Tibetan Medicine

Tibetan Medicine is a complete medical system.  It is one of the oldest surviving forms of ancient medicine and it has been in use for over 2500 years. 

In the 11th century, Tibetan Medicine was codified into a unique system containing a synthesis of the principles of physical and psychological medicine imbued with a Buddhist spiritual understanding. This understanding formed a foundation for Tibetan Medicine and benefited patients and doctors alike.  It acknowledged that health and illness resulted from the relationship between the mind and the body and people's connectedness to the natural world and sense of spirituality.

Tibetan Medicine employs a complex approach to diagnosis, incorporating techniques such as pulse analysis and urinalysis, and observes behaviour, dietary advise, the use of medicines composed of natural materials (e.g: herbs and minerals) and physical therapies such as massage, Tibetan acupuncture and moxibustion to treat illness.

The Tibetan physician aims to treat the patients first of all through dietary advice according to each individual body constitution, and through advice on leading a wholesome lifestyle. If this is not enough, medicine is prescribed. Tibetan pharmacology is extremely rich in depth and variety. It makes use of gems, minerals, metals, soils, saps, woods and herbal plants; medicines can have combinations of as little as three ingredients or as much as 157.