A: Yuthog Yuntangoinbo, author of the Four Medical Classics, is founder of the
Tibetan medicine. According to Tibetan medicine, the human body's physiological
functions are generated by three primary elements: long, chiba and peigen. Long
sustains life, circulates breath and blood, moves limbs, and decomposes food;
chiba, namely bile, generates and regulates the body temperature, gives the face
a healthy color, breeds wisdom and assists digestion. Peigen, namely saliva, supplies
nutrition, develops fat, regulates skin, and ensures good sleep. Tibetan doctors
believe a balance of the three elements can regulate the normal physiological
functions of the human body, and that any imbalance leads to ailments.
Tibetan
doctors also believe that the human body is composed of 7 substances: essence
of food, blood, flesh, fat, bone, marrow and fluid. People's five solid viscera
(heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidney) and six hollow organs (gallbladder, stomach,
small intestine, large intestine, bladder and sanjiao) are connected with one
another through channels and collaterals. The human body is closely linked to
nature, and all physiological functions are affected by changes in nature.
The main diagnostic methods of Tibetan medicine are observation, palpation and
interrogation. Doctors also pay close attention to the patients' urine during
examination. Treatment includes not only medicines made of plants, animals and
minerals, but also therapies such as acupuncture and bloodletting.
Embryology
is an important component of Tibetan medicine. Tibetan doctors started research
on embryology in the 7th century. The Four Medical Classics has detailed records
of the whole process of embryo development. There is also an account in the Five
Volumes of Biography which states: "The embryo goes through three stages-first
fish, then tortoise, then pig." Tibetan doctors started research on diverse
fields of human physiological development far earlier than their foreign counterparts. |
