Tibetan Medical and Astrology Institute - Chauntra, India
Tibetan medical system is an essential part of Tibetan culture with the potential to contribute world-wide to health and well-being, regardless of religion or cultural background. Besides Chinese medicine, Ayurvedic medicine from India and Unani from Persia, Tibetan medicine is one of the important ancient Asian medical systems . Tibetan medicine is granted official recognition as one of the traditional medicines by the Govt. of India and is put at par with other systems of traditional medicines. Through elaborated diagnostic methods such as pulse-diagnosis and urine analysis, trained doctors are able to detect imbalances in the human metabolism at early stages. Adaptation of behaviour and nutrition, different therapies and remedies have been proven to cure or prevent many diseases.
Over 1000 remedies, based on complex combinations of highly active medical plants and minerals are described in Tibetan Medical Text books. Altogether, Tibetan medicine could be a substantial addition to modern medicine all over the world.
However, irreplaceable old knowledge is at the risk of being lost. The capacities for training new doctors are limited, and there is limited exchange with other scientists. In addition, further development of Tibetan medicine is not possible under the given circumstances.
The Umbrella Tree
The components of Tibetan medicine are harvested from nature in the Himalayas and transformed through millennia of knowledge and skill into medicinal healing. This tradition, founded on the deep and respectful interaction between humans and nature, constitutes an important part of Tibetan cultural heritage.
The TMAI Chauntra project adopts a green approach, in which attention will be paid to combining enhancement and preservation of biological diversity – especially with respect to harvesting the key medicinal herbs and trees of the Tibetan medical tradition in the local environment. Among the most significant plants in Tibetan medicine is the Umbrella tree. It is proposed to use this tree as the symbol for The New Chauntra Institute.
