Positive Health in Tibetan Medicine

by Vaidya Bhagawan Dash

Positive health is a new concept in Modern Medicine. In the traditional medicine of India and Tibet, a lot of emphasis is laid upon the food, drinks, regimens and conduct for the preservation and promotion of positive health.

It is considered to be one of the eight specialized branches of traditional medicine. Food and regimens for different parts of the day and night and during different seasons form the basis of this specialized branch. The religious, social and cultural traditions of Tibet are however, distinct and different. They want an individual to be free from diseases, and mentally and spiritually happy. Therefore, they lay more emphasis upon positive health and prevention of disease for which several measures are adopted in their day to day life.

For health, more emphasis is laid upon appropriate diet, drinks and regimens in comparison to drugs and therapies. It is stated, “If a person is on proper diet, etc., then there is no need for medicine and if a person is not on appropriate diet, then there is no need for medicine. Reference to positive health are available scattered in different parts of Tibetan and Ayurvedic Medical works. In the present work, these references are compiled together and it is included as a part of the Tanjur scriptures of Tibetan Buddhism. In brief, this work deals with all the different aspects of positive health and it will be useful to the students and research workers in the field of Medicine in general and in the field of Tibetan Medicine and Ayurveda in particular.

About the Authors:

Vaidya Bhagawan Dash has had an outstanding brilliant academic career. In addition to graduate and post-graduate qualifications in Ayurveda, he holds a Master's degree in Sanskrit and a Doctorate from University of Delhi. In the course of over thirty years dedicated to research and practice of Ayurveda, Dr. Dash has attended several international conferences and seminars held in Brazil, Mexico, Italy and France, and has written over thirty-eight important publications covering different aspects of Ayurveda and Tibetan Medicines. He was Deputy Adviser in Ayurveda to the Government of India in the Ministry of Health and F.W. till 1981, when he took voluntary retirement to enable him to devote more time for academic and research activities. As a Consultant in Traditional Medicine of the World Health Organisation, he had paid several visits to Bangladesh, Bhuta, Burma and Mongolia to study and advise on the Health Development Programmes of these countries.

Ven. Doboom Tulku is an incarnate Lama, who as a part of his monastic disciplines, has conducted intensive studies of religious and non-canonical scriptures. He came to India in 1959, pursued his studies and obtained the degree of Acharya from the Sanskrit University, Varanasi. He has edited, translated and supervised the publications of several books and journals on different aspects of Tibetan religion, tradition and culture. As a close associate of HIs Holiness the Dalai Lama, he is working as the Director of Tibet House in New Delhi, to promote Tibetan culture and tradition since 1981, through different socio-cultural programmes of Tibet house.