This book has been compiled based on Dri-Med Shel-Phreng, a renowned work on Tibetan medical herbs authored by Deu-Mar Geshe Tenzin Phuntsok and other works in which the tastes, inherent qualities and digestive principles of the medicinal plants have been described in accordance with the Four Medical Tantras. In addition to these, the book has been supplemented with features of modern methodology employed and a general description of basic knowledge about identification of herbal plants, the time and seasons for plucking places where these may be found, and the process of drying, cleansing and the techniques of composing these as ingredients for the preparation of various medicines before their inherent qualities to cure disorders of different nature are dissolved. Also, the seven principles of preparing medicines have been explained here-in. The illustrations of each and every single medicinal plant, it shoud be emphasized here, is not just a representation of mere speculation and artistic beauty of the author but are a result of Doctor Dawa�s personal findings or tireless research carried out in the Himalayan regions such as in Lahaul, Spiti, Rothang, Nyung-ti, Solokhumbu, and the valley of the Flowers in the Garhwal Hills as well in the southern hills of Bylakuppe, Mysore and others. It is hoped that this book will become and indispensable manual for those who practice and study Tibetan Medicine. We sincerely thank the Ethic Bank of Italy who made this editorial project possible.

A Clear Mirror of Tibetan Medicinal Plants, Doctor Dawa, Tibet Domani, 25 cm x 32 cm; colored, hardcover; edited by Linda Moore, 1999, 320 pages; 150 color photos and illustrations.

Doctor Dawa, a Tibetan Physician, was born in Lhasa in 1958. He graduated from Lhasa Medical College with distinction in 1975. He underwent varying periods of apprenticeship in the Departments of Internal Medicine, External Medicine and Pharmacology at the college. In 1976, he became a member of the Research Committee of Traditional Tibetan Medicine. In 1980 he completed his training at the Institute of Medicinal Research and the School of Botanical Art of Central Health Department of China. In 1983 he performed with distinction during the Fifth Ground final examination on Identification of Medicinal constituents at Lhasa Medical College. Doctor Dawa escaped into India from Lhasa in July 1988. His Holiness advised Doctor Dawa to continue and complete his project and impressed upon the Tibetan Medical & Astrological Institute to provide every support Doctor Dawa. This book is a product of four years of hard work and research. Presently, the author is working on the second volume of this series.