Dalai Lama Saves Tibetan Medicine

Tibetan Medicine is a powerful & natural medical system that has been successfully practiced for over 1,000 years. A holistic approach combining dietary and behavioral changes, herbal cures, massage and meditation, this unique approach to healing utilizes the ancient wisdom of Tibetan master doctors to diagnose accurately and cure modern diseases.

“The Book of Tibetan Medicine”, by Ralph Quinlan Forde, which has being published world wide in 11 languages, claims His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama has been the main visionary and driving force, in exile, who has saved Tibetan Medicine from extinction. The establishment of The Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute in Dharamsala was one of the first projects His Holiness The Dalai Lama undertook when he first came into exile nearly 50 years ago. This Institute now trains doctors in this traditional medicine, manufactures herbal formulas and supplies healthcare to over 50 Tibetan refugee camps in India.

Many westerners now also consult with Tibetan Doctors, asking advice on how to heal and help cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and even HIV.

In the book, which is fully illustrated with over 140 paintings, His Holiness The Dalai Lama is pictured together with Lady Doctor Bhutti whom He personally encouraged to train as a Tibetan Doctor along with a handful of other suitable candidates. Dr Bhutti now lives and practices Tibetan Medicine in Boston. She and her class mates memorized the four medical tantras before qualifying as Tibetan Doctors.

His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama has stated in the past that,'Tibetan Medicine is deeply influenced by Buddhist practice and theory that stresses the indivisible interdependence of mind, body and vitality. As an integrated system of healthcare Tibetan Medicine has served the Tibetan people well for many centuries and I believe can provide much benefit to humanity at large.'

Tibetan Medicine, an extremely important part of Tibetan culture, is a totally integrative medical system that is 1000 years old. Tibetan Doctors train for up to ten years. Only one copy of over 70 sacred medical paintings of this healing science now exist. They were painted in the 17th century and one painting alone depicts the development of the embryo week by week, without the use of modern scientific equipment.

In particular, the synergistic herbal formulas, over 1000 formulas with up to 30 herbs each, are renowned for restoring health over a period of time with very little side effects. One formula, Padma 28, is manufactured in Switzerland in a pharmaceutical facility and has undergone a number of scientific studies. The formula is particularly successful in the treatment of intermittent claudication and vascular disease and has been used in the west for over 35 years. The product Padma 28 interestingly has also been shown in scientific studies to stop the spread of cancer in the body.

Tibetan Medicine also contains the oldest psychiatric system in the world, complete with methods of diagnosis and treatments. Interest in Tibetan Medicine has been increasingly growing in the west over the last few years. Patients always refer to the kindness and compassion of the Tibetan Doctors and the effectiveness of their treatment and care over time, as they work to restore the body's systems that promote health and wellbeing.

Professor Jan de Vries, a name that has been synonymous with expert complementary healthcare for over 40 years has recently stated the following about The Book of Tibetan Medicine,"This is possibly the best book I have read for a long, long time. For thousands of years Tibetan Healing has been known all over the world. The writer has used his knowledge of Tibetan medicine in a very constructive way. He has the great gift of putting together how Tibetan medicine can be applied in our day and age.' Jan de Vries is the author of over 30 books on complimentary medicine.