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9a

Treatment Techniques
Part II
This second chapter of treatment looks at prescribing
medicine, pharmacology and therapies.
Prescribing medicine
When prescribing medicine there are ten factors to take into
consideration. These are the individual body constitution
of the patient, strength of the patient, age, metabolic rate,
condition of the disease, location of the disease, climatic
factors, time of manifestation, bodily nature and checking
to see if the patient is used to taking this form of medicine.
After these ten factors have been considered we treat each
patient individually. In Tibetan we say that if we do not
consider all the above factors in relation to each individual
case, it would be like putting the load of a yak on the back
of a sheep, or a sheeps load on the back of a yak.
Written in 1717, Geshe Tenzin Phuntsoks materia
medica of Tibetan medicine, called Dri-med Shel-gong
Shel-phren, mentions 2294 different medical substances used
in Tibetan medicine. They can be all be classified within the
following eight categories:
1. Precious gemstones and metals
2. Soils
3. Minerals
162 Principles of tibetan medicine
4. Wood
5. Mucilaginous
6. Shrubs
7. Herbs
8. Animal products
In the rGyud-bzhi it says that our bodies are made of five
elements and the Nyes-pa-gsum are caused by the imbalance
of the five elements. The antidotes which are comprised of
herbs and minerals are also generated by these same five
elements. Following from this the five elements generate the
six primary tastes of the medicines. (See page 124 for advice
on diet.)
Problems related to Loong are treated by medicines
which are a combination of sweet, sour, salty and hot
tastes.
Problems related to mKhris-pa are treated by
combinations of bitter, sweet and astringent tastes.
Problems related to Bad-Kan are treated by
combinations of hot, sour and salty tastes.
In Tibetan medicine most medicinal preparations are

combinations of the eight potencies which are: heavy, oily,


cooling, blunt, light, rough, hot and sharp. In greater detail
these eight potencies can be divided into the 17 qualities
which can counteract the 20 subtle natures of Loong,
mKhris-pa and Bad-Kan.
Earth has the following qualities: heavy, stable, blunt,
smooth, oily and dry. These qualities pacify Loong disorders
because the nature of Loong is light, movable, cool, rough,
hard and thin. Earth can also aggravate Bad-Kan because
they share the same qualities.
Treatment Techniques: Part II 163
Water has the following qualities: fluidity, cooling,
heavy, blunt, oily and supple. These qualities pacify mKhrispa
disorders because the nature of mKhris-pa is oily, pungent,
hot, light, sharp and moist. Water can also aggravate Bad-Kan
because they share the same qualities.
Fire has the following qualities: hot, sharp, dry, coarse,
light, oily and mobile. These qualities pacify Bad-Kan
disorders because the nature of Bad-Kan is cool, blunt,
smooth, sticky, heavy, steady and oily. Fire can aggravate
mKhris-pa because they share the same qualities.
Air has the following qualities: light, mobile, cold, coarse,
pale and dry. These qualities pacify Bad-Kan disorders. Air
can aggravate Loong because they share the same qualities.
1. Precious gemstones and metals
Below are examples of some of the precious gemstones and
metals which are used in Tibetan medicine.
Gemstones
Name Taste Potency Uses
Pearl Astringent Cool Treats brain damage
due to injury or
inflammation; nerve
degeneration; stiffness
and contraction of
the tendons and
ligaments; paralysis. Is
an antidote.
Coral Astringent Cool Treats hepatitis;
inflammation of the
nerves. Is an antidote.
164 Principles of tibetan medicine
Name Taste Potency Uses
Lapis Astringent Cool Treats skin diseases;
relieves itching; helps
prevent premature
greying of the hair. Is

an antidote.
Ruby Astringent Cool Balances the Nyes-pagsum
and dispels evil
spirits.
Sapphire Astringent Cool It is a panacea and
therefore helps all
kinds of diseases.
Emerald Astringent Cool Reduces fever, helps
epilepsy and neurological
diseases.
Turquoise Astringent Cool Treats eye diseases
and hepatitis. It is an
antidote.
GZi (black
and white
striped stone
unique to
Tibet)
Astringent Cool Treats epilepsy,
cures dieseases and
heachaches.
Achates Astringent Cool Treats epilepsy,
eye diseases and
headaches.
Metals
Name Taste Potency Uses
Gold (24
carat)
Astringent Cool Treats oxide poison,
prolongs life, aids
rejuventation.
Silver Astringent Cool Treats arthritis, lymph
diseases, dried pus
and impure blood.
Treatment Techniques: Part II 165
Copper Sweet Cool Treats hepatitis,
inflammation of the
lungs.
Iron Astringent Cool Treats oedema, eye
diseases, elimates
toxins from the liver.
In the process of preparation all gems and metals have to be
detoxified, refined and powdered before they can be used as
medicine, otherwise they will have an adverse effect.

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