Handbook of Tibetan Medicine. Thomas Dunkenberger.

Foreword
Tibetan medicine crystallized in ancient times from the primordial folk wisdom of the Tibetan population. However, thanks to the teachings of Gautama Buddha, this knowledge was revived and acquired a finished form. These ancient medical teachings are permeated with the spirit of Buddhism and understanding of the laws and nature of psychophysiological correlations, which gives them a specific focus.
According to the teachings of Tibetan Buddhism, the mind controls and regulates the functions of the body. The mind also determines the movement of the essence (essential), that is, the central driving force, which entails the formation of three energies (puera).
According to the three inherent psychological and emotional temperaments, the teaching naturally comes to develop three "categories" or "dimensions." These energies (or humors) create and regulate both the psychophysical and psychopathological complex and are called rLung, mKhrispa and Badkan (Peken) in Tibetan medicine. In Western translation, these names are usually rendered as "wind", "bile" and "mucus".
How to use this book
Traditional Tibetan medicine is an extremely extensive and rather complex system of naturopathic forms of diagnosis and therapy. This book aims to introduce readers to this wealth of knowledge in an accessible and practical way. Therefore, it is addressed not only to persons practicing such methods of treatment, but also to people interested in naturopathy. Moreover, it provides the inquisitive reader with the opportunity to analyze their own body type and its inherent strengths and weaknesses, followed by careful adjustment of their own behavior and, for example, eating habits.
To this end, I recommend that readers first fill out both questionnaires, which are given in the appendix to the book. The first of the proposed tests will help the reader determine which of the three basic constitutional or body-energy types he belongs to. General descriptions of the basic types will help you with this: “Which type of body energy best describes you?”. If you have any health problems, the second test will help determine what the imbalance is and which of the bodily energies can be present in the body in excess.
In the relevant chapters, you will be able to learn how to influence these disorders in sometimes surprisingly simple ways - through your own behavior and nutrition. Understandable descriptions of the effects of the elements and seasons, as well as the characteristics of the most common foods in relation to their taste, medicinal properties and specific uses, are just a few of the possibilities that can make a decisive contribution to the preservation and / or restoration of your health. In general, without overloading the reader with specific details and explaining the information in terms accepted in the West (for example, an expanded selection of recommended foods), this book is of great practical importance. Even the methods and criteria for evaluating pulse diagnostics and urinological diagnostics are explained in an extremely accessible language. This enables readers to independently apply the described methods after appropriate practice.
Tibetan medicine is closely intertwined with the Buddhist way of thinking. This fact has also been taken into account in the relevant chapters so that readers interested in Buddhism can extract new information from the book. However, it is not at all necessary to be a follower of Buddhism in order to gain fundamental knowledge or derive practical benefits from this ancient and eternal well of wisdom.
Introduction.
Thanks to the growing public interest in the human and political fate of the peoples of Tibet, the bright pearl of Tibetan culture - "Aquamarine Light of the Eight Branches of the Science of Healing", or Tibetan medicine, has a great opportunity to shine in the West.
Aspects of ancient Indian Ayurveda, traditional Chinese medicine, ancient Greco-Persian medicine, and the underlying Bon Shamanism of ancient Tibet coexist in this medical system. Having absorbed the spiritual values ​​of Buddhist culture, this knowledge, which came from different traditions, formed a completely new fusion. From this alloy, a comprehensive specific form of Tibetan medicine was born. For example, the form of urinalysis described in this book is only accepted in Tibetan medicine. The doctrine of embryology describes the weekly development of the fetus, whereas, for example, in the ancient Indian Ayurvedic system, only its monthly description is accepted.

In addition, many features of the deep psycho-energetic approach, “woven into the fabric” of this tradition, were “discovered” in the West only in the 20th century and, in a certain sense, can be considered unsurpassed. This form of healing science has served the people of Tibet wonderfully for centuries. Tibetan doctors and healing agents were and still are known and highly valued far beyond the borders of Tibet.

We live in a time when an increasing number of people, including those in the West, are beginning to understand the significance of their personal healing potential inherent in every living being. As a result, people gradually begin to follow a healthy lifestyle and nutrition, and also embark on the path of naturopathy to maintain and optimize their individual capabilities. Truly holistic medicine, which is Tibetan naturopathy, can greatly enrich this approach to one's own body. The description of Tibetan medicine methods in this book is entirely based on historical traditions. I deliberately refrained from introducing any additions from other healing systems into the book in order to avoid possible distortions of the meaning. When such methods are mentioned, I clearly indicate to which system they belong. A mixture of different systems makes sense only when the reader has a clear understanding of the basics of each individual system.
Despite the need to perceive Tibetan medicine within its own context, it is not necessary to become a Buddhist in order to be able to reap the benefits of this medicine. Buddhism is a philosophy of realizing personal potential and achieving all-pervasive compassion. This means that dogmatism of any kind is alien to the inner nature of Buddhism. However, one should not ignore the spiritual aspects of modern reality and the disease to which a person is subject. As a truly holistic system, Tibetan medicine combines the mental and physical aspects into a single whole and, based on this, suggests appropriate methods of treatment.

Those wishing to study Tibetan medicine usually start by studying Gyusha (Tib. rGyud bzi). Under this name, four fundamental medical treatise or tantra. The first tantra is called the root tantra. Often it is a brief description of the entire medical system. It is followed by an "explanatory tantra" in which the same correlations are described in detail. The extensive "oral tantra" offers the most specific form of explanation of the system and ends with the fourth tantra, which is called the "final" tantra. Among other things, it discusses the forms of external therapeutic effects.

Prior to the Chinese invasion of Tibet and the flight of the Dalai Lama in 1959, there were a huge number of commentaries on aspects of these tantras. At present, only a relatively small part of them has survived. The Tibetan tradition, which consisted, in particular, in memorizing all the most important texts by heart, played a huge role in preserving this invaluable knowledge.

Tibetan medicine is no doubt a complex system, which is why I have been repeatedly asked the question: “All this is extremely diverse and unimaginably complex. Where is the best place to start reading and teaching?
This book is an introduction to the fundamental correlations and philosophy of Tibetan medicine. The book is structured to offer readers the opportunity to observe their own body within this medical system, identify potential energy imbalances and draw appropriate conclusions on how to best organize their lifestyle and nutrition. Naturally, this book cannot claim to be a complete description of Tibetan medicine. However, if you are able to understand and put into practice the suggested correlations, diagnostic procedures, etc., you will have a good chance of choosing options aimed at optimizing individual bodily energies. You can then turn to literature that will deepen your knowledge. All of the diagnostic procedures in this book are very easy to use. However, they are not intended for self-diagnosis. They are aimed at achieving a deeper understanding of one's body, lifestyle, etc., and at having a certain impact on everyday life. A conscious lifestyle allows two wonderful flowers to bloom: health and longevity. These flowers are able, in turn, to give three important fruit: wealth, satisfaction based on wisdom, and spiritual development.
Brief historical outline

As often happens with any historical events, there are different approaches to the history of Tibetan medicine, which depend on the respective point of view. The generally accepted version is that one of the manifestations of the historical Buddha Shakya Muni was a manifestation as the "Buddha of Medicine" (Tib. Men-la, Skt. Baishajya). The Buddha lectured on medicine in the form of a dialogue between two emanations of his own essence - Rigpe Yeshe as an emanation of his heart (or spiritual aspect) and Ji-le-kye (Ji-le-kye) as an emanation of speech. The teachings of the Buddha formed the basis of these medical tantras.

Some sources claim that the author of the original medical treatise is Kumara Jivaka, a famous physician and contemporary of the Buddha. In such a case, he must have received this knowledge from the Buddha himself (perhaps in the form indicated above).

This form of medicine flourished during the reign of King Ashok, whose vast domain stretched from Cambodia to present-day Iran and from Sri Lanka to the Himalayas. As the era of Buddhism waned in India, Buddhist teachings reached Tibet. There they were translated and preserved, continuously transmitted from teacher to student, surviving to this day. As a rule, these teachings were passed down by family tradition from father to son.
However, there was also