FIRST YEAR -Course Outline

Course Overview and Introduction to Traditional Tibetan Medicine (TTM)

• The Objectives of TTM
• TTM as a holistic system
• The benefits of TTM
• TTM as a living ancient knowledge: a natural and holistic medical science

The Four Tantras (Tib. rGyud bZhi)

• Root Tantra  (Tib. rTsa rGyud) -  The root of TTM; Eight branches
• Explanatory Tantra  (Tib.  bShad rGyud) - Basic studies; Eleven principles
• Oral Instruction Tantra  (Tib. Man Ngag rGyud) - Pathology and treatment; Fifteen divisions
• Final Action Tantra  (Tib. Phyi Ma rGyud) - Diagnosis and therapies, Four compilations

Root Tantra and its Three Basic Views – The Three Trees

• The Tree of our General Condition "The Basis of Health and Disease"
• The Tree of Diagnosis
• The Tree of Treatment Methods

Brief Presentation of the 99 Medical Trees

Fundamental Principles:

5 Elements Theory and Cosmology  (Tib. ’Byung ba lNga)

• 5 Elements (’Byung ba) – creation of the internal organs
• 5 Energies (Khams) – the five external elements
• Union of the 5 Elements and the 5 Energies

3 Humors Theory (Tib. Nyes Pa gSum)

• Origin
• Quality
• Divisions
• Functions

The Philosophical Basis of Tibetan Medicine

Dharma Philosophy

• Theory of Interdependent Origination  (Tib. rTen ’Brel)
• Middle path - Uma (Tib.  dBu ma)

The Origins of Tibetan Medicine

Natural Science

• Knowledge acquired from nature spirits
• Knowledge acquired from animal intelligence
• Human observation and discovery

Bon Source.

• Shamanic studies – the harmony between human, spirit and nature
• Philosophical

TTM and its combination with Other Studies

• Philosophy, Bon, Buddha dharma. (Tib. Bon, Ngang pa, Sang rGyas)
• Astrology, the horoscope and constellations (Tib. Nag rTsis, dKar rTsis)
• Geomancy (Tib. Sa dPyad)

The History of Tibetan Medicine

The First Tibetan Physician

Chebu Trishe (dPyad bu Khri shes ) - his study, research and works

The Influence of the sPu rGyal Dynasty (126 – 254 BC)

• King Nyatri Tsanpo
• Development of the ‘12 Studies of Bon’

The Doctor of the First Century

Dr. Lhabu Gokar – first surgeries; Wound healing formula (Tib. bChad ’Byor Nyi Shu)

King Lhatho Thori Nyantsa and his descendants (1054 - 10629 CE)

• Physician Biga Gache and his sister Bilha Gazema
• Dunggi Thorchog Chan
• Five principle studies: Pulse reading, diet, herbal formulae, treatment of injuries, external therapies
• The Royal physicians

8th century

Yuthok Yonten Gonpo The Elder and his outstanding Research

• Father of TTM
• rGyud bZhi and  the First TTM school

Great Tertons (gTer sTon) and their contribution to TTM

• Terton Graba Ngonshe
• Terton Lama
• Nyang Nyimai Odser

12th century

Yuthok Yonten Gonpo The Younger and his students

• Yuthok The Younger’s new edition of the rGyud bZhi
• Yuthok Nyingthig Practice

Period of Sakya (1247-1354)

Trang Ti family and the Sakya Medicine school

Period of Phag Gru (1354-1618)

Two main schools:

• Chang school (Tib. Byang pa)
• Zur school

The 15th and 16th Centuries

Gaden Phodrang government and its support for TTM

• The famous Chagpori
• TTM development in the east (Amdo) and north (Kham) areas of Tibet

TTM in other parts of the world: Mongolia, Bhutan, Russia, India, Nepal.

The Ideal Conduct of the Tibetan Medicine Doctor

Anatomy

Summary of the Explanatory Tantra:

Embryology

• Causes for formation of the body
• Development of the fetus
• Signs of delivery

Metaphors of the Body

• Exterior of the body
• Internal organs

Physical Anatomy

• Physical measurements; quantities of the bodily constituents
• Anatomy of the channels
• Anatomy of critical points
• Tubular pathways

Anatomy of the Head

• Different head shapes
• The Brain
• Bones of the head
• Muscles of the head
• The three channels of the head

Anatomy of the Trunk

• Bones of the trunk
• Muscles of the trunk
• Five solid organs
• Six hollow organs
• Connecting channels
• Grid study for internal organ location (Tib. Byang Khog Yul Thig)

Anatomy of the Limbs  (Tib. Yan Lag gi gNad Lugs)

• Muscles of the limbs
• Bones of the limbs
• Lymph nodes
• Critical channels
• Critical Bones of the limbs
• Critical tendons and ligaments
• Summary of the critical points

Subtle Anatomy

• Three channels
• Five chakras

Physiology

• 3 Humors
• 5 Elements – their locations and functions in the physical body
• Metabolic heat

Divisions and Classifications of the Body

• Typology
• Function of the three doors – Body, Speech and Mind
• Classifications of illness

Death and Dissolution of the Body

Signs of death:

• Dream signs
• Distant signs
• Close signs
• The process of death and dying
• The bardo state
• Summary