Kunye: Tibetan Massage Therapy

Because it seems that Tibetan massage is not well known, I thought it would be good to write a little bit about it to introduce why it is a unique system that has many wonderful benefits for both humans…and animals!

Kunye is the term for massage in Tibetan. Khu means oil and mnye means to massage or rub. It has been used for thousands of years in Tibet and is said to have developed from the practice of early tantric yoga practice. The early Tibetan yogis used oil and massage on themselves to help balance the prana, loosen the body and clear the energetic channels to support their practice.  As the knowledge of healing developed in Tibet Kunye was adopted into its larger body of medicine.  It was passed through the centuries both as an oral lineage and written into the theory of the Rgyud Bzhi, the four tantras of Tibetan Medicine. 

What makes Tibetan Massage different from other forms of massage? Firstly, Tibetan Massage is unique in that it relies on the fundamental theory of the five elements in Tibetan Medicine. A Tibetan doctor who is trained in this theory can effectively apply Kunye as an external therapy (dpyad) that can greatly support a treatment regimen for curing Wind (rlung) illnesses.  What that means is Kunye can be used in addition to diet, lifestyle and herbal treatments to effectively address illnesses including most mental disturbances as well as insomnia and many other diseases associated with the disturbance of wind. The rgyud bzhi says the application of oil is specifically good for the elderly, those physically or mentally exhausted, and all patients with wind diseases. It states the benefits are that it prevents aging, increases the life span, improves sleep, clears the sense organs, increases the strength, and softens the skin.

The wind element is said to have characteristics such as light, mobile and rough and is responsible for our body’s circulatory system, neurological activity, as well as giving birth and expelling waste.  If there are problems with these processes the use of oil on the body can have great benefit. Oil is heavy and smooth, which balances the above-mentioned characteristics of wind.   With this understanding Tibetan Medicine has a deep understanding of the different characteristics of specific oils. For example, sesame oil is said to be hot and sharp. Its benefits include helping the muscles to tone and develop well and it removes phlegm (bad kan) and wind (rlung).  On the other hand, mustard oil is said to suppress wind, but increase bile(mkhris pa) and phlegm(bad kan) because it is warm and heavy.

Another unique aspect of Kunye is the knowledge of how to use points on the body for healing specific illnesses.  The most important points in Kunye are the crown of the head, fontanel, occipital notch, vertebrae T5 and T6, and the palms and soles. We use these points in most massages for general relaxation because they help balance the wind element which is easily imbalanced by the day to day stress most people experience.  During a massage we work on these points and rub our hands together vigorously to warm them up and place them on the points to balance the wind element. Along with these points a Kunye practitioner can draw upon any of the points used in the Tibetan system of moxibustion (me brtsa) and vinisection (gtar ga) to help heal other conditions. For example, each vertebra on the back is connected with an internal organ.  Various types of compress can be used on the points according to the nature of the illness. For wind we use warm oil compresses, for wind and phlegm we use hot stones and for bile we use cold stones. Gemstones can also be used on the points according to their specific healing properties.

The key to using Kunye at such an intricate level is a good education in Tibetan Medicine so that specific imbalances can be properly identified. Likewise, contraindications must be identified since generally the heaviness of oil is not good for people with excess phlegm and the oily nature is not good for mKhris pa. By understanding these things, the session can be modified to have the maximum benefit for the client. For example, if someone is overweight and has digestive problems, we might use a small amount of oil and apply hot stones to reduce the phlegm.

When coming in for a Kunye massage session it might remind you of many other types of massage you have had in the past. There are many strokes similar to Swedish massage, hot stones might be applied, points might be used similar to a Shiatsu massage and like Armotherapy, you might smell wonderful fragrances of herbs infused into the oil to increase its healing effect based on your specific imbalance, age and/or constitution as well as the season. One thing that is for sure, you will leave feeling really relaxed and rejuvenated.

If you are interested in reading more, Choegyal Namkhai Norbu wrote a commentary on the sections of the Rgyud Bzhi related to Kunye. It is the ancient textual knowledge so you might find yourself surprised by some of the oil applications mentioned, but keep in mind it was pure scientific data. The book is a great English resource on the practice of Kunye. It can be bought in the Shang Shung Institute’s online store at by clicking here: http://shangshung.org/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65_68&products_id=206

You can also find out about Kunye courses taking place by contacting the Shang Shung Institute. Their webpage is www.shangshung.org

Please let me know if you have any comments or questions about this topic. Merry Christmas!!!!

Seattle, WA Lecture and Clinic Tour ~ January 2010

Tibetan & Holistic Healing

Traditional Tibetan Medical Doctor

Seattle, Washington

January 20-24^th

Menpa Nashalla Gwyn Nyinda TMD

Lecture

Introduction to Tibetan Medicine

22^nd January 6:30 pm

SPACE: A Design Build Collective 

7601 Greenwood Avenue N. Suite 103,

Seattle, WA 98103

(206)706-1054

Donations Welcome

Consults
1 hour Traditional Tibetan Medicine Consults January 20-24^th

To schedule consults

Call Nashalla - 303 570 8242

Nashalla Gwyn Nyinda TMD, LMT has studied Tibetan Medicine since 1999 under various teachers in the USA, Nepal, India and Tibet. She completed her Menpa degree (Doctor of Tibetan Medicine) in 2009 from Qinghai Tibetan Medical College Tibet and The Shang Shung Institute of Tibetan Medicine. She has a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies from Naropa University in Asian Medicine and Buddhist Psychology. Nashalla integrates Ayurveda, 5 Element Taoist Theory, Jin Shin Tara and teaches Acupressure alongside Tibetan treatment methods. Based in Colorado, she has a private practice with her husband Dr. Tsundu Sengye TMD and they frequently travel throughout the USA.

Live raido talk about Tibetan Medicine Friday 18 December, 9am eastern

Radio Interview December 18 2009, 9 am eastern time :

'Feminist Edition' WUML 91.5 FM

Nashalla Nyinda will discuss how she became a Traditional Tibetan Medical Doctor and some of the basic theory behind this ancient form of medicine.
Also available for download on I-Tunes.

An easy remedy for food poisoning and indigestion

Food poisoning can be one of the worst experiences. It is hard to know what to do when we eat something that just doesn't sit well. Usually we are stuck just riding it out. Tibetan Medicine has an age old, very simple remedy for anytime food just isn't sitting well. You probably won't believe how simple it actually is. 

Here's the recipe:

1 and 1/3 cups of water
1/4 teaspoon of salt (preferably rock salt)

That's it! Boil them together until reduced by 1/3 cup. Pour it in your favorite mug and slowly sip it down.As the symptoms subside I recommend following up with a thin rice soup that has been boiled into a puree. This also helps clean and soothe the digestive system while gently reintroducing food to it.

This summer when we went to Tibet our teacher told us that anytime we had digestive discomfort related to the local fare to drink this decoction. I actually forgot about the suggestion through several episodes of digestive issues, but did remember when I actually had food poisoning. It was a pretty serious case, I'll spare you the details, but as soon as I drank one cup of this decoction all of the severe symptoms stopped immediately.

It can be used in general when it feels like you are not able to digest foods well, with symptoms of bloating and so on, however if you have long term symptoms it is best to see a qualified practitioner. Drinking a light salt decoction in the morning before eating can also clean your digestive system and result in lost weight, but I do no suggest using it long term. At most for a month or two or every once and awhile.

Please post any questions or comments below. Happy Holidays!

Upcoming Lecture ~ Colds - Flus and Contagious Diseases

Lecture in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Copper Mountain Buddhist Center, Friday 11th December 2009. 7 pm

Join Dr. Tsundu Sengye and Nashalla G. Nyinda to learn from the 27th Chapter of the 3rd tantra. The doctors will cover theory for the causes, conditions, divisions, symptoms and treatments for cold and contagious flus. Tibetan Medicine methods to promote health and balance with these illnesses spreading in our current environment will be discussed as well as basic preventive techniques and treatments for each type of cold and flu.

For further info call 303 570 8242

Tibetan Medicine Public Talk Webcast Replays

          

For the past four years, at the Shang Shung Tibetan Healing Center in Northampton, Dr, Phuntsog Wangmo has been offering two-hour public talks on Tibetan Medicine. These talks are a wonderful way for all levels of interest to learn about specific topics on Tibetan Medicine, everything from "The Conduct of the Tibetan Doctor" to "Pediatrics in Tibetan Medicine". These public talks have been continuously taking place at the Healing Center the first Friday of every month during the school year. 

Recently the Shang Shung Institute made it possible to tune into these talks through the internet as a live video webcast for FREE! The past three public talks have successfully been live webcasted with over 100 hundred connections around the world. 

Luckily, for those of you who have missed out on these past webcasts, each webcast is being saved to the server so you can listen to the replays! All you have to do is go to the link below and press play on whichever webcast you would like to . The replay of the December talk on the relationship between the inner organs and the sense organs will be available soon!

REPLAY LINK: http://www.shangshunginstitute.net/ssi-usa/replay/

http://www.shangshunginstitute.net/ssi-usa/replay/

Seasonal health tips in Tibetan Medicine: Winter diet and behavior

In Tibetan Medicine prescribing proper diet and behavior is very individualized. Factors such as age, constitution, locale and existing health conditions are all taken into account when a Tibetan doctor makes dietary or behavioral recommendations. This is also true when prescribing Tibetan herbs. The same disease in two different people may have very different herbal prescriptions based on these factors mentioned above. This is why the study and application of Tibetan Medicine is so complex.

With that said there are some general guidelines for healthy people on appropriate diet and behavior for maintaining good health. In the Rgyud Bzhi  (the Four Tantras of Tibetan Medicine), there are 3 chapters specifically on appropriate behavior for maintaining good health.  One of these chapters is about how to maintain good health based on each season. 

In this chapter the seasons are presented differently from how we divide them. Instead of four, they are divided into six. There is early spring, late spring, summer, autumn, upper winter and lower winter. The Tibetan calendar is based on lunar cycles, but to give you a rough idea, early spring (dpyid) is March and April, late spring (so ga) is May and June, summer (dbyar) is July and August, autumn (ston) is September and October, upper winter (dgun stod) is November and December and lower winter (dgun smad) is January and February.

So that puts us roughly right in the middle of upper winter. So what does the Rgyud Bzhi say about upper winter?

dgun dus grang bas ba spu’i sgo bkag te

me yis stobs ldan rlung gi sbar ba yis

zas nyung gyur na lus zungs ‘bri bar ‘gyur 

de phyir dang po’i ro gsum bsten par bya

de tshe mthsan mo ring bas bkres gyur te

de yis lus zungs ‘bri bar ‘gyur ba’i phyir

til mar gyis byug sha khu snum pa bza’ 

lpag pa’i gos dang lham ni rtags tu bgo 

dugs dang me nyi’i ‘od la ran par bsro

 sa yis khang pa nyis rim nang du bsdad

So now you know, right? Ok, I’m kidding (But I bet a few of you out there can read Tibetan!)

I will try to explain the basic meaning of these stanzas based on my teacher Dr. Phuntsog Wangmo’s explanations. For the sake of simplicity I am not giving a literal translation.

First it explains that because of the cold of winter our pores close and the fire of our body increases, blown by the wind. The fire this is referring to is our metabolic or digestive fire. In Tibetan Medicine the body’s digestive power is always referred to as heat or fire. It next explains that eating too little will cause the constituents of the body to decline.  This is because the heat is burning so strong during the winter that if we do not eat enough we more or less begin to burn up our body’s nutrition. On this topic our teacher explained to us that dinner is the most important meal during winter and should be an ample portion of food.  From the time we go to sleep until we wake up is generally the longest period of time we go without food and therefore our body will easily burn up its reserves.

The Rgyud Bzhi also explains that we should rely on the first three tastes. In Tibetan Medicine there are six basic tastes. They are: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, hot and astringent. The above sequence is the order of their nutritive capability. Therefore the first three tastes are sweet, sour and salty. Sweet is the most capable of supporting the constituents of our body. It is comprised of the earth and water element. Therefore its qualities are stable, heavy and so on.  That is also why we get fat when we eat too much sweet :). In a practical sense this is referring to eating a good amount of well-cooked meats, grains and root vegetables such as carrots and potatoes.

It goes on to explain some other basic preventative measures we can take during the winter, some of which we are all very accustomed to. They include applying sesame oil to the body, eating meat broth and oily foods, wearing warm clothes and shoes all of the time, warming up with hot packs (like hot stones) or next to the fire or in the sunlight and staying in an earth house with double windows (a warm house).

These are the basic guidelines for maintaining good health in the upper winter. The next stanzas are on the lower winter. They say that the lower winter is extra cold so it is advised to adhere to the guidelines of the upper winter. That’s simple enough. It also means that we won’t have to post on the blog about seasonal behavior until March!

As you can see, this subject could be talked about for many pages. The Rgyud Bzhi is very condensed. My intention is to just share the basic idea, so that it might be of benefit for people in their efforts to maintain good health. Of course that means we all have to think about our own condition and circumstances to apply this information appropriately. For one thing, this is very much based on maintaining good health. If we already have an imbalance in our health then that must be factored into our daily diet and behavior. Also this is obviously based on a region that gets very cold in the winter. So we must balance the application based on our regions seasonal influences.

Please feel free to post any comments or questions you have about this directly under this blog entry.

Easy tricks for Insomnia.

Hi friends, this is Anasuya, Matt’s classmate. One of the most common complaints that I hear from people is not being able to sleep. Tibetan medicine has many effective and easy home remedies for the treatment of insomnia. Some of them are things you have probably heard from your mother or grandmother and it turns out that they’re right!

In Tibetan medicine insomnia is associated with an imbalance of rlung, one of the 3 main humors in the body. This can happen for lots of different reasons. For instance if we spend all day engaged in very active mental activity, or just overwork in general, dealing with grief or intense emotion, spending a lot of time in a cold, windy place and not wearing warm clothing. Even the season or our diet can also effect the body so it is useful to have a few tricks to help balance our bodies. Here are some easy things you can try at home if you are having trouble sleeping.

* Take a hot bath at night before you go to bed, stay in it at least 15 minutes to allow your body to relax and the heat to penetrate. (I have a friend who suffered from insomnia for years and tried everything including sleeping pills, this was the only thing that finally helped him.)

* Rub oil all over your body, especially the soles of your feet, palms, and if you don’t mind getting your hair a bit oily put some on the top of your head (crown chakra). Any oil will do, sesame oil is especially good, but olive oil, ghee or unsalted butter will also work. If you have a good friend or partner who is willing, have them massage the center of your palms and the soles of your feet.

* Have a warming drink before bed. Traditionally a good quality aged chang or wine is used but I subscribe to a hot buttered rum myself. Put a half ounce or at most an ounce of rum in a small glass with a teaspoon of brown sugar and a small amount of butter (1/2 to 1 tsp), add boiling water, grate or sprinkle fresh nutmeg on top. Voila! A delicious nighttime drink that reduces excess rlung.
If you don’t drink alcohol substitute hot milk for the rum and water.

* Don’t drink caffeinated drinks after 1 or 2 in the afternoon as caffeine increases rlung.

* In general avoid: noisy places, upsetting, stimulating situations or people or books (especially at night), and cold places or cold, rough food such as raw foods.
do: eat and drink warm, nutritious food, be with close friends or calm people, keep the lights low and keep warm (cuddle up in a blanket or by a fire).

This is not an exhaustive list but some of the first things to try when dealing with insomnia. You can try them separately or try several things together to see what works for you. Sweet dreams.

Urine Analysis: A Unique Diagnostic Method in Tibetan Medicine

I know, it might sound strange.  But if you think about it, of course the fluid that is coming out of our body has something to show us about what is going on inside of our body. In fact you would probably be surprised about how much it actually does have to say. We have all had the experience of how beverages affect the urine. Drink too much water and it is clear white. Drink too much alcohol and it is yellow…and stinky. These changes are of course temporary.

 Overtime all food and drinks affect our internal organs and their processes, especially if our diet is not balanced. Likewise, all our daily activities, all environmental factors and generally most external conditions affect our bodies easily leading to imbalance in our health. Whether we are showing symptoms of illness or not, these affects can be seen by a Tibetan doctor in the urine of a patient.

So what do we look at? We observe the color, the smell, the vapor, the bubbles, the sediment, the film, and the changes in color as the urine goes from warm to cold. Each one of these aspects of the urine give specific indications of what is going on with the organ system in the body and the elemental imbalances either causing or with the potential to cause problems in our health.

Our teacher, Dr. Phuntsog Wangmo, explained to us that the urine is especially good for observing the condition of the hollow organs (snod) including the stomach, small intestines, large intestines, reproductive organs, bladder and gall bladder. In fact it is said in the four tantras of Tibetan Medicine (rgyud bzhi) that the sediment (ku ya) and the film (spri ma) are especially indicative of the condition of the gall bladder and the hot or cold nature of a disease.  When trying to distinguish whether a disease is of hot or cold nature, the two most basic classifications of disease in Tibetan Medicine, it is said that the sediment is the final distinguishing point. If there is a lot of sediment then generally speaking the disease is of hot nature. If there is little sediment then it is said the disease is of cold nature. Distinguishing between a hot or cold nature illness is the first, most important points of diagnosis in Tibetan Medicine.

So, if you are going to visit a Doctor of Traditional Tibetan Medicine, and they ask you to bring a little jar of urine in to the appointment, don’t be surprised!

Please feel free to post any comments or questions you may have regarding this topic.  

New Webpage Directory of Traditional Tibetan Medicine Doctors and Centers

I wanted to share a little project I have been working on. It is an idea that spontaneously arose out of my doodles on my new macbook pro. iWeb 09 is a super easy interface to build simple, but nice looking webpages.

This idea started with me exploring the capabilities of iWeb 09 by building myself a personal webpage presenting my practice as a Doctor of Traditional Tibetan Medicine. I hadn't even reserved a domain yet. I started plugging away and seriously, in a couple hours I had my own website live. You can check it out here : www.tibetanhealingarts.com/matt

Since it was so easy I decided I should also make a site for the Shang Shung Tibetan Healing Center that I work for in Northampton, MA. A website for the healing center has been a much needed resource that we had been putting off creating up until that moment. You can see it here : www.tibetanhealingarts.com/shangshung

Well, what I came to realize is that when you host on Mobile Me, you can really only use one domain name. Because of that, the idea came to me that I could use www.tibetanhealingarts.com as a hub for all of the Doctors of Traditional Tibetan Medicine that are up and coming out of the Shang Shung Institute School of Tibetan Medicine as well as for those we have all been so fortunate to study with. I like it when limitations become useful!

Some of us already had built sites so www.tibetanhealingarts.com evolved before my very eyes into a directory with the capability to integrate websites for those of us who didn't already have our own as well as the capability to link to preexisting sites. So that is what you will find there now. In the coming weeks I will be continuing to build personal sites for those of my classmates who would like them and I will also be linking webpages of pre-existing practitioners that we are in collaboration with.

I hope this resource will come in handy for those of you interested in benefitting from Tibetan Medicine that want to locate a practitioner near to you. As it develops and as more people graduate from the school there will be people listed in more areas. As you can see, many of us are concentrated in the Western Massachusetts area since we just finished up school.  In the meantime, feel free to post any comments and suggestions regarding this project. I would love to hear any feedback you may have.

Free Webcasted Tibetan Medicine Public Talk by Dr. Phuntsog Wangmo

Below is the announcement for this upcoming webcast of Dr. Phuntsog Wangmo's public talk on "The Flowers of the Organs," a talk on how the sense organs are connected with the internal organs. These public talks are a fantastic way for all levels of interest to learn about Tibetan Medicine. Now that they are being webcasted they are being delivered right to you for FREE in the comfort of your own home. It doesn't get much better then that!

Dr. Phuntsog Wangmo is one of the primary teachers and the director of the Shang Shung Institute School of Tibetan Medicine. She was fully trained at Lhasa Men - Tsee - Khang and has over 20 years of experience working as a Tibetan doctor. Hope you enjoy the show!

Dear all,

The next video webcast of Dr. Phuntsog Wangmo's Tibetan Medicine public talk series from our Tibetan Healing Center in Northampton, MA is scheduled for Friday, December 4th from 7-9pm EST.  We have received many requests for this service, and we are happy to finally be able to provide this wonderful opportunity to learn about Tibetan Medicine from anywhere in the world.  

Anyone with an ample internet connection and a web browser should be able to connect to this FREE service.

How does this work?  Simply type the following web address into your browser on the date of a scheduled webcast between the hours of 7pm and 9pm EST (Time zone of Boston or New York City): http://213.203.141.7/ssi-usa/ 

If you live far from Northampton, MA, don't forget to check your local time for each event before attending.  You can do this on the following webpage:

http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html

The second Tibetan Medicine webcast that took place on November 6, 2009 was very successful, and we look forward to continuing this exciting new service. 

If you would like to donate to the costs needed to help the Tibetan Medicine live webcast project continue, please donate directly through the SSI-USA online store at www.shangshung.org/store, or contact us directly at:secretary@shangshung.org or 413-369-4928. 

If you have any questions or comments about this service, please email us at secretary@shangshung.org.  We look forward to hearing from you!

Best wishes to all,

Shang Shung Institute - USA

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Upcoming Public Talks:

Flowers of the Internal Organs

How the sense organs and internal organs are related in Tibetan medicine

Friday, December, 4th, 7-9pm EST

Tibetan medicine considers that each of the five sense organs are connected to specific internal organs. Therefore in Tibetan medical diagnostics, the sense organs are observed in order to diagnose problems with the internal organs. The Tibetan doctor ascertains how the sense organs are functioning and how they appear in order to collect more information on the state of the internal organs with which they are connected. Likewise, problems with the sense organs can also often be healed by treating the internal organ with which they are connected. 

Menpa (Dr.) Phuntsog Wangmo

Menpa (Dr.) Phuntsog Wangmo received her advanced degree from the Lhasa University School of Traditional Medicine in 1988. There she studied with Khenpo Troru Tsenam and Khenpo Tsultrim Gyaltsen, two of Tibet's foremost physicians who have been credited with the revival of Tibetan Medicine within Tibet under Chinese rule. Menpa Wangmo had the exceptional opportunity to undergo extensive clinical training with Khenpo Troru Tsenam after her graduation. Thereafter, she dedicated many years of work as a Tibetan physician in Eastern Tibet, where she collaborated on and directed projects for A.S.I.A. (Association for International Solidarity in Asia), a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the Tibetan people in the sectors of education, health, training, disaster relief, and sustainable economic development. 

From 1996 to the present, Menpa Wangmo has continued her work on behalf of A.S.I.A., setting up hospitals and training centers in the remote regions of Sichuan Province and Chamdo Prefecture. Prior to 1996, she was on the faculty at the Shang Shung Institute in Italy, where she gave numerous seminars and conference presentations on Tibetan medicine. Menpa Wangmo is currently on the faculty at the Shang Shung Institute School of Tibetan Medicine in Conway, MA, where she has been in residence since 2001. She is the founding director of this unique program, which can be found online at: www.shangshung.org.

To attend the Public Talks IN PERSON:

Location: Shang Shung Tibetan Healing Center, Suite 323, Northampton, MA, 01060

Cost: $8 - $20 Sliding Scale

SPACE AT THE HEALING CENTER IS LIMITED. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND IN PERSON PLEASE RSVP: (413) 585-1081 or matt@shangshung.org

To attend by FREE LIVE WEBCAST:

Go to the following web address: http://213.203.141.7/ssi-usa/ 

An effective and FREE way to prevent and treat the cold and flu

It seems we have just about reached the peak of the flu season once again. Facebook profiles are plastered with coughs and sneezes.  Everybody knows somebody who has H1N1.  Plans are cancelled, work is missed and we end up in bed…more then we would like (although sometimes it seems to be the only way we get much needed rest).

Along with the flu season comes the marketing of everything and anything that people claim is the best for preventing and treating the cold and flu. Airborne, Echinacea, Vitamin C products, the latest and greatest herbal concoction and of course all the wonderful over the counter symptom suppressants all fly off the shelves, each person with their own family secret of that special combination that kicks it the quickest.  Sometimes these items get costly and often times, they don’t seem to work.

Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a FREE way to prevent the cold and flu from terrorizing our daily lives….well (I bet it was obvious I was going to say this) there is!

When you have the first signs of a cold or flu, drink hot boiled water, continuously.  I’ve tried it, and it works! The other day I got that first sign of a cold setting in. My head got a little heavy and I could feel it planning the attack on my nose.  So I took the advice of the Four Tantras of Tibetan Medicine and from the moment I noticed I started to drink hot boiled water, and I didn’t stop little sip after little sip until I started to notice the symptoms subside. And they did subside. And I did not get sick.

Here is what the four tantras (rgyud bzhi) say about the benefit of drinking hot boiled water:

chu bskol drod skyed zas ‘ju skyigs bu sel

bad kan lto sbos dbugs mi bde ba dang

cham pa rims gsar ‘phral du zlog par byed

Boiled water increases heat, digests food,
removes hiccups and immediately relieves
bloating due to phlegm, discomfort breathing,
colds, and new contagions.

As you can see, according to Tibetan Medicine hot water has many great benefits for maintaining good health in daily life.  Mainly it increases our digestive heat, the foundation of good health.  The only side effect is….well, you might have to run to the bathroom a couple extra times :)

ARTICLE: Graduates complete studies in ancient Tibetan medicine

This article appeared in The Republican, the widest circulated newspaper of Springfield, the capital of Massachusetts. "Thank you!" to Michael McAuliffe of the Republican for coming down to the graduation and documenting this historic moment. Please feel free to leave any comments or questions regarding the article.

Graduates complete studies in ancient Tibetan medicine

Sunday, October 18, 2009

By MICHAEL McAULIFFE

mmcauliffe@repub.com

AMHERST - The Shang Shung Institute School of Tibetan Medicine produced its first graduating class Saturday, with a half-dozen students receiving certificates.

While the institute is located in Conway, the graduation was held at Amherst College. Among the graduates were a mother and daughter, Anasuya and Mira Weil, of Northampton.

Anasuya Weil, 58, spoke for the graduates before those gathered in Paino Lecture Hall. It was a day to mark an accomplishment, but Anasuya Weil said there is still much to learn. She also took a moment to thank those outside the classroom who helped the graduates.

"I'd especially like to thank my husband, Dr. Tom Weil (a cardiologist), and all my family members and all the family members of all our classmates who were really so supportive these last four years," she said.

William A. Shea, treasurer of the institute's board of directors, presided over the ceremony. Shea said the group are the first graduates in Tibetan medicine outside the Himalayas, and he called the medicine "a very precious, ancient teaching." He also said the graduates were a pioneering group, "really charting unchartered waters in a discipline that's really not recognized yet in the West."

The graduates completed four years of study at the institute and a three-month internship at the Qinghai Tibetan Medical Hospital and University in Tibet.

Dr. Aku Nyima, considered by many to be the foremost practitioner of Tibetan medicine, was among those who addressed the graduates. Nyima is the founder of Qinghai Tibetan Medical Hospital.

Anasuya Weil described Tibetan medicine as including the use of herbs and minerals and massage and acupuncture. She also recalled many years ago living near a Tibetan doctor in India, but having no idea she would be able to study Tibetan medicine herself in the future.

Anasuya Weil said she and her daughter will be happy to help patients whenever they can, but working with doctors is necessary.

"We both feel like we need to do more clinical practice with doctors," she said.

ARTICLE: School of Tibetan medicine graduates first class today

This article was published in the Greenfield Recorder and the Daily Hampshire Gazette the day of our graduation. Thanks to Bob Dunn for doing a wonderful job capturing our story! Feel free to share this article and post any comments or questions.

School of Tibetan medicine graduates first class today

 By BOB DUNN Recorder Staff

email this writer

[ Originally published on: Saturday, October 17, 2009 ]

CONWAY -- The Tibetan Medicine School at the Shang Shung Institute in Conway will graduate the first group of practitioners of Tibetan medicine trained outside of the Himalayan region on Saturday.

According to Matthew Schmookler, 29, one of the six graduating students, Tibetan medicine focuses on restoring balance in the body through a holistic approach that examines and attempts to eliminate both external and internal disturbances.

The graduates range in age from the mid-20s to 59, Schmookler said and come from all over the United States.

Things like diet, lifestyle, the season, external conditions, constitution and age can all be contributing factors to creating imbalance, Schmookler said.

Schmookler said his parents fostered his interest in holistic healing.  His mother was a mid-wife and a massage therapist and his father was a psychologist who studied Indian medicine.

Adam Okerblom, 29, a student who is scheduled to graduate in 2011, said that it was an abiding interest in traditional cultures and the healing arts that led him to the school.

“(Tibetan medicine) seemed like a very intact body of knowledge,” Okerblom said. “It embodies and is based on all of the fundamental knowledge of Tibetan culture, which is profound.”

The head of the school, Phuntsog Wangmo, said that holistic approach is at the center of the Tibetan philosophy of medicine. “Through observing daily life and behavior we can help protect the balance of the five elements (earth, wind, water, fire, and space),” she said. “If something is wrong, that creates imbalance. Too much of one thing can cause imbalance.”

The students find that many of the philosophies of Western and Tibetan medicine compliment rather than conflict with each other.

“Both have strengths and weaknesses,” Schmookler said. “Tibetan medicine is based on finding the root cause of disease, where Western medicine concentrates more on suppressing symptoms.”

“Tibetan medicine can empower people to control their own health,” Okerblom said.

Wangmo arrived in the United States in 2000 from her home in Tibet, where she worked as a healer and teacher, after being invited to the Institute to head up the new medical program.

She also finds the Conway neighborhood that surrounds the Institute and school a positive area for the work she and the students do.

“It’s peaceful, kind, and safe,” she said. “I’m enjoying it a lot, the neighbors are very supportive.”

Schmookler, who, like Okerblom, originally hails from California, never thought he’d move to the East Coast, especially after hearing stories of the harsh winters.

“I consider it my second home now,” he said.

The institute is housed in the former Conway Grammar School building of Route 116 in the Burkeville section of town.

“It’s a very healthy, beautiful place here, people are doing very positive things,” Okerblom said.

Schmookler is optimistic about his post-graduate future, especially considering he hopes to be licensed by the state in Kunye Massage Therapy.

“There’s an unlimited amount of opportunities,” outside the Western medical realm, such as translating, research, and “helping people with what we have learned,” Schmookler said.

“The work of a Tibetan doctor is service,” Schmookler said.

The graduation will be held at Amherst College today at 10am in the Earth Science Building, Paino Lecture Hall.

Welcome to Tibetan Medicine - Alive in the West!

Thank you for visiting "Tibetan Medicine - Alive in the West!," a brand new blog hosted by the Shang Shung Institute School of Tibetan Medicine graduates, the first Western trained practitioners of Tibetan Medicine. We are very excited to begin sharing information with you as we all embark on the spread of Tibetan Medicine in the Western world.  By following this blog over the coming days, months and years you will have access to the most up to date information on the use and development of Tibetan Medicine in the Western world including health tips, health discussions, herbology, dietary healing and prevention, healthy lifestyle, ongoing research, educational opportunities, translation projects and more. Whether you're interested in benefiting from Tibetan Medicine, becoming a student of Tibetan Medicine, or are already a healer or student of another tradition, this blog will have something in it for you.

We cordially invite you to leave questions and comments on our posts. Please also feel free to share any related knowledge of healing with us and everyone else following this blog. We are all students on the path of the healing arts.

We dedicate this blog to the benefit of all sentient beings. May we all be healthy and happy!