Sowa Rigpa Points: Point Study in Traditional Tibetan Medicine is a comprehensive manual of point study according to Sowa Rigpa (Traditional Tibetan Medicine) that is unlike any other and opens up a doorway into the study of this profound medicine that was not previously available. The Four Tantras (Gyud Zhi) teaches four methods of treatment: Diet, Lifestyle, External Therapies, and Medication. Today many modern Tibetan physicians focus on the fourth, the use of herbal medicine, as the principle method of treatment, while placing much lesser emphasis on the external therapies. Because of this, the wonderful and highly effective tradition of Tibetan external therapies, such as kunye massage, acupuncture, moxibustion, horme, cupping, compresses, stick therapy, etc, is not widely known and available and is even at risk of being lost.

Dr Nida Chenagtsang, recognizing their incredible value has done extensive research on these therapies and has ensured that they continue to be of benefit to patients in these modern times by teaching students how to practice them safely and effectively. All of the these therapies depend upon the knowledge of points. Without knowing the precise point location and therapeutic benefits of each point, one's treatment cannot be of maximum effectiveness. Together with Dr Tam Nguyen, a Western medical doctor who has deeply studied Sowa Rigpa and integrated it into her clinical practice, they created this book, a detailed map of the points used in acupuncture, moxibustion, and venesection according to the two principle root medical Tibetan medical texts, the Gyud Zhi and the Somaradza. It is an indispensable guide to any student or practitioner of Sowa Rigpa. For practitioners of other healing modalities, such as Chinese acupuncture and various massage therapies that also rely upon a point and meridian system, this book provides a fascinating comparative study and can offer a new and alternative approaches to one's already existing practice.

Sowa Rigpa Points: Point Study Traditional Tibetan Medicine, Nida Chenagtsang and Tam Nguyen, Sky Press, Hardcover, 2017, 192 pages, $59.95

Dr. Nida Chenagtsang was born in Amdo, in Eastern Tibet. Interested in the traditional healing science of his people, he began his early medical studies at the local Tibetan Medicine hospital. Later he gained scholarship entry to Lhasa Tibetan Medical University, where he completed his medical education in 1996. Dr. Nida completed his practical training at the Tibetan Medicine hospitals in Lhasa and Lhoka. Dr. Nida has published many articles and books on Sowa Rigpa (Traditional Tibetan Medicine). He has extensively researched ancient Tibetan healing methods, and has gained high acclaim in the East and West for his revival of traditional Tibetan external healing therapies. Dr. Nida is the Co-Founder and Medical Director of Sorig Khang International (formerly the International Academy for Traditional Tibetan Medicine). He is also the Co-Founder of the International Ngak-mang Institute, established to preserve and maintain the Rebkong Ngakpa yogic culture within modern Tibetan society. He trains students in Sowa Rigpa and the Yuthok Nyingthig spiritual tradition in over 40 countries around the world.

Tam Nguyen, MD graduated from Heidelberg University and is Co-Founder and Executive Director of Sorig Khang International (SKI, formerly the International Academy for Traditional Tibetan Medicine). She is resident of Internal Medicine in Switzerland where she integrates diagnostic and treatment principles according to Sowa Rigpa into her clinical practice. In her leading function of the SKI Head Office Team, it is her aim to promote education, training, publications, and common awareness of Sowa Rigpa to the highest standard possible in this field.

CONTENTS: Sowa Rigpa Points
Foreword by Dr. Nida Chenagtsang	10
A Note from the Publisher	13
Preface	15
Introduction	18
ANATOMY	21
Anatomy of the body	22
Skeleton	22
Inner organs	24
Heart	26
Lungs	26
Liver	27
Spleen	27
Kidneys	27
Small intestine	28
Large intestine	28
Gallbladder	29
Stomach	29
Urinary bladder	29
Anatomical Grid	30
Overviews	30
Heart	33
Lungs	34
Liver	36
Kidneys	37
Spleen	38
Small Intestine	39
Large intestine	40
Gall bladder	41
Urinary bladder	42
Stomach	44
Diaphragm	45
DIAGNOSIS	49
Sense organs	50
Eyes	50
Nose	50
Lips	51
Tongue	51
Ears	51
Urine Analysis	53
Pulse Readings	54
Fingers	54
Levels	54
Female Pulse	55
Male pulse	56
POINTS AND CHANNELS	59
External Channels	60
Bugchen	60
Jaje	64
Ratna	68
Internal Channels	72
Venesection Points	73
Head Points	73
Arm Points	77
Leg Points	82
Trunk Points	86
Moxibustion Points	88
Head Points	88
Vertebral Points	94
Front Points	103
Arm Points	111
Leg Points	116
Acupuncture Points	122
Heart Points	122
Life Channel Points	124
Lung Points	126
Diaphragm Points	129
Liver and spleen points	130
Stomach Points	132
Kidney Points	134
Genital Organ Points	136
Colon Points	137
Small Intestine Points	138
Aperture Points	139
SUBTLE ANATOMY	141
Urine of provocations	142
PATH OF BLA (LA)	144
Bla cycle during the lunar month	144
Bla cycle during the week	147
Bla cycle during the day	148
CHAKRAS AND CHANNELS	150
Three Queen channels	150
Five chakras	151
BIBLIOGRAPHY	153
GLOSSARY/INDEX	154