Tibetan Medicine

Tibetan medicine is an ancient, timely healing tradition from Tibet. The Tibetan name is Sowa Rigpa, the science of healing. Over the millennia, Tibetan medicine has evolved into a profound philosophy, psychology, science, and art.

Tibetan medicine teaches that the purpose of life is to be happy. This holistic tradition consists of analyzing your unique inborn nature or constitution and making supportive lifestyle choices. Healthy choices promote healing the source of problems and developing health through balance.

Tibetan medicine explains the complex relationship between mind, body, and environment, and why the mind is the source of suffering. To be happy, you need to create a healthy mind. By using Tibetan medicine for your self-care and integrative care, you can create a healthy mind, even on your deathbed.

Tibetan medicine has roots in the ancient, indigenous culture of Tibet. In the 8th century, the first ever international conference about Tibetan medicine was held at Samye Monastery in Tibet. Physicians from India, China, Persia, and other areas attended. Most historians believe that after the conference, Elder Yuthok Yonten Gonpo, an eminent Tibetan doctor, synthesized the best theories and medical practices into the Gyueshi, the fundamental text of Tibetan medicine. The first Tibetan medical college was established in Lhasa, Tibet, in 1696. In the early 1900s, the two major medical schools in Lhasa were the Chagpori Medical College and the Men-Tsee-Khang (Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute).

In 1961, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama re-established the Men-Tsee-Khang in Dharamsala, India. This medical college educates post-high-school students during a six-year intensive program to become a doctor of Tibetan medicine. After graduating, the new doctors work under the supervision of senior doctors. You can learn more about the history and practices of Tibetan medicine in the section

You can use Tibetan medicine as part of integrative care. Tibetan medicine will help you to bring your energies back into balance and live a healthy, happy life. Conventional health care can be beneficial for acute illnesses and when surgery, pharmaceutical medications, and technology are needed.

As His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama wrote,

Tibetan medicine is far more advanced in the understanding of the nature of mind than Western medicine. In matters of understanding the physical functioning of the human body, Tibetan medicine …is less advanced than Western medicine. Without mixing the two approaches, and without saying one is better than the other, both schools should work together in order to find ways of understanding and thus boost the effectiveness of the two healing techniques. (Men-Tsee-Khang, 2017, back cover)

A qualified, experienced practitioner of Tibetan medicine will use three methods to assess your individual constitutional energy pattern and degree of imbalance.

• Questioning – Such as asking about your lifestyle, thinking, environment, food, and behavior.

• Observation – Looking at your skin, tongue, and urine sample.

• Touch – Feeling the radial artery pulse on both your wrists, inspecting any abnormal growths or painful areas/points of tenderness on your body, and checking your skin temperature.

To get the most out of your consultation, tell the practitioner about your health concerns and ask the following four questions:

• What is my inborn constitutional nature?

• What, if any, energies are out of balance?

• How can I bring my energies back into balance?

• How can I live in harmony with my constitution?

Tibetan medicine combines natural remedies, diet, and lifestyle advice to restore balance. Remedies often use plants and minerals, with some having over 100 ingredients. Ingredients target imbalances while managing side effects.

Important Tips

• Inform your practitioner about other medications.

• Verify the source and purpose of remedies.

• Share your usage with your regular healthcare provider.

Tibetan Meditation
Meditation is central to Tibetan medicine, helping tame the mind to foster health and happiness. Techniques like sitting, walking, or listening to music can calm the "monkey mind." Start with two-minute meditations to build focus and clarity.

Popular Tibetan Meditations

1. Compassion Meditation

   • Chant Om Mani Padme Hum to develop compassion and release negativity.

2. Prostrations

   • A physical practice akin to yoga, harmonizing mind and body.

3. Tonglen Meditation

   • "Breathe in suffering, breathe out compassion" for yourself, loved ones, and the world.

External Therapies

• Tsa-rLung Therapy: Balances energy channels to enhance physical and mental health.

• Hor-mey Therapy: Herbal wraps reduce stress and insomnia.

• Moxibustion: Uses heat to stimulate energy flow and alleviate issues like pain and fatigue.

These methods emphasize holistic health, blending physical, mental, and spiritual care.