Brief Introduction
Tibetan medicine, an important part of the Chinese medical tradition, has been evolving for nearly 3,000 years. During the third century BC, a primitive medical system had existed on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, comprising theories on daily life, food and drink, and health care. Although a complete medical theory had not yet formed, simple therapies were used such as blood-letting, massage, using butter to stop bleeding, and using distillers' grains from highland barley to treat wounds.

As one of the oldest medical traditions in the world, Tibetan medicine is gradually being brought into the limelight as Tibetan culture draws much public attention both at home and abroad. Dating back 2500 years, the Tibetan medical tradition has developed its own unique healing practices. In the 8th century, the renowned Tibetan physician, Yutok Yonten Gonpo, produced the Four Medical Tantras, known as Goo-Shee, after combining the medical knowledge of Tibet with that of China, India, Nepal and Persia. His descendant, the younger Yuthok, wrote eighteen supplemental medical works. At that time the traditional principles of Tibetan medicine had been established. Mentsekhang (the Tibet Traditional Hospital), founded in 1916 by the 13th Dalai Lama, was and still is the Tibetan physicians' training center.

More and more Tibetan hospitals have been set up around China in recent years. What's more, Tibetan medicine also gained great popularity among international medical professions. Experts, scholars and students from other countries come to Tibet every year for research and study. Tibetan medicine has been introduced to America, England and Germany. It is believed that Tibetan medicine will play a significant role in the near future and contribute greatly to the health of human beings.


Characters
All of the material which makes up our universe is based on the qualities of 5 basic elements which are described in the ancient physics depicted in Tibetan medicine. In the theory of the five elements we see an effort to define the qualities of the basic forces which exist in nature. Once defined they are named for their most identifiable manifestations: earth, water, fire, wind and space. The characteristics and therefore the nature of all matter then result from the qualities of these elements individually or in combination:
Earth has qualities like firmness and stability and therefore provides the basis of physical existence and development.
Water creates moisture in all its forms and so in the body gives rise to all fluids.
Fire due to its heat creates transformation and activity and therefore is expressed as for example metabolic functions.
Wind creates movement and therefore in the body all aspects of circulation.
Space provides the potential for existence to be created in the first place.
Combinations of these qualities make up the physical aspect of our bodies as well as its distinct physiological energies.

Herbs are used extensively in Tibetan medicine. Medicines for patients are compounded using anywhere from 20 to 100 herbs. Grown on an altitude of about 4,000 meters (13,123 feet), medical herbs are not subjected to pollution, keeping them pure. Tibetan medicine pays a great deal of attention to the selection, collection and processing of these herbs. The resulting medical materials take effect quickly and the effects are quite clear compared to other therapeutics.

Another distinct characteristic of Tibetan medicine is its close relation with Tibetan Buddhism. Many renowned physicians are Buddhists. Generally, the medical system is closely interwoven with religious practices. Institutes of Tibetan medicine are set up in some of the big monasteries.


Representative Brand Names of Tibetan Medicines
The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau produces more than 3,000 different medicinal materials of traditional Tibetan medicine. After China adopted reform policies in 1978, the central government invested 200 million Yuan in two large, modern pharmaceutical plants in Tibet and Qinghai equipped with advanced facilities. More than 20 pharmaceuticals produced by these plants were listed in the 1995 edition of the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China.
Representative patent medicines include "72-ingredient pearls," "25-ingredient Pearl Pills," "70-ingredient Coral," "Ruyi Zhenbao Pill," and "20-ingredient Agalloch Eaglewood Pill" for treating heart and brain diseases and disorders; "Rinqen Changjue," "5-ingredient Pomegranate Pill" for treating stomach and intestine diseases, and medicines for treating liver and bone diseases. Four patent medicines, including "70-ingredient Pearl" and "25-ingredient Turquoise Pill," have obtained certificates from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Qizheng-brand "Xiaotongtie" (Pain-Killing Plaster) produced by the Qizheng Tibetan Pharmaceutical Group won a gold medal at the World Invention Exposition held in Geneva.