Sources of medical tradition
Though it took shape in Tibet, this medical tradition, which is still practiced in Bhutan, has always been characterized by the diversity of its origins. It is based on Indian and Chinese traditions and has also incorporated ancient medical practices connected with magic and religion. However, in essence, it is based on the great principles of Buddhism and provides a comprehensive way of under standing the universe, man, and his sicknesses.

Indian sources, including Ayurvedic Medicine, were the most important. They provided the majority of the theoretical bases of the medical tradition, revealed to mankind through the channel of Vedic sages. In this tradition man can be understood by analogy with the universe, the physics, laws and matter of which serve as a model of elementary physiology. There is thus an identity of nature between the solid parts of a man and the earth, his fluids and water, and his body heat and fire, his breath and the wind. These parallels gave birth to the so called theory of "humours," one of the fundamental principles of medicine now practiced in Bhutan.

Chinese sources also played a decisive role. Here again, physiology and physiopathology are based on a close relation between the human microcosm and the universal macrocosm. For Chinese philosophers and doctors, these two worlds are governed by the same law derived from an immutable and eternal principle, Tao, of which there are two aspects: "yin" or rest, and "yang" or movement. The entire universe, including human beings, thus goes forward rhythmically in accordance with the yin and yang. In medical sphere, the balance or imbalance of this fundamental energy will result in health or sickness. In addition, the system of channels running through the body and enabling energy to circulate, and the distinction between full and empty organs, are both taken from the Middle Kingdom. However, the most important contribution of Chinese medicine to the art of healing is the examination of the pulse, which indicates in particular any disorder connected with an excess or shortage of yin and yang.

These two great systems of thought inspired Tibetan and Bhutanese medicine, but there were also local influences. In many ancient accounts, sickness is usually attributed to demonic causes. Local gods, demons and spirits of all kings could be considered as responsible for certain illnesses. To obtain healing, it was necessary to practice particular rituals and only monks or magicians were in a position to do so. This medical practice thus involved much divinations the means of diagnosing and recognizing the spells causing the illness and exorcism as the way of treating the patient. And even though medical techniques in Tibet and Bhutan developed subsequently observation, experience, study and knowledge, popular beliefs had a definite influence in the way traditional medicine evolved.

Over and above these various influences, Buddhism itself is at the heart of Tibetan and Bhutanese medical traditions. Buddhism teaches that the existence of phenomena and suffering (sickness, old age and death) have a single origin that prevents man from reaching enlightenment, namely ignorance. This is the origin of the three moral poisons, desire, aggressiveness, and mental darkness. In turn these three moral poisons will produce the three pathogenic agents - air, bile and phlegm, which are the origin of sickness. With its overall conception of the universe and life, Buddhism is thus a way of linking medical theory to the same single source, in which sickness finds its natural place. Only knowledge, leading to Enlightenment, can free mankind from this painful existence.

It was only after reaching enlightenment and understanding of the ties binding man to this world and the means of freeing himself from them that Buddha could define the origin of pain, discover the way to eliminate it and teach an effective theory. It is therefore no surprise that he became the most outstanding healer. Through his own experience he discovered the art of healing old age, sickness and death. The divinity of medicine, Sangye Menla, is represented in traditional iconography with a blue body. His right hand holds out the Terminalia Chebula (tib. Aru), which is believed to cure all illnesses, as a gift. In his left hand is a bowl of ambrosia, the elixir of immortality.

[back][next]
[back to index]