Tibetan Medicine

Introduction of Tibetan Medicine

Tibetan medicine is national medicine which created and developed in the long process of fighting against diseases. It is an important part of Chinese medicine. The first Tibetan doctor appeared in early of third century. Until now, it has over 1600 years' history. In 6th century, Chinese pulse diagnostic method and astrology and some Indian clinical knowledge were introduced into Tibet. From 7th century to8th century (641-707), Princess Wencheng and Princess Jincheng brought some doctors and books to Tibet when they came into Tibet. Some people translated a part of medical books into Tibetan language. Later, some doctors in center of China and foreign doctors came to Tibet to make lectures, and some medical books were introduced in. These doctors wrote a medical book by combining Tibetan medical practice and trained a series of trainees. Since then, Tibetan medicine had theory and successors. In the first 30 years of 8th century, there were many famous Tibetan medical experts. They wrote many medical books by summarizing their own experiences. With continuous practice and modification, these medical books integrated into a great work of Tibetan medicine – Ju Xi (Four Medical Classics).

The theory of Tibetan medicine includes Yin, Yang, Five Elements, Four Seasons, and Five Organs and so on. The diagnostic methods are same as the inspection, auscultation and olfaction, inquiry, and pulse-taking and palpation in traditional Chinese medicine. But Tibetan medicine pays more attention to urinalysis. The treatment methods are medication, acupuncture and moxibustion, and bloodletting.

Development of Tibetan Medicine

Before liberation, the scale of Tibetan medicine was very small. There were less 100 medical personal, with simple and crude equipments. Hence, it only can offer service to a small number of people. All of these greatly affected its development. After the peaceful liberation of Tibet, especially after the democratic reform in 1959, the government paid much attention to Tibetan medicine development, took the methods of inheritance, excavation, reorganization and development, and integrated the original Yuanmen Zikang and Yaowang Hill to Lhasa Tibetan Hispital. Because the original outpatient service in Tibetan Hospital can not meet the needs of patients, Tibetan Hospital arranged over 30 hospital beds, set up department of internal medicine, surgical department, otolaryngology department, department of gynecology and paediatrics, pharmacy and soon. At the same time, Tibetan Hospital also created the rules about writing Tibetan medical record. In 1972, Tibet setup Lhasa Tibetan Medicine School, trained over 180 new generation Tibetan doctors. In 1979, Lhasa Tibetan Hospital renamed to Tibet Autonomous Tibetan Hospital, expanded the Barkhor Street Outpatient Building and enlarged Tibetan doctor group. In 1981, Shigatse, Shannan, Qamdo, Nagqu and other prefectures set up well-equipped Tibetan hospitals one after another. At the same time, set up department of Tibetan medicine in every hospital. In Lhasa, there is a Tibetan medicine factory in Tibetan Hospital. Now, this factory produce about 350 kinds of Tibetan medicines, and annual production amount can reach about 30 tons. Some Tibetan medicines which produced in this factory is famous in the world.