By Phuntsok Yangchen
DHARAMSHALA, October 30: The 2nd International Conference on Tibetan Medicine concluded yesterday in the exile Tibetan headquarters of Dharamshala after three days of in depth discussions and presentations on various aspects of the ancient Tibetan medical system.
The conference, jointly organised by the Central Council of Tibetan Medicine, Men-Tsee-Khang, Chakpori Medical Institute, Darjeeling and Department of Sowa Rigpa of the Central University of Tibetan Studies, Varanasi, was held at the Sarah College for Higher Tibetan Studies.
Sowa Rigpa, the Tibetan science of healing is a unique medical system dating back more than 2500 years. With the Buddhist philosophy as its backbone, this system of medicine is influenced by the religion, culture, and environment of Tibet.
More than 200 doctors, representing different medical systems from all over the world, including India, US, Israel, Russia, Mongolia, Spain, Latvia, Italy, China, and Japan among others took part in the conference.
According to the organisers, the objective of the conference is to “preserve and promote the Tibetan medical system, to enhance the interaction among Tibetan medical doctors, and to get acquainted with the number of researches which have gone on to prove the authenticity and effectiveness of Tibetan medicine.”
Some of the major topics discussed during the conference included, History and Basic Principles of Tibetan Medicine, Research Methodology, Medicinal Herbs and Plants, Pregnancy and Child Care, Ethics of Physician, and State of Tibetan Medicine around the world. Sessions were also dedicated for deliberations on the salient features of different traditional medical systems.
Prominent speakers during the conference included senior physicians such as Dr Yeshi Dhonden, Dr Tsewang Tamdin, Dr Lobsang Tenzin Rakdho, and Dr Pema Dorjee.
During the valedictory function, few of the participants also presented their reflections on the conference.
Annie, a participant from US said she is “honored to be taking part in the historic event.”
“Besides putting our efforts on research, we also need to consistently remind ourselves of the human part of the Tibetan system of healing,” Annie said. “I think we have to be careful that Tibetan medicine doesn’t become subsumed into western medicine and that it remains a distinct science and art.”
The first international conference on Tibetan medicine was held over a thousand years ago at Samye, central Tibet in the year 728 A.D. by Trisong Deutsen, the 37th King of Tibet.
