Four Tantras" or rgyud bzhi is the fundamental textbook of Tibetan science of healing and was composed by the Great Master, who has acquired full knowledge on the ultimate characteristics of the external and internal elements, which are described as materials for forming our body, as factors for aggravating diseases, and as active ingredients for administering remedies. Thereby it is a genuine science and can be used in any circumstances without measure of inadequacy. The subject matter of rgyud bzhi is very profound and systematic as it explains "the Eight Branches" one by one, through the mainstream principles of the three bodily energies i.e., rlung, the movement energy; mkris pa, the heat energy, and bad kan, fluids of the body. Out of the profound subject matter of the eight branches, I shall explain the elementary nature of the body, the disease and the remedies.

Present Status of Tibetan Medicine