Dr. Tenzin Namdul
Clinical Researcher
Men-Tsee-Khang, Dharamsala
Gone are the days when people asked the very meaning of Tibetan or Tibet before they tried to know about Tibetan Medicine. Tibetan culture has caught the pulse of people all around the world and so has the Tibetan healing science. Tibetan Buddhist philosophy and medicine have set a benchmark for the very identity of Tibetan people. It is no longer related solely with being “in-vogue” to be associated with Buddhist philosophy or Tibetan medicine but the scientist and physicians all over the world have begun taking it into their mainstream exploration of expanding their knowledge about mind and body. Researchers and physicians in medical fraternity have started to realise the high rate of efficacy of Tibetan medicine in treating many chronic diseases, which have either very remote or no specific treatment in western medicine so far.
Men-Tsee-Khang, the premiere medical institute in Tibet (Tibetan Medical & Astro. Institute) re-established in 1961 in Dharamsala, India, by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama only testify the above statement in her arduous journey for last 44 years. Men-Tsee-Khang has treated thousands of patients all over the world and is universally recognised for her exceptional endeavour in preserving, promoting and developing Tibetan medicine further. But quite ironically, the popularity of Tibetan medicine has also bought its share of skepticism.
There are sections of people who label alternative and complementary medical system as charlatanry or something, which is not based on scientific understanding or logical reason. Such argument is a sheer result of being ignorant about one of the most profound and highly developed medical systems in the world. The deep understanding of anatomy and physiology; taste, potency and action of medicinal substances and food; and artistic diagnostic tools used in Tibetan Medicine were formed and evolved some 2500 years ago, when there was no other facilities of scientific tools. The amount of flawless understanding our ancestors possessed; the amount of research they had done and the height of positive interaction (culture & knowledge) they enjoyed with the neighbouring countries are beyond our imagination.
It has become quite common now to trace the findings of some large-scale studies in the ancient medical or Buddhist text. The recent growing interest in initiating a collaboration work both in terms of exploring relationship between mind and body in the context of Buddhist philosophy or action of some Tibetan herbs/medicines with high efficacy rate only signifies the beginning of a wonderful journey in simplifying many complicated studies that should have happened much before. TIBETAN MEDICINE or to that matter, other Traditional medical systems can aid in saving time and resources for most of the modern scientific study by skipping 1st & 2nd phase of study.
The speculation over the use of heavy metals in TIBETAN MEDICINE is one of such side effects of acceptance and popularity TIBETAN MEDICINE has been enjoying for last couple of decades. There have been various speculations for some time but the outburst that happened in Switzerland in July 2001 pertaining to the use of heavy metals like mercury and lead in TIBETAN MEDICINE panicked many people, especially those who were not that familiar with the TIBETAN MEDICINE. The news was discussed in some 6 different TV channels and written about in 11 different regional and local newspapers in Switzerland stating the import of “dubious Tibetan pills” by some Tibetan doctor. It even found its space in our local newspaper and magazine like Tibet Times and Tibetan Review and became the subject of discussion during 13th parliamentary session.
The Tibetan community in Switzerland reacted like any panicked yet concerned community and issued a notice among Tibetan people to be cautious about taking TIBETAN MEDICINE from spurious Tibetan doctor and emphasising concern over the seriousness of such issue. I even encountered a few regular patients and couple of my friends being little bit panicked about the whole situation, which is quite understandable but could be easily cleared with proper information.
It is not only the TIBETAN MEDICINE that certain doubts have been raised about the use of heavy metals. The Canadian government has banned ayurvedic drugs owing to reportedly high levels of heavy metals. The study paper published in American Medical Association found dangerous levels of heavy metals in ayurvedic drugs. Unani and Homeopathic medicine have been under close monitoring in most part of Europe even though homeopathy enjoys some degree of royal patronage in UK. The chemical analysis of Chinese medicine done at one of the leading pharmaceutical Company in Japan in 1999 also showed great levels of heavy metals. In 2002, the WHO decided to set up a basic global framework within four years to monitor the safety of alternative and complementary medicine.
Yes, it’s important to be aware of the seriousness of poisoning such heavy metals can cause but the catch here is to understand how we can change the very quality and nature of such metals and use them therapeutically. The perception of heavy metals in the West are generally more one sided claiming the virulent effect it possess but the uniqueness of TIBETAN MEDICINE is trying to understand both the pros and cons of anything that exist in the universe. That’s why it’s clearly stated in the last Tantra of Gyud-she (classical Tibetan medical text) that “crude mercury is the king of poison and the purified mercury is the king of medicine”.
In the text, it has been commented in length about the virulent effect any crude mercury can have but at the same time the purification of heavy metals, which takes some 3-6 months (depending upon types of metal) and can be used therapeutically are also mentioned. The purification of heavy metals is a sophisticated method applied in Tibetan medical system and it has been in practice for some 2000 years. Heavy metals (gold, silver, copper, mercury, etc,) are part of gems and minerals, which forms 5-7 % of medicinal substances used in TIBETAN MEDICINE. Till date, there hasn’t been any incidence of any significant side effects caused by such formulation.
Having said all these things, one thing we need to understand is we can’t authenticate the use of heavy metals in TIBETAN MEDICINE by referring to the ancient medical text or Medicinal Buddha – or – we can’t make those hardcore scientists understand the way we purify the heavy metals and use them in the medicine by telling them how many patients we’ve cured. We have to adopt the common platform of scientifically analysing the toxicity of such formulation and evaluate its therapeutic effect. MTK formally decided to conduct a study on use of heavy metals in TIBETAN MEDICINE in early 2002 by forming a committee comprising of Tibetan doctors, Western scientist and chemical analyst.
The study was planned as an open, retrospective, controlled pilot study, constituting an initial feasibility stage of a larger, future prospective study. The study was done in collaboration with Natural Medicine Research Unit, Hadassah Medical Organisation, Jerusalem, Israel; Delek Hospital, Dharamsala, India; Dept. of Toxicology, Sheba Medical Center Tel Aviv, Israel and Dept. of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
Study participants were recruited from the outpatients department of the Delek Hospital where Western medicine is practiced. The volunteers who agreed to act as controls were recruited from the personnel working at MTK, known to be in good health. A total of 11 participants (9 patients, 2 controls) were recruited into the study. Each participant were examined and questioned by Western trained physicians at the Delek Hospital for any physical symptoms that include cardiovascular evaluation and a neurological examination (tremor, peripheral sensory neuropathy, motor neuropathy and tunnel vision). An oral examination evaluated the presence of loose teeth and dental fillings. Blood and urine sample was taken for evaluation in the Delek Hospital laboratory.
For analysis of whole blood and urine for mercury levels, the samples were transported to Israel in ice pack through air courier. They were delivered by hand to the Dept. of toxicology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Results: A total of 11 patients were evaluated for the study. They included 6 patients in Group I (mercury containing TIBETAN MEDICINE as Precious pills), 3 patients in Group II (non-mercury containing TIBETAN MEDICINE) and 2 participants in Group III (Controls). General and neurological examination were normal in group I & II. The mean serum level of liver and renal functions tests were within the normal clinical range and did not differ significantly between treatment and control groups. Evaluation of urine samples for red blood cells and protein were negative in all 3 groups. Serum mercury levels were non-detectable in all patients in Groups I, II & III. Mean urinary mercury levels were under normal range.
Although the study was small representing only the feasibility stage of a larger, future prospective study, nevertheless the results are of interest. It demonstrate for the first time that the patients ingesting high levels of mercury present in certain TIBETAN MEDICINE, over a pre-longed period of time, displayed little evidence of toxicity. The current study, although performed on only a small cohort of patients tend to support the hypothesis that a pre-longed intake of the “purified” form of mercury, known in TIBETAN MEDICINE as Tsothel is relatively non-toxic. These initials results are of particular interest in view of the growing popularity of TIBETAN MEDICINE in the West, however there is no doubt that further research needs to be performed.
This study also rekindled our confidence in believing that it’s only a matter of time before the western scientist will wake up in understanding the therapeutic effect of purified mercury and formally accepting this unique method of TIBETAN MEDICINE. But on our part, it’s important to make sure there is no any contamination of heavy metals in medicines that does not have heavy metals as its ingredient. The full report of the study will be published in Men-Tsee-Khang’s forthcoming medical journal.
Dr. Tenzin can be contacted at drtenam@yahoo.co.in
