Healing the ancient way

ELIZABETH ROY's encounter with Tibetan medicine began when she met Dr. Dorjee Rapten Neshar in Bangalore. Clad in trendy western clothes, he was not what she had expected. Nevertheless, she had no reason to be disappointed, she says.

"MY horoscope says I will live until I am more than 120, my dreams suggest more than 100. I myself believe I will live into my nineties. As I get older, I find my physical health getting better, I think because of Tibetan Medicine, holistic medicine." This was the Dalai Lama speaking on the 40th anniversary of his arrival in Dharamsala. Today few Indians see Tibetans as exiles among our midst, or their food, culture or system of medicine as not something homegrown or indigenous. In fact, what most Indians who seek consultations with Tibetan physicians do not realise is that our own system of Ayurveda, in its purest form, chanced to get preserved in Tibet, while back here invaders were busy vandalising our books and documentation.

The knowledge accumulated by Tibetan medical practitioners over centuries from their study of ancient medical texts and wild plants was constantly being revised and updated. As early as in the Seventh Century what can be regarded as the first international conference on Asian systems of medicine was held at the royal court of Tibet. A rich synthesis emerged out of the debates and discussions held among medical practitioners and scholars from China, Persia, Nepal and, most importantly, from India. The collation also led to the writing of the Four Tantras, teachings on which Tibetan Medicine has since been based.

In 1916 the 13th Dalai Lama established Men-Tsee-Khang (literally house of medicine and astrology) in Lhasa. It lasted 40 years till China invaded Tibet. The centre was then closed down, several of its staff and students imprisoned and priceless medical texts, scriptures, paintings and traditional medicines destroyed. Fortunately for the world, the 14th Dalai Lama, who moved to India and exile in 1961, re-established Men-Tsee-Khang in Dharamsala to continue the work. "I strongly believe," he said, "that our medical system is one of the means by which we Tibetans can contribute to the well being of others, even while we ourselves live as refugees."

My own encounter with Tibetan Medicine began when I met Dr. Dorjee Rapten Neshar at the Tibetan Medical Centre in Bangalore. The young man, pushing forties, warm and friendly, clad in blue jeans and a snazzy shirt was not what I had expected. Nevertheless, I had no reason to be disappointed.

When Dr. Dorjee graduated from the Central School for Tibetans in Mussoorie at the insistence of his parents, he joined Men-Tsee- Khang for the five-year course in medicine (1981-86) and then followed that up with a two-year internship. He was posted to Belucopi in Karnataka, the largest rehabilitation centre for Tibetans in India. For two days every month he would go for consultations to the Tibetan representative's office in Bangalore to cater to the Tibetan community there. "Our service picked up and one of our (Indian) patients here sponsored the establishment of the Tibetan Medical Centre in Bangalore 10 years ago. Now most of our patients are local people."

As you sit there watching him deal with his patients, you begin to understand the reputation that precedes him wherever he goes. He extends a level of caring and compassion that Buddhist philosophy expects from him. He moves into diagnosis with a sixth sense of sorts. He seems to be able to see the patient's aura, the flow of energy or its blockage as clearly as I can read the printed page. He explains that in terms of Buddhist Philosophy on which the Tibetan Medical System (TMS) is based. "Though the system traces its evolution to pre-Buddhist times, we believe that the essence of TMS was taught by the Lord Buddha in his manifestation as the Medicine Buddha. We look upon the patient as a precious human being, rather than as a malfunctioning organism. We are also not concerned with the signs and symptoms of the patient's illness. We consider the patient's mind, body and spirit and see to it that he or she gets total and holistic relief."

The Four Tantras blend medical science and spirituality harmoniously. Built on Buddhist principles it believes that all suffering, and, therefore, all ailments result from ignorance and ultimately originate in the mind. This, however, does not suggest that ailments are psychological or psychosomatic; rather, it just means that due to ignorance we misperceive the nature of reality and act in ways which create suffering such as illness. "The mind is supreme over the body, the body follows the instructions of the mind. If you can understand the working mechanisms of your mind and learn how to manipulate it into positive channels you will be able to help yourself in alleviating your suffering."

Dr. Dorjee marvels at the ancient masters who 3,000 years ago gave "highly advanced explanations about body systems, of white blood cells, red blood cells, viruses and bacteria". The distinctive feature of the Tibetan system is diagnosis. "It appears very simple, very rudimentary, but it is very safe and very reliable."

The first step is interrogation, which deals with getting the patient's case history, his or her dietary and lifestyle habits and other relevant information. Next comes the taking of the pulse. Tibetan physicians feel for 12 distinct pulses in both wrists and feel characteristics such as span, depth, strength, speed and quality of the pulse. There are categories and sub- categories - hot pulse, cold pulse, seasonal pulse .... When understood properly it enables definition of the illness, its location, hidden complications and even its etiology and pathology. It is very similar to the traditional Indian and Chinese systems except that it is more elaborate and comprehensive.

The analysis of urine, another feature of diagnosis in TMS, simplistic and bizarre as it may appear, checks for odour, colour, amount size and persistence of bubbles after various types of stirrings and deposits if any. To further confirm their diagnosis, Tibetan physicians look at the colour and coatings of the tongue, study the sclera of the eye and test the sensitivity of certain pressure points on the body.

The system understands that forces manifest in nature correlate with and influence the functioning of the human organism. The fundamental concept revolves around the theory of five cosmo- physical elements (earth, water, fire, wind and space) and the three humoral energies (wind, bile and phlegm). The balance or imbalance of these directly correlates to health or ill-health; diets, lifestyles, seasonal and mental conditions being the causative factors that create imbalances, which manifest as disease.

Treatment in Tibetan medicine goes beyond addressing particular physiological problems. It might provide spiritual advice, suggest lifestyle changes, meditation, breathing exercises and yoga. Invariably, the treatment will recommend dietary changes. Then comes medication in the form of various combinations of pills, ointments and teas, sometimes physical therapies like massage or moxibustion. Medication is specifically designed for the particular manifestation of the illness and the evolving condition of the patient and thus prescriptions of medication change during every consultation/visit. Major surgery and hospitalisation does not form a part of TMS.

Dr. Dorjee is deeply involved in the research and development of Tibetan medicine and in making possible its interaction with other natural systems of healing. "The medicinal substances used in Tibetan medicine are mainly natural herbs. In more potent medicines we use metals like gold, silver, mercury - refined and detoxified - using ancient and highly advanced scientific procedures. A type of camphor is widely used, so also some precious and semi-precious stones especially lapis lazuli. A few animal products are used sometimes while healing the more serious conditions. They are extremely safe even for continued use. To ensure quality, the medications are exclusively produced in India in Dharamsala and in Switzerland by a company named 'Padma'."

Dr. Dorjee and his senior colleagues regularly attend conferences all over the world and travel to the United States and Europe offering consultations. Mainstream medicine has taken a positive step towards incorporating alternative systems into their treatment regimes. Allopathy, however, demands scientific proof of efficacy within their reductionist framework. Fair enough. Research has begun in many parts of the world. In the Western system, things move rather slowly, because, as Dr. Dorjee explains, "our medical system is holistic in nature while they follow a totally reductionist method. We do not break down the medicine to take out the active component and make it work in isolation. This kind of research does not fit into our perception".

However, the research they went into with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences has turned out to be successful and yielded good results particularly in the treatment of diabetes, in bringing down and stabilising blood glucose levels. They are now involved in cancer research and moving towards exciting conclusions. This gesture of collaborative research from Men-Tsee-Khang spells generosity and reaching out to the world.

Dr. Dorjee stands out in the TMS for his understanding of his patients, in giving them the confidence that they can be fine- tuned into balance and that they can help in healing themselves. He is also particularly good in dealing with the young. They come away unburdened, having laughed with him, having looked at the joy of life. It was only a matter of time before other parts of the country, particularly the South, began making demands on his time. Today thanks to the generosity of Col. Gopalachari and his wife Pushpa, Dr. Dorjee and his team are in Chennai for three days every month, seeing as many as 100 patients a day. The number of people in Chennai who get cured of cancer, Parkinson's, asthma, hypertension and diabetes increases every month. In cases where a complete cure is not possible, TMS is able to stabilise the body and help the patient be comfortable. There are just as many people crowding there for casual ailments and advice.

Col. Gopalachari himself not long ago was signed off by mainstream medicine as being terminally ill. He had malignancy of the thyroid and lymph glands. It had spread close to his heart and carotid arteries. He went through a series of surgeries but the malignancy seemed to overtake the system. It was then that Pushpa's intuition took charge. With her husband's urine sample she boarded a flight, en route to Dharamsala. Dr. Kunga Gyurme Nyerongsha (personal physician to the Dalai Lama) began the treatment and suggested that they move under the care of Dr. Dorjee, for the simple reason that Bangalore would be within easier reach for the monthly consultations. It took a few months; Gopalachari and Pushpa travelled up and down. Western medicine refused to believe the tests that began to show "normal". The Gopalacharis have since returned to their normal lifestyle. Even today, three years later, the complete set of tests show the tumours in exactly the same spots but with no sign of malignancy and the Calcitone tests show normalcy.

Their act of celebration was to reach Tibetan medicine and Dr. Dorjee to as many ailing people as possible, particularly those who are given no hope by other systems of medicine. A part of a house belonging to the family is made available to the Tibetan Medical Centre team and the Gopalacharis are busy informing patients by post and telephone, taking appointments and making meticulous arrangements so that the patients can comfortably meet Dr. Dorjee and his team, during the last week of every month.

"Every system has its strengths and weaknesses," says Gopalachari. "The Tibetan system seems to have a lot more plus points. There are almost no side-effects. Almost always the necessary antidotes are built into the treatment and the success rates seem to be a lot better, particularly with the average middle and lower middle classes because this is the only affordable system available to them. Maybe the rich can try other systems till such time as they fail and then come to alternate medicine." Pushpa adds. "I do not feel it is alien at all. It gives us answers; it gives us cures. And, in fact, I feel that it is an extension of our own cultural ethos."

However, one does not have to wait till one falls ill or till one is rejected by another system to come to the Tibetan medical system. Dr. Dorjee and his colleagues are there to tell you if your present lifestyle is according to your own body constitution and to help fine tune it into perfect balance.

* * *

Contacting the Tibetan

Medical System

Chennai:

Col. P. S. Gopalachari

93, Harrington Road, Chetpet

Chennai - 600031

Tel: 826 2457

* * *

Bangalore:

Dr. Dorjee Rapten Neshar

Tibetan Medical Centre

295, 5th Main Road, 11th Cross

Mahalakhsmi Layout (Near Anjanair Temple)

Bangalore-560086

Tel: (080) 349 6190

Fax: (080) 349 8358

E-mail: dorab@satyam.net.in

* * *

Dharamsala:

Men-Tsee-Khang

(Tibetan Medical and Astro Institute of H. H. the Dalai Lama)

Gangchen Kyishong

Dharamsala-176215

Tel: (01892) 23113/22618

Fax: (01892) 24116

E-mail: info@tibetan-medicine.org

For other TMS centres refer to Men-Tsee-Khang website at: www.tibetan-medicine.org

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