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Tibetan Medicine Resources on theInternetChristina Daley aa Lancaster General Hospital, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA

Version of record first published: 13 May 2010

To cite this article: Christina Daley (2010): Tibetan Medicine Resources on the Internet, Journal ofConsumer Health On the Internet, 14:2, 193-200

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ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARYTHERAPIES

Esther Y. Dell and Suzanne M. Shultz, Column Editors

This column is intended to be a guide to Internet resources dealing withalternative and complementary therapies, also known as unconventional orunorthodox therapies. According to a landmark study published in theNew England Journal of Medicine in 1993, these nontraditional methodsfor health and healing are sought after by one-third of all persons surveyed.

Each article in this column will focus on an Internet site, a specific diag-nosis, or a therapeutic modality. Anyone interested in submitting commentsor material for publication should contact: Esther Y. Dell, The George T.Harrell Health Sciences Library, Penn State Hershey, P.O. Box 850, Hershey,PA 17033 (e-mail: eyd1@psu.edu).

DISCLAIMER: This column serves only as a resource guide. Readers arenot to assume that the coverage of subjects is comprehensive. The columneditors and the journal do not vouch for the validity of the information fromsources described.

Column Co-Editors:

Esther Y. Dell Suzanne M. ShultzThe George T. Harrell HealthSciences Library

Philip A. Hoover, MD Library

Penn State HersheyYork Hospital

P.O. Box 8501001 S. George Street

Hershey, PA 17033-0850York, PA 17405

Journal of Consumer Health on the Internet, 14:193–200, 2010Copyright # Taylor & Francis Group, LLCISSN: 1539-8285 print=1539-8293 onlineDOI: 10.1080/15398281003784802

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Tibetan Medicine Resources on the Internet

CHRISTINA DALEYLancaster General Hospital, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA

Tibetan medicine has a long, rich history. Recent efforts to preserveand promote Tibetan medicine and practice have resulted in anincreased Internet presence. Several Web sites are identified thatprovide reliable, credible information on Tibetan medicine. Itshould be noted that the listing is not exhaustive and is limitedto English only resources.

KEYWORDS Complementary and alternative medicine, Internet,Tibet, Tibetan medicine

INTRODUCTION

Interest in complementary and alternative medicine has increased asconsumers and health care practitioners explore innovative medical treat-ment options. This interest, combined with recent political activity in Tibet,resulted in a renewed fascination in Tibetan medicine. Recent efforts topreserve and promote Tibetan culture and medicine have subsequentlyproduced a variety of freely available Internet resources. A brief history ofTibetan medicine and principles will be provided followed by credibleInternet resources on Tibetan medicine. This column is not intended as acomprehensive resource on Tibetan medicine but rather an overview ofselect credible resources. The Internet sites noted in the article were utilizedas significant resources for the information provided in the column.

BRIEF HISTORY

Tibetan medicine is considered one of the world’s oldest recognized medicalpractices. The Medicine Buddha is often attributed with the original teachingsof the Tibetan system of medicine, detailed in the rGyud-bZhi.1 Prior to theBuddhist era, the practice of Tibetan people synthesized medical knowledgefrom other cultures with Tibetan beliefs and medical practices. It is, however,

Address correspondence to Christina Daley, Library Director, Lancaster General Hospital,555 North Duke Street, Lancaster, PA 17064. E-mail: cd004@lancastergeneral.org

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difficult to determine the level of influence other cultures had on developingTibetan practices.2

Unfortunately, over the past 40 years Tibetan medicine has lingered onthe verge of extinction, as Tibetan practitioners struggle to preserve theirtraditions with concentrated efforts. One such effort to preserve the traditionwas the development of the Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute,Men-Tsee-Khang, in Dharamsala, North India. Men-Tsee-Khang was estab-lished under the direction of the Dalai Lama as an educational institute whereTibetans in exile could receive the necessary training to practice Tibetanmedicine. Men-Tsee-Khang is the primary training institute for Tibetan practi-tioners; however, treatments administered are limited to available resourcesto Tibet.3

PHILOSOPHY AND BASIC PRINCIPLES

Tibetan medicine adopts a holistic perspective of the individual. The systemis based on the philosophy that the mind and body are interconnected. Themind plays an integral role in the overall health of an individual.

Health and wellness are understood based on a complex system calledgSoba Rigpa, or the knowledge of healing. It is based on the philosophy thatall things originate from the five elements that form the cosmos: earth, water,wind, fire, and space. Although every element contributes to the formation ofa tissue cell, each has a primary area of influence.

It is the interaction of the five elements and the mind’s development pro-cess in the womb that creates the three primary physical systems that influencethe body. These three influences are often referred to as ‘‘energies’’ or‘‘humors,’’ which are classified as wind, bile, and phlegm.4 They are defined as:

Wind creates an enormous number of functions. The best example ofthese functions is circulation, such as, circulation of our blood, circulationof the nervous system’s impulses, circulation of thoughts in our minds,circulation of food through our digestive tract and eliminative organs.The mind expressed as attachment, desire or our materialist world view,is manifested as the system of Wind.

Bile gives rise to and controls functions such as metabolism, liverfunction and vision and allows our mind to function with discriminatingintellect. The mind expressed as aggression, hatred, anger or the like, ismanifested as the system of Bile.

Phlegm creates the physical principle whereby energy can createfunction, provides our body’s lubrication, creates the will and allows usto have good memory among other things. The mind expressed as igno-rance or incomprehension is manifested as Phlegm.4

Optimum health is achieved through the balance of these threehumors. The proportion or levels of each humor is individualized based

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on personal need and energy pattern. It is an imbalance of the humors thatresults in disease.4

The guiding principles of Tibetan medicine are outlined in therGyud-Bzhi, a book of Tibetan medical knowledge originating from the12th century. The manuscript is divided into four sections, consisting ofthe four tantras: (1) RCTA Tantra, (2) the Explanatory Tantra, (3) the OralTradition Tantra, and (4) the Last Tantra.5 The rGyud-Bzhi is still widely usedtoday to educate future Tibetan practitioners.2

CONDITIONS TREATED WITH TIBETAN MEDICINE

Tibetan medicine treatments are designed to re-establish harmony of thethree humors and the mind, thereby eliminating disease. Similar to Westernmedicine, the success of Tibetan medicine is determined by the practitioner’sability to diagnosis the condition and administer the appropriate treatment.Treatments may vary based on region and practitioner; however, herbalmedications are often prescribed.5

Tibetan medicine gained recognition for the successful treatment ofchronic conditions such as hepatitis, sinusitis, and problems associated withthe nervous system. It is often used to complement traditional Western medi-cine. Caution, however, must be exercised as medical terminology in Tibetanmedicine is not consistent with Western medical terminology. There iscurrently little scientific clinical data available supporting the effectivenessof Tibetan medical practice and treatment.5

CONTEMPORARY PRACTICE

Today, Tibetan medicine is primarily practiced in the Tibetan AutonomousRegion and in areas of China. There are small pockets of Tibetan practi-tioners in Mongolia, parts of Russian, the West, and in the Himalayan areasas Ladakh, Bhutan, Sikkim, and Nepal. Although Europe and the UnitedStates have shown increased interest in Tibetan medicine, there are stillrelatively few practitioners available for consultation.5

The preservation efforts headed by Tibetan practitioners resulted inseveral organized centers throughout the world, developed to promoteand preserve Tibetan medicine. Examples of these include InternationalTrust for Traditional Medicine (India), The New Yuthok Institute (Milano),Access to Treatments (New York), and Shang Shung Institute (MA).3

Men-Tsee-Khang, the Tibetan Medical and Astrology Institute, has beeninstrumental in promoting Tibetan medicine through a variety of workshops,seminars, exhibits, and conferences offered to physicians and astrologers inEurope, the United States, Russia, Japan, Canada, and India. Men-Tsee-Khang

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operates a thriving pharmaceutical department that has expanded its saleof Tibetan Medicine products to the international market via its Internetstore.2

INTERNET RESOURCES ON TIBETAN MEDICINE

The Internet has proven to be a valuable tool in the promotion and preser-vation of Tibetan medicine. The Internet resources provided in this columnwere evaluated based on credibility, reliability of information, authority ofsource, accuracy of information, and overall site purpose. This is not anexhaustive listing of resources but rather a selection of general credibleresources.

Alternative Medicine Foundation – Tibetan Medicine Resource Guide<http://amfoundation.org/tibetanmedicine.htm>

The Alternative Medicine Foundation developed a comprehensiveTibetan Medicine Guide. The guide provides a brief history of Tibetan medi-cine, theory, contemporary practices, books, scientific literature, films, andworldwide research resources, including a list of Tibetan medicine institutesand practitioners.

The Global Institute for Tibetan Medicine<http://globaltibetmed.org/>

The Global Institute for Tibetan Medicine is a nonprofit organizationfocusing on the education, research, and conservation of Tibetan medicine.Information regarding current and ongoing projects is available as well as anextensive listing of related links.

Institute for Traditional Medicine<http://www.itmonline.org>

The Institute for Traditional Medicine (ITM) is a nonprofit organizationfounded in 1979 by Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D., with a focus on Chinese,Tibetan, and Indian medicine. The Institute operates two clinical facilitieslocated in Portland, Oregon: the Immune Enhancement Project (IEP) andthe An Hao Natural Health Care Clinic (An Hao). The Institute provides edu-cational materials, conducts research, develops therapeutic herbal formulas,and serves as a source of reliable information for other organizations. TheWeb site offers a practitioner reference guide, articles, a list of acupunctureand Chinese medicine schools, and special presentations.

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International Academy for Traditional Tibetan Medicine (IATTM)<http://www.iattm.net>

IATTM provides information related to the preservation and promotionof traditional Tibetan medicine practice. The IATTMWeb site details activitiesand research related to Tibetan medicine. The Web site also provides infor-mation on the 2010 International Conference on Tibetan Medicine.

Ligmincha Texas Institute for Meditative and Healing Arts<http://www.ligminchatexas.org/>

The Ligmincha Texas Institute in Houston is a resource and educationalcenter focused on bridging the gap between Eastern and Western medicine.The Web site is not intuitive in its design; however, exploration of the Website yields a variety of rich resources including articles, videos, an onlinebookstore, events, and other links of interest.

The Office of Tibet in New York<http://www.tibetoffice.org/en/index.php>

The Office of Tibet in New York is the official agency of His Holiness theDalai Lama and the Tibetan Government-in-exile in the Americas. The Website maintains a comprehensive Tibetan Directory of support groups, associa-tions in the United States, and cultural centers. The site also provides newslinks, publications, and related Tibetan resources and links.

Quiet Mountain Tibetan Buddhist Resource Guide<http://quietmountain.com/links/resource.htm>

This portal of information contains an A to Z listing of links on TibetanBuddhism, Tibetan medicine, and additional related resources.

Shang Shung Institute in America<http://www.shangshung.org/>

The Shang Shung Institute of America Web site provides information oninternational activities and projects, Tibetan Medicine Schools, and courses inAmerica and an online store.

Tibetan Medicine–Dharma Haven Web Site<http://www.dharma-haven.org/index.htm#Medicine>

The Web site provides information on Tibetan medicine resources,research on Tibetan medicine, clinics, medicine and herbs, and books andvideos. The Web site is easy to navigate with clearly defined links toresources.

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Tibetan Medical and Astrology Institute (TMAI)<http://www.men-tsee-khang.org/>

This official Web site of the TMAI was established by H.H. the DalaiLama, Dharamsala, India. It provides general information on Tibetan medi-cine and Tibetan astrology as well as specifics related to the history ofTibetan medicine, practice of Tibetan medicine, and Fundamental MedicalTreatise rgyud-bzhi. The Web site also maintains an online store.

Tibetanmedicine.com<http://www.tibetanmedicine.com/index.html>

Eliot Tokar, an Asian medicine practitioner, outlines the basics ofTibetan medicine including a brief history and information about practices,diagnosis, and treatment. A commentary of the current state of Tibetanmedicine is also provided as well as links to related articles.

Yuthog Foundation of Tibetan Medicine<http://www.yuthog.org/>

The Yuthog Foundation focuses on education and training of ruralTibetan practitioners in Ladakh. The Web site provides a brief history ofTibetan medicine, photographs, and descriptions of select Tibetan medicinalplants, and a FAQ page of common usage questions and consultation with aTibetan practitioner.

CONCLUSION

Tibetan medicine is an ancient, holistic approach to health and wellness.Recent efforts to preserve and promote the practice have resulted in anassortment of resources on the Internet worthy of exploration. The Internetsites listed provide an excellent starting point for a medical professional orlay person interested in learning more about Tibetan medicine.

REFERENCES

1. Men-Tsee-Khang. Fundamentals of Tibetan Medicine. India: Men-Tsee Khang,2001.

2. Men-Tsee-Khang. ‘‘The Official Web Site of Tibetan Medicine and Astrology Insti-tute of H.H, The Dalhai Llama.’’ Available: <http://www.men-tsee-khang.org/medicine/index.htm>. Accessed: December 9, 2009.

3. Dharmandana, S. ‘‘Resource Guide for Tibetan Medicine.’’ Available: <http://www.men-tsee-khang.org/medicine/index.htm>. Accessed: December 15, 2009.

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4. Tokar, E. ‘‘Dedication.’’ Tibetanmedicine.com. 1998. Available: <http://www.tibetanmedicine.com/index.html>. Accessed: December 12, 2009.

5. Landgraaf, R.G. ‘‘Tibetan Medicine from Tradition to Science: An Alternative andComplementary Medicine Resource Guide.’’ Alternative Medicine Foundation.2009. Available: <http://amfoundation.org/tibetanmedicine.htm#HISTORY>.Accessed: December 17, 2009.

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