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The
Tibetan Medical System: An Ancient
Art
on the Cutting Edge of Mind/Body
Healing
by
Teri Sivilli
Tibetan medicine is one of the oldest and most comprehensive medical
systems in existence. It is a holistic philosophy that seeks to maintain
the harmonious operation and balance of all the energies that constitute
the human psycho-physical being. Based on the centuries-old Buddhist
study of the mind, it has provided what seem to be miracle cures for
diseases often considered untreatable by allopathic medicine.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama has personally found Tibetan medicine to
be very effective. “As a preventive measure it does remarkable
things,” he said. “Month by month, year by year, there is
a complete transformation of the physical elements. I think that is
quite wonderful.” A system of integrated mind/body healing, Tibetan
medicine offers a rich healing art to those who seek healing knowledge
that addresses not only the physical but the most fundamental and profound
levels of being.
Long used in Asia to treat chronic diseases and conditions such as arthritis
and cancer, this 2500-year-old science of healing is now attracting
the attention of modern medical researchers. For example, the Tibetan
medical system has been studied by the FDA (chronicled on NBC's
Dateline), which has conducted a promising clinical trial of Tibetan
herbs for the treatment of Stage Four breast cancer.
In addition, a Swiss pharmaceutical firm, Padma AG, now offers a product
known as “Padma 28,” a Tibetan formulation officially approved
for sale in Switzerland and available as an import in other countries.
Padma says it sells 40 million of the tablets annually, each containing
a blend of 20 Tibetan herbs used to treat circulatory problems caused
by atherosclerosis.
This spring, Atlantans will enjoy a rare opportunity to explore this
ancient and effective system with Dr. Tenzin Dakpa, a Tibetan health
advisor. Sponsored by Drepung Loseling Institute, Dr. Dakpa will present
two public talks and will be available for a limited number of private
consultations with individuals. In addition, Dr. Dakpa has been invited
to lecture at Emory University, as part of a course on “Mind, Body
and Healing” taught by Loseling Director and Emory Professor Dr.
Lobsang Negi.
Dr. Tenzin Dakpa, who studied under the legendary Dr. Tenzin Choedak,
is a noted international lecturer and co-editor of Fundamentals of Tibetan
Medicine, and the appointed Resident Doctor at the Medicine Buddha Healing
Center.
Located in southwest Wisconsin, the Medicine Buddha Healing Center is
the first American branch of Men-Tsee-Khang, the Tibetan Medical and
Astrological Institute centered in Dharamsala, India. This institute
was established to preserve the ancient knowledge of the Tibetan medical
tradition, to continue research into effective methods of treating modern
health issues, and to train medical doctors.
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Healing