Tibetan Medicine popularly known as 'Bodkyi Sowa Rigpa" is an integral part of Tibetan culture. It has a long history evidently connected to the origin of its first civilization. The earliest inhabitants of Tibet relied only on the natural resources around them for their survival and in due course of time, their intrinsic urge to discover new things for their well being, have gradually helped them to discover various natural remedies for various health related problems. These important discoveries later became the basic foundation for the establishment of Tibetan medicine.
The religious and cultural tradition of Bon, mostly concentrated in the region of Shang Shung in the south-western part of Tibet flourished before the advent of Buddhism to Tibet. Shenrab Meo (1918 BC) the founder of Bon tradition, had eight sons and the second son called Chebu Trishe found the medical text at Shang Shung near Mount Kailash. At that time Tibetan literature didn’t exist but the text was written in language called Maryig or Shang Shung Yigeen. Undeniably, there has been an influence of Bon culture throughout Tibet and unexceptionally Tibetan medicine too had influences from the theories and practices of Bon system of medicine.
During the reign of the 28th King of Tibet, Lha Thothori Nyentsen Vijay Gaje and Bela Gazema, two reknowned Indian Physicians visted Tibet. Their remarkable knowledge and practices admired the King and in return the King offered one of his princess, Yidke Rolcha as a bride to Vijay Gaje. Dungi Thorchok was born to them who learned from the feet of his father and later became the first Tibetan Physician.
In the seventh Century, King Songtsen Gampo (617-650AD) introduced Tibetan script for the first time. The then known indigenous Tibetan medical knowledge and practices were put on writing. He invited Bharadvaja from India, Huam- Yuan Huang-ti from China and Galenos from Rome. They translated much from their individual schools and they jointly compiled the seven volume Mijigpe Tson-cha (literally indestructible weapon) and presented it to the king. As such, cross cultural exchanges with the neighboring countries was a great development in the history of Tibetan medicine. Various scholars and eminent Physicians from India, China, Nepal and Persia were invited to Tibet for exchange of medical knowledge and practices. Extensive translations of the various medical systems of the neighboring countries were undertaken during the reign of the successive religious Kings of Tibet.
It was during the reign of Trisong Deutsen (742 - 798AD) the 38th King of Tibet that Tibetan medicine received royal patronage and inspiration. The emergence of Yuthok Yonten Gonpo - I (708- 833 AD) brought Tibetan medicine to a new height of development.. He in one of the most important figure in the history of Tibetan medicine, was exceptionally intelligent in his medical studies and received admiration at a very young age. It is being said that the King convened an International Conference of medicine by inviting eminent scholars and physicians from various part of the world. They are Shanti gardha from India, Hashang-walla, Tongsum Gangwa and Hatipati from China, Guha Benza from Persia, Halashanti from Rome (Tazig) Sengdo Woechen from Shingchang (Pre-Turki Empire) Khyolmoruzi from Dolpo and Dharma Sheela from Nepal. Youthok Yonten Gonpo - I represented Tibet in that conference with nine other famous physicians from different part of Tibet. He traveled several times to India, Persia and China to pursue in-depth medical study of the different systems prevalent at that time. Based on the Asian medical traditions, together with the indigenous medical knowledge and practices of Tibet, Yuthog Yonten Gonpo- I, notably an all-important figure in the development of Tibetan medicine, authored Dudtsi Nyingpo Sangwa Mengyag Gyi Gyud popularly known as Gyud Shi (Four Tantra) which was later revised, re-organized and rewritten by Yuthok Yonten Gonpo - II, his thirteenth descendant, by making it more complete, comprehensive and compatible. He titled it as "Dudtsi Nyingpo Yenlag Gyedpa Sangwa Manyad Gyi Gyud" . Since then, it became the fundamental text of Tibetan medicine and even to this day, Gyud Shi is the main foundation on which all the technical aspects related with Tibetan medicine is firmly based.
Gyud Shi contains four different treatises with 156 chapters. It represents a complete medical tradition based on the perspective that the nature of the body, the disorders and the remedies have a similar elemental entity. The formation of our body; the disorders that we experience and the remedies that we act on, all have basically the same elemental entity. This common feature which is unique in its own is one of the most outstanding feature of Tibetan medicine and it is through this philosophical base that Tibetan medicine has been offering and will continue to offer a "Holistic" health care treatment for a complete well-being of human health.
Because of his unique and great contribution to the field of medicines, Yuthog Yonten Gonpo is highly venerated by all Tibetan as the second Medicinal Buddha or the father of Tibetan Medicine. With great dedication and contribution by many physicians of Tibetans from generation to generation, enriched the system of Tibetan Medicine which flourished and practiced century after century.
Desi Sangye Gyatso (1652-1705AD) the regent of the great Fifth Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso, was not only a great physician but a great scholar too. He wrote detail commentary on the theory and practice of Gyud Shi popularly called Be Nyon (Blue Beryl) In order to fulfill the wish of the Great Fifth Dalai lama, he estabished Chakpori Tibetan Medical Center in the year 1696 at Lhasa adjacent to the Potala Palace. Large number of Tibetan monks were admitted and were taught Tibetan medicine in relation to the Buddhist philosophical base. Foreign students from Mongolia, China, Sikkim, Ladakh and Lahul Spiti, India were also admitted for studying Tibetan medicine.
In 1916, Men Tsee Khang (Institute of Tibetan Medicine and Astrology) was established at Lhasa by reverent Khenrab Norbu(1883-1962) on the wishes of the 13th Dalai Lama Thuptan Gyatso (1876-1933). It became the one of the premier institution for the learning, research, practice and promotion of Tibetan Medicine in Tibet until 1959 when the Chinese invasion proved impossible for its survival.
After Chinese invasion of Tibet, some Tibetan physicians escaped to India with their medical texts and equipments on their back. In 1961 His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama re-established Men Tsee Khang (Institute of Tibetan Medicine and Astrology) in Dharamsala, H.P. India. Many Tibetan doctors have graduated from Men Tsee Khang and are now practicing successfully in different parts of India, Nepal and in the West.
In fact more and more unknown diseases, untold anxiety, harm and fear is caused by the highly polluted environment and ecological disturbances. And also there is no proper treatment for many existing diseases which is causing anxiety to millions of people around the globe. Therefore the world is restoring to Traditional Medicine as an alternative. As such it is important that the Traditional Medicine should become a healing force.
