A major cause of balance or imbalance is known to be that which enters the body and psyche through food and drink, and what is breathed in or assimilated in other ways from the environment. This includes "toxic" or beneficial thoughts, behaviors, relationships, and the effects of seasonal changes. Balance can be restored by reducing or eliminating the intake of toxic materials and adding elements that assist the body to achieve balance. In Tibetan medicine this occurs through lifestyle and dietary changes and/or by the introduction of nutritional supplements.

Assessment Methods
Tibetan diagnostic techniques include an amazingly precise technique of pulse reading; visual observation of the patient’s skin, tongue and urine; and in depth dialog with the patient. Doctors particularly emphasize the importance of good communication in establishing the root cause of difficult situations. They ask about the sort of food and drink the patient consumes, his or her physical and mental behaviors, lifestyle, stresses, appetite and digestion, sleep patterns and whatever else may provide needed clues. The assessment takes into account external factors such as the season of the year and is stated in terms of a prevailing energetic pattern in the system.

In the Tibetan system, the prevailing pattern arises from the relationship between three "humors" known as rLung, mKhris-pa, and bad-kan. These humors involve personality, bodily configuration and conditions, and physical or mental responses to common situations in daily life. Every human being has his or her individual mix of the three basic patterns, but usually one or two of them predominate. This leads to a less than ideal flow of energy in the body that affects the corresponding bodily substances. Although the descriptions of these humors may sound a bit alien to the Western ear, the concept is simply that of balancing a three armed scale to create harmonious flow in the body. A Tibetan doctor will make recommendations that aim at increasing those areas that are deficient and minimizing what is excessive.

Recommendations and Treatments
Once a pattern has been determined, the Tibetan doctor serves as a professional consultant, teacher and guide. They seek to facilitate greater harmony in the system through dietary and lifestyle suggestions, herbal supplements and non-invasive therapies. Dietary recommendations are based on a way of categorizing food according to its flavor (pungent, bitter, astringent, sweet, salty, or sour) and looking at other characteristics that determine how the food acts in the body. Nutritional supplements are usually suggested in the form of pills which contain carefully regulated combinations of specific plant and mineral substances manufactured by the Tibetan pharmacy. Click here to view photos of pill manufacturing at the Tibetan pharmacy. Other recommendations might be to change a condition that is causing physical, mental or spiritual stress, begin an exercise program, take medicinal or natural spring baths, receive massage using various medicinal oils, receive acupuncture, etc. If it is felt that the situation is acute and requires surgery or another type of major intervention, the patient is referred to a surgeon or other specialist. To read an article written by one of the Tibetan doctors, which gives additional information about Tibetan Medicine, please click here.

Appointments
The Medicine Buddha Healing Center is located at 6595 Clyde Road in the rural Spring Green, Wisconsin area. Please call (608) 583-5311 to schedule an appointment.

Events
Special events, including fundraising for the Medicine Buddha Healing Center, are sponsored by the Mahayana Dharma Center. For an event calendar, please click here.