Introduction to the Tibetan Medical Tradition II: the Foundational Principles Introduction to the Tibetan Medical Tradition
Abstract
The article presents a brief introduction to the foundational principles of the Tibetan medical tradition, Sowa rigpa. These principles are based on the general Buddhist and Tibetan cosmological ideas of the elements as constituents of all phenomena: water, earth, fire, wind or air, and the added fifth element of space.
Within the human body and its processes the elements are manifested through the three bodily constituents called nyepa: wind, bile and phlegm. These bodily constituents, their characteristics, manifestations and influences in the body are discussed.
They are shown as both creating bodily functions and individual organs, and causing unfavourable conditions and diseases. Further, the typology of people based on their prevailing bodily constituent(s) is explained.
In relevant passages, attention is drawn to parallels in Greek and Indian medicine, as well as in modern Western biomedicine.