Practitioners of Tibetan Medicine use a vast array of medical techniques to treat patients, including standard medical procedures and alternative forms of therapy. Some practitioners use the body's physiological signals such as pulse and urinalysis to diagnose illness, but utilize natural therapies to treat the illnesses. This may includes things like dietary and behavior modifications, herbal tonics and Eastern medicine instead of conventional drug therapy.
The Tibetan system of medicine combines Indian, Greek, Chinese and Persian practices, and is very common in the Orient where Buddhists have influenced its principles. Most prescriptions involve using herbs or natural medicines as treatment. In order to realize good health, humans must maintain a balance of three bodily energies: rLung, mKhris-pa, and Bad-kan. In English, these systems equate to circulation, bile, and phlegm. Tibetan Medicine is very similar to Ayurveda, the ancient Indian healing system.
History:
Tibetan medicine is more than 2500 years old, having originated in the Himalayas. It is said that many of the treatments of Tibetan medicine utilized local myth and kitchen witchery. The 8 th Century saw the first medical conference held in Tibet, where physicians from all over the region shared their knowledge. The elder Yutok Yonten Gonpo, who attended the conference, rewrote the Four Tantras and founded the first Tibetan Medical School around this time. Since then, Tibetan medicine has continued to develop and increase in popularity. The current headquarters of Tibetan medicine is in Dharamsala, North India.
Typical Treatment:
Visiting a Tibetan medical doctor can be an enlightening experience. Tibetan practitioners believe in diagnosing illness through observing physical signs such as the color of urine and the appearance of the tongue. They may record the pulse and question the patient on what kinds of problems he is having. After making the diagnosis, a practitioner may can treat problems in many ways, whether through suggesting diet and behavior changes, prescribing medication (mainly herbal remedies), or doing surgery. To complement this treatment, they might also use acupuncture, massage or cupping.
Conditions Treated:
Angina
Anxiety
Arthritis
Asthma
Bronchitis
Chronic digestive problems
Cold
Cough
Diabetes
Eczema
Food poisoning
Hepatitis
IBS
Insomnia
Jaundice
Liver problems
Pneumonia
Poor blood circulatory system
Rheumatism
Sinus problems
Skin problems
Spinal stenosis
Stroke
Ulcers
Benefits:
Enhances the immune system
Harmonizes the body
Prolongs life
Treats the whole person
Side-Effects/Contra-Indications:
Some of the herbal medicines should be checked for toxic metals, although most used now are mercury-free.
Used correctly, there are no side-effects to Tibetan medicine.
Educations/Schools:
Because Tibetan medicine is largely based on Chinese medicine, those who wish to follow this career path need to think alternatively. In India and Nepal, training for Tibetan medicine can take up to seven years. Students are taught Tibetan linguistics, poetry and grammar, the "rGyud-bzhi", and are expected to complete practical experience. Teachers serve as mentors to students and through years of supervised learning, students move up to become teachers themselves. In the United States, Tibetan medicine has been westernized and is often included as a subfield of Traditional Chinese medicine. Here, a Tibetan medicine student will take up to four years of course work, at least 20 hours per week, to equal 2,560 or more hours.
Degree/License offered: Certification to practice Tibetan Healing Medical Arts
Length of study: 4-7 years
Cost/Financial Aid: $700-$2500 per semester, up to eight semesters total
Research:
A six-year study followed the health of eleven metastatic breast cancer patients to determine if Tibetan medicine could affect their quality of life, progression of the disease and tumor response. They prescribed a Tibetan herbal formula and evaluated the patients every three months. Of the women in the study, three patients remained stable for 6-12 months and one noticed no progression of symptoms.
Researchers recently concluded a study on whether Padma 28, a traditional Tibetan herbal formula, could be used in people suffering from peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD). They found that after six months of treatment with the herbal remedy, those who ingested Padma 28 had a significant increase in post-exercise ankle pressure drop and 58% of the people believed their lives were improved.
Practitioner Training & Licensure:
The United States does not offer a licensing option for Tibetan medicine. Instead, practitioners are expected to practice under a license from related health fields, or through an intensive apprenticeship with a master teacher.
Average Salary/Hourly Rate:
Depending on location and demographics, a teacher of Tibetan Medicine might make $25,000 or more per year.
