Tibetan Medicine Clinic Men-Tsee-Khang (Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute)
This is cultural, educational and charitable institution operates under the guidance and support of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) and His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Reestablished in 1961 as the Tibetan Medical Institute, the institute aims to preserve, support, practice and promote ancient Tibetan medicine.
Today, the Medical-Astrological College trains doctors to work in numerous Men-Tsee-Khang clinics in India and Nepal.
Every year, clinics provide more and more medical services to thousands of Tibetans, Indians and foreigners, regardless of caste, color and religion.
Poor, needy people, monks and nuns, people who have recently arrived from Tibet are provided with free or discounted medical care.
Although the cost of traditional Tibetan medicine itself is quite high, the fees for the care provided to patients are set very low so that it is affordable for all who resort to the holistic system of Tibetan healing.
Clinic website:
Men-Tsee-Khang earns some income by selling its products, but largely relies on the generosity of individuals and groups supporting Tibet, which allows the institute to pay operating expenses and carry out charitable programs.
The headquarters, located in Dharamsala, includes administration and research offices, the College of Medico-Astrology, a clinic, a pharmaceutical department, a library, a museum and housing for staff and students.
In addition to the main branch, there are more than forty branch clinics in India and Nepal, Men-Tsee-Khang Export in New Delhi and a Cultural Center in Leh (Ladakh).
MEDICAL-ASTROLOGICAL COLLEGE
The college has been preparing students since 1961. Those who practice traditional medicine receive the Kachupa degree, or bachelor’s degree in traditional Tibetan medicine and surgery, after five years of study, and those who study astrology receive the Tsipa Kachupa degree, or bachelor’s degree in traditional Tibetan astronomy and astrology, after five years of study.
Several places are specially designated for new arrivals from Tibet, monks and nuns, as well as students from the trans-Himalayan region and foreigners. Since teaching is carried out in Tibetan, fluency in this language is a prerequisite for training.
Most students are funded by private individuals, Tibetan advocacy groups, and the Tibetan government. During its operation, the college trained 235 doctors and astrologers.
Tibetan astronomy began with the spread of Sree Kalachakra Tantra in Tibet.
The Buddha taught this discipline in southern India in an area called Sri Dhanyakataka in 881 BC, and it was translated into Tibetan in the early 11th century.
Tantra itself is divided into three parts – external, internal and alternative Kalachakra Tantra.
Tibetan astrologers use only external Kalachakra Tantra, which deals with the creation of the universe, its cosmology, the positions of the planets, stars, Sun and Moon, the five elements and chronological studies, as well as the effects that celestial bodies have in different positions.
To become a professional Tibetan astrologer, you need to complete a five-year course at the Medical-Astrological College and work for a year in the astrology department.
Main activities of the department
Using traditional calculation methods, the department compiles annual almanacs and calendars each year.
In addition, detailed horoscopes are compiled here for both Tibetans and residents of India and foreigners, marriage and medical horoscopes, annual predictions and other small calculations.
Here you can also buy amulets against bad luck, accidents, evil spirits and so on.
Amulets are made to order for a specific person, based on her date of birth and for special purposes, such as good luck, happiness, health, strength, peace of mind, etc.
The department also compiles horoscopes of the deceased at the request of the family, the purpose of which is to clarify funeral ceremonies and perform the necessary rituals both for the benefit of the deceased and for the benefit of his relatives.
Clinic of Tibetan medicine diagnostics by pulse
Doctors of Tibetan medicine start their checkup with pulse diagnosis, therapeutic questioning of the patient, and urine examination.
Pulse diagnostics has remained a relevant diagnostic method in Tibetan medicine for thousands of years. Treatment of various pathological conditions in Eastern medicine begins with pulse diagnostics. This method of determining disease states is superior in accuracy to European diagnostics using some equipment practiced in classical medicine.
Traditional medicine doctors also measure the patient’s pulse. This research method gives the most general idea of the state of the cardiovascular system and includes only a few characteristics of the state of the heart and blood vessels: frequency, rhythm, tension, filling.
As for hardware methods for detecting pathology of the cardiovascular system (cardiogram, ultrasound), these techniques are used to identify diseases that have already appeared in the body.
Tibetan pulse diagnostics makes it possible to identify pathological processes at a very early stage, when there are no manifestations of the disease yet.
Also, in pulse diagnostics there is a lower probability of error in making a diagnosis. In classical medicine, a doctor in his work completely relies on a computer program; pathology may not be detected, which leads to medical error.
Pulse diagnostics are carried out by the most experienced doctors who are aware of the full responsibility for the diagnostic procedure.
How does the pulse diagnostic procedure work?
The doctor feels the radial artery and places three fingers on it. By changing the force of pressure on the artery, the doctor is in a “dialogue” with various organs and systems of the patient’s body. In Tibetan diagnostics, more than 20 pulse parameters are distinguished, which makes it possible to identify all diseased conditions in the body.
You should not think that pulse diagnosis is a miracle, and that after examining your pulse, the doctor will immediately diagnose you.
In fact, just like at an appointment with a specialist in European medicine, the Tibetan doctor conducts a full interview, to collect an anamnesis.
The doctor asks the patient how his day is going, how he sleeps, how he eats, if there are any problems or complaints that bother him.
In Eastern philosophy, the human body is considered as a single system, and the cause of headaches, for example, can be not only in the head, the problem can be in the neck and even in the kidneys or gastrointestinal tract.
Eastern medicine believes that the manifestation of a disease is a consequence; The reason should be sought in the imbalance of substances in the body and in the stagnation of energy flows.
Pulse diagnostics and a detailed survey help to find out about previous illnesses and a tendency to certain ailments, which allows the doctor to give recommendations and prescribe treatment that prevents the development of the disease. In addition, a Tibetan medicine doctor prescribes a urine test to clarify the diagnosis.
In the Tibetan medical tradition, the following stages are studied: cooling, color and smell of urine, sediment, steam coming from fresh urine.
With the help of urine analysis in Tibetan medicine, it is possible not only to diagnose diseases, but also to establish profound changes in the body based on the patient’s constitution.
Procedures to help harmonization:
1.Weight loss
2. Treatment of alcoholism and drug addiction
3. Stress
4. Hormonal imbalances
Diseases treated at the Tibetan medicine clinic:
Gynecological diseases: menstrual irregularities; inflammation of gynecological organs (adnexitis, etc.); polycystic ovary syndrome;
Early stage of cancer
Infertility
Urological diseases: cystitis, pyelonephritis.
ENT organs: sinusitis (antritis, frontitis ); rhinitis.
Cerebrovascular disorders: memory impairment, age-related changes, consequences of strokes.
Diseases of the digestive system: gastritis, peptic ulcer; chronic cholecystitis and other gallbladder diseases (bile stagnation); pancreatitis; hepatitis of various etiologies.
Angina pectoris, coronary heart disease (not in the worsening stage).
Iron deficiency anemia
Haemorrhoids
Intervertebral hernia and accompanying symptoms: stiffness, pain, etc.
Consultation by e-mail
Men-Tsee-Khang sends consultations to patients who cannot come to the doctor in person.
To avail this service, you must provide us with your name, address, telephone number, detailed medical history and your complaints (in English or Tibetan). We will translate your message into these languages.
