A Brief Introduction
to Tibetan Medicine

Tibetan Medicine, Mongolian Medicine

Tibetan Medicine is a merge of systems: the traditional ‘Bon’ medicine of Tibet, and Ayurveda, imported from India with the arrival of Buddhism. It also had a lot of influence from Greek medicine via the Arabs, and from Chinese Medicine.

According to tradition, Denpa Shere Menoche (“Shenrab Miwo“) was born in 1917 BCE and is credited with founding the Bon religion, and from this time are the first records of Tibetan Medicine. Thus, the roots of Tibetan Medicine has been said to have a recorded history of 3900 years. However, scholars point out that there appears no pre-10th century sources to verify his history, race or writings. Thus, similar to the Chinese Huang Di (Yellow Emperor), he is perhaps a semi-mythological figure, blended with some truth, but lost in history.

The vast amount of Tibetan Medical Theory, as practiced today, is derived from the three Dosa system of Ayurveda (introduced with Buddhism), and has long been recorded on Thangkas (descriptive paintings) from which the oral tradition of teaching is based, and is still continued today.

Where Tibetan Medicine is distinctively different from Ayurveda is in their formulas, formula structures, and Materia Medica. Tibetan Medicine has been heavily influenced by Arab/Unani Medicine, Chinese Medicine as well as Ayurveda and their own long history. In fact, in 685AD, the King of Tibet invited physicians from India, China, Bhutan, Nepal, Persia, and elsewhere to translate their medical texts. Medicines such as Lapis Lazuli, Red Coral, Turquoise and Saffron which are all important medicines in Unani, are well represented in Tibetan Medicine.

The elaborate Gem formulas (Precious Pills or Rin Chen) of Tibetan Medicine are almost definitely inspired by similar elaborate Gem formulas used by the Arab and Persian physicians.

Mongolian Traditional Medicine is very similar, using many of the same formulas as those found in Tibetan Medicine. It also followed the introduction of Buddhism.

Therapies used include Herbal Medicine, Bloodletting, Cupping, Massage, as well as Mantra and Ritual etc.

A Brief Introductionto Tibetan Medicine

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A Brief Introduction
to Tibetan Medicine