For millennia Tibetans have practiced the secret techniques of healing in Tibet. This amazing healing science still continues to be held in high esteem today.

This book introduces the principles of the ancient Tibetan healing science previously unavailable to the English readers. It is a journey into the healing methods of the Roof of the World and captures the essence of its medical system. It offers the readers an in-depth analysis of Tibetan medical history, both Buddhist and Pre-Buddhist eras, contents of rGyud bZhi (The Four Tantras), fundamental aspects of Tibetan medicine, concepts of health and diseases, diets and behaviour, pulse and urine diagnosis. The book clearly expounds the undeniable relationship between the Tibetan medicine, Buddhist philosophy and Astrology in a simple, yet interesting, way.

The book will not only help the patients of Tibetan medicine but also be of immense resource for scholars, researchers and students of Tibetan medicine. Dr. Drungtso precisely explains the concepts and practice of the great healing methods. This is one of the most authentic and comprehensive books on Tibetan medicine, which can be easily understood by all.

Tibetan Medicine: The Healing Science of Tibet, Tsering Thakchoe Drungtso, Drungtso Publications, 2004, 524 Pages, $25.00

Born in 1969 in Dhinghri near the Mt. Everest, Dr. Tsering Thakchoe began his education at the tender age of eight. He studied Tibetan literature from Ngawang Chungney, a former Sera monk and his father. After the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1959, thousands of Tibetans had to flee Tibet in the footsteps of their leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Thakchoe, too left his home and parents in occupied Tibet and undertook the dangerous journey across the Himalayan Mountains on foot to receive education and achieve his goals. He escaped to India in 1983 and studied Science and Mathematics at Lower Tibetan Children Village. A school started under the auspice of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. While in school he actively participated in co-curricular activities. He was the Editor of Donmey, the annual school magazine and was a member of the editorial board of Losel Melong, Upper TCV School.

He was awarded the best essay contest held in The International Year of Tibet by Department of Education. After the higher secondary education, Dr. Thakchoe joined Tibetan Medical & Astrological College, where he studied the science of Tibetan medicine. He was one of the founding members of Gangri Langtso, the college's annual journal. After completing the vigorous voyage into the ocean of Tibetan Medicine in five years, Dr. Thakchoe became a full-fletched Tibetan physician in 1996. He practiced medicine under the expert eyes of late Dr. Lobsang Wangyal and late Dr. Kunga Gyurmed Nyarongshar, both personal physician to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Dr. Dawa Dolma Jamling, the director of Clinical Research Department.

Dr. Tsering Thakchoe Drungtso is currently a Professor at the Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala. Dr. Thakchoe trained in Acupuncture, Pranic Healing, Buddhist Philosophy and Astrology.

Dr. Thakchoe is one of the few principal resource persons at seminars and conferences conducted by the institute during the last several years. He taught students from U.S.A, Germany, France, Spain, Holland, Japan, Austria, Poland, Canada and Switzerland.

Since 1998, he has been a consultant of English Edition Gangri Langtso. He also assisted in 'Developing the Art of Tibetan Medicine' by Noah De Gaetano and 'Treatment of Srog-rLung without Golden Needle by Eveleyens. He was an advisor to Maria Aichhom for her thesis Tibetan Healing in the Context of Buddhist Philosophy. He gave resource in respect to Tibetan medicine for Jana Hummel's thesis on alternate medicine. Being one of the few physicians proficient in English, he is engaged in translation of Tibetan texts into English and, vice versa. He translated several medical research papers including 'Eye Care in Developing Nations'.

He, with his wife, compiled the first dictionary of Tibetan Medicine and Astrology. Dr. Drungtso is arguably the first Tibetan doctor to have successfully blended the traditional and modern techniques. He formulated Tibetan flower essence, which was proven to be highly effective after scientific tests in Australia. Dr. Drungtso has travelled widely in Europe, giving lectures on Tibetan medicine and teaching at spiritual centres. He engages in exchanging ideas with foreign doctors, scholars and researchers on Tibetan Medicine.

Men-Tsee Prayer (Prayer of Medicine and astrology)
Mantra of Medicine Buddha
Dedication
Foreword
Acknowledgments
Author's Note
Disease -Its indefinite definitions
The Eleven Vows of a Tibetan Physician

PART ONE
Historical Background of Tibetan Medicine

1. The Secret of Tibetan Medicine
2. A Brief History of Tibetan Medicine
3. The Origin of Tibetan Medicine
4. Bon Tradition and Tibetan Medicine
5. The Contents of rGyud-bZhi-Four Tantras of Medicine

PART TWO
Theories and Philosophies of Tibetan Medicine

1. The Philosophy of Tibetan Healing Science
2. Tibetan Medicine within the Context of Buddhism
3. What Distinguishes an Enlightened Being from an Ordinary being?
4. Bringing the Mind Home
5. rLung-Bridging Life and Death
6. rTsa-rLung-Thigle "Channels, Wind and Drops"
7. Theory of three Principle Energies
8. Theory of Five Cosmic Energies
9. Tibetan Medicine within the Context of Tibetan Astrology
10. How Tibetan Medicine is related to Tibetan Astrology?
11. Determining your Unique Psycho-Physical Nature (Rang bZhin)
12. Three Nyes-pa (Humours) in the State of Homeostasis
13. Three Nyes-pa (Humours) in a State of Imbalance
14. Fundamental Concepts of Tibetan Pharmacology
15. Embryology (The Formation of Human Body)
16. The Seven Fundamental Body Tissues (Lus-zungs-bdun)
17. Signs of Death and Interpretation of Dreams

PART THREE
The Etiology at the Immediate Level

1. Factors Which Bring rLung
2. Factors Which Bring mKhris-pa
3. Factors Which Bring Bad-kan

PART FOUR
How Do We Know We Have Humoural Disorders?

1. How Do We Know We Have a rLung di sorder?
2. How Do We Know We Have a mKhris-pa disorder?
3. How Do We Know We Have a Bad-kan disorder?

PART FIVE
The Healing and Harmful Diets and Behaviours

1. Healing Diets and Behaviours for rLung Disorders
2. Healing Diets and Behaviours for mKhris-pa Disorders
3. Healing Diets and Behaviours for Bad-kan Disorders

PART SIX
The Diagnostic Techniques of Tibetan Medicine

1. Sphygmology of Tibetan Medicine

a. Observance of the Preliminary Diet and Lifestyle
b. The Best Time to confirm Pulse Diagnose
c. The Right Place for Pulse Diagnose
d. Amount Pressure Exerted by the Doctor's Fingers
e. Method of the Pulse Diagnose
f. The Diagnosis of the three Constitutional Pulse Types
g. The Sphygmology in Accordance with the Four Seasons and the Five Internal Cosmo-Physical Elements
h. The Diagnosis of the Seven Wonderful Pulse which Provides Prognostication
i. The Diagnosis of the Number of Pulsation in relation to Disease and Health
j. The Diagnosis of the General and Specific Pulses
k. The Diagnosis of the Death Pulses
l. The Diagnosis of the Evil Spirits Pulses and the Bestowal of Ritual Offerings
m. The Diagnosis of the Signs of the Lifespan Principle at the Pulse of the Life Soul

2. Urinalysis in Tibetan Medicine

a. Prerequisite conditions/or urinalysis
b. Suitable Time for Urinalysis
c. Container Used for Examining Urine
d. Transformation of Food and Drink into Urine
e. Urine of a Healthy Person
f. Urine of an Unhealthy Person
g. Urine Indicative of Impending Death
h. Urine of a Person Affected by Spirits

3. The Secrets of Diagnosis

PART SEVEN
Comparison Between Tibetan & other Medical Systems

1. Tibetan Medicine and Chinese Medicine- An Overview
2. Major Difference Between Ayurveda and Tibetan Medicine

PART EIGHT
A Case History

1. Rekindling Hope in a Patient

PART NINE
Tips from the Ancient Tibetan Healing Science

The Healthy Way of Making Love

PART TEN
Secrets of Herbal Medicines

The Seven Essential Branches of Medicinal Plant

PART ELEVEN
Behavioural Guidelines

1. Daily Behaviour
2. Incidental Behaviour
3. Seasonal Behaviour

PART TWELVE
Six Tastes and their Effect

1. Effect of Six Tastes on Three Principal Life Energies and Body in General

PART THIRTEEN
Diet Guidelines

1. Types of Diet
2. Diet Restrictions
3. Correct Amount of Food Intake

PART FOURTEENTH
Accessory Therapies-Indications & Contraindications

1. Oil Therapy (snum-'chos)
2. Purgative Therapy (bshal-bcos)
3. Emetic Therapy (skyugs-bcos)
4. Nasal Medication (sna-sman)
5. Mild Enema Therapy ('jam-rtsi)
6. Strong Enema Therapy (Niruhai'-bcos)'
7. The Channel Cleansing Therapy (rtsa sbyong)
8. The Bloodletting Therapy (gtar-bcos)
9. The Moxabustion Therapy (me btsa 'i bcos)
10. The Compresses Therapy (dugs-bcos)
11. The Herbal Bath Therapy (lums bcos)
12. The Ointments Therapy (byugs pa)
13. The Spoon Therapy (thurdpyad)

PART FIFTEENTH
Precious Pills and their Therapeutic Potency

1. Rinchen grang-sbyor ril nag chenmo
2. Rinchen ratna bsam 'phel
3. Rinchen Mang sbyorchen mo
4. Rinchen btso bkru zla shel
5. Rinchen gyu mying nyer Inga
6. Rinchen Icags ril chen mo
7. Rinchen byur dmar nyer Inga

APPENDIX
Glossary of Technical Terms
Transliteration
Bibliography
Footnotes
Excerpts from Letters sent to the Author