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Tibetan Medicine and the coronavirus
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Interview with Pasang Yonten Arya - by Carolyn Chan
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Tsa-rlung therapy Take charge of your best health
On March 11, 2020 the World Health Organization declared the new
Materia Medica coronavirus outbreak a pandemic, as its growing presence was being felt
in more and more countries worldwide. Dr Pasang Yonten Arya answers
Bardo
questions that offer an intriguing view of viruses in Tibetan medicine, and
Body/mind cleansing what we may expect in the future.
Gynecology
As I understand it, “coronavirus”, refers to a family of viruses which affects the
Tibetan Massage respiratory tract system of humans and animals, and includes some diseases
Psychology and psychiatry that are well known, such as some common colds and the not so well known
such as SARS. However, there is a new coronavirus on the block called the
Medicine Buddha practice novel 2019 coronavirus which causes coronavirus disease, or COVID-19, for
which nothing is known. So far, we have learned that COVID-19 causes mild to
severe respiratory illness with fever and cough in humans and it seems to
spread fast with the most severe effects, even death, occurring mostly among
TME newsletter
the elderly and those with underlying health conditions. On March 11, 2020 the
World Health Organization declared the new coronavirus outbreak a pandemic,
Subscribe to our newsletter as its growing presence was being felt in more and more countries worldwide.
As of the date of this writing, March 21, 2020, there have been 267,013
TME Newsletter's articles confirmed cases worldwide, and 11,201 deaths attributed to COVID-19*. Italy is
Losar 2021 particularly hard hit, with the number of deaths as of today, standing at 4,825,
surpassing those of China, which appears to be over the worst with this virus.
Welcome 2021!
Italy is on “lockdown” with the Prime Minister attempting to limit the spread of
Tibetan Medicine and the the virus by instructing people to stay at home, and instituting country-wide
coronavirus restrictions on movement and gatherings. The United States is bracing for what
is to come over the next few weeks. So far, there have only been 340 deaths,
Workshops 2019
but this number is expected to increase dramatically. California has been the
Tsalung healing only state to issue a “Shelter in Place” order, however New York looks as
Vajra body though it will be adopting these measures shortly. On Monday, March 9, the
British and US stock exchanges tumbled to lows not seen in more than a
Cleansing therapy decade, due in large part to uncertainty caused by the new coronavirus.
Hay Fever
The present panic, is fueled by fear of this new virus, its potential impact on our
The value of retreats immediate health and that of our family, as well as its larger impact on the world
Death and dying as we know it. I thought it would be interesting to see how Tibetan Medicine
with its centuries of traditional healing behind it, has dealt with viruses in the
Headaches
past, and what we can learn from its ancient wisdom on how to deal with this
Prof. Barshee Wangyal new virus and also into the future.
Dr Tashi Yangphela
To this end, I am reaching out to our beloved Tibetan Medicine teacher, Dr
Water quality Pasang Yonten Arya, who is at home in Italy, with a few questions on viruses.
Tibetan herbs formulas
NB. For the latest facts and guidance on the current COVID-19 outbreak,
Medicinal plants in Alps including protective measures to keep yourself and your family safe, please see
The three humors, part 1 the World Health Organization website:
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
The three humors, part 2
The Wind humor Carolyn Chan
Disturbed Wind  
The 5 Wind branches
Interview with Dr Pasang Yonten Arya:

The 5 minor Winds

The Bile humor
First of all, I trust that you and your family are well, and have not
The Phlegm humor contracted the new coronavirus which has infected a number of people in
The Gyudshi transmission I Italy. How are you, and those around you, managing with the restrictions
on movement on a daily basis?  
The Gyudshi transmission II
The Golden Sutra Dr Pasang Yonten Arya: Indeed, it is a difficult time here in Italy. My family and I
have self-quarantined from February after Tibetan Losar New Year till now for
Tibetan dream interpretation safety reasons and for the next three weeks there is an official lockdown of the
The dream yoga whole of Italy. All Tibetan medicine courses and workshops have been
cancelled or postponed. Actually, life here is not bad because the daily
The dream yoga 2
essentials can be obtained from supermarkets. However, such an unexpected
Lha and lha ceremony virus pandemic terror attack makes the heart saddened and creates an uneasy
Seasons and health life for everyone. There are many people, especially elders dying, and deaths
even without family in attendance. This is a huge impact on the mind of people
Seasonal advice spring and the nation.
Seasons effects on health
 
Automn advice
Seasonal advice summer Are viruses known in Tibetan Medicine?
autumn
Dr. PYA: According to my knowledge on medical literatures, Tibetan medicine
Autumn, the Bile season could be one of the medical systems with the richest information about viral and
Seasonal advice winter bacterial diseases. The disease is called gnyan-rims in Tibetan and was
expounded by Guru Rinpoche Padma Sambhawa in the 8th century. His
Tibetan embryology 1
description of the pathogenesis is comparable to that of virus diseases that
Tibetan embryology 2 modern scientists have discovered so far. There is not only one Gnyan-rims
Tibetan embryology 3 srinbu, but he said there are a hundred different types of viruses, some are mild
and some are severe killer infectious diseases. Basically, Tibet is a sub-tropical
Tibetan embryology 4 country and there was always some kind of infection circulating from
TM in western practice neighboring countries. For example, according to medical literature: Gnyan-rims
viral disease of yellow skin and yellow eye came from the Jang tribe (China),
Tib. Medicine in the West
Gnyan-rims Zumbu Tak gye or meningitis came to Tibet from mainland China.
Tib. medicine in the West 1 Tibet had frequent attacks by Gnyan-rims disease which killed people within six-
Tib. medicine in the West 2 seven days, diphtheria, quinsy disease and other infectious diseases. All these
are viral diseases with which Tibetan people have rich experience and great
Short history 1 teachings.
Short history 2
Unfortunately, there is no available statistical information about the disease
Short history 3 occurrences, but descriptions of viral invasions can be found in the biographies
Short history 4 of many Lamas.
Tibetan new year
intro to the Newsletter
In Memoriam

Can you tell us what Tibetan Medicine says are the causes and effects of
viruses?

Dr. PYA: The gnyan-rims diseases were expounded by Guru Rinpoche in his
hidden treasure Dutsi Bumchen[1], a terma text revealed by Dorbum chokyi
Drakpa in the 10th century, which was followed by supplemental texts Dutsi
Bumchung and Dutsi Tsebum etc. The books contain more than seven
hundred pages on the gnyan-rims diseases alone.

All the texts say that the cause of viral disease invasion in this world is due to
human unethical and irresponsible misbehavior that lacks respect for nature,
that destroys nature and the environment. The invisible nature protectors, or
natural defensive energy which is called “eight classic spirits”, gets angry and
turns into demons, what we call now climate change disasters. Who is behind
those natural disasters? Regarding the viral and bacterial invasions, Tibetans
say that the eight classical sprits breathe out lethal poison breaths which collect
in the sky like clouds. The toxic breaths are carried by wind and can reach to
any part of the world. It may enter the human body through the mouth, nose
and even through body pores. It attacks the human body’s red blood cells or
plasma (chuser), begins to activate the poison and becomes tiny microbe killer
beings which are called gnyan-srin.  Depending on the nature or type, and body
constitution, the gnyan-srin, the infection could remain in the body for differing
lengths of time. Some can remain one day, two, three, up to fifteen days even
months. Some infections can kill human beings within a few days and some
take a longer time to heal. In short, there are hundreds of different types of
diseases, of which summarized into eighteen, are gnyan-rims diseases. Guru
Rinpoche detailed the pathogenesis, signs and symptoms, gnyan-srin or virus
body shape, form, color, the process of treatment, and self and patient
protection by medicine, spiritual meditation, mantra recitation, sadhana practice,
amulets and incense etc. Therefore, I respect the Guru Rinpoche as an
enlightened medical scientist, who so many centuries ago, in the 8th century,
revealed the tiny and invisible causes of diseases, their origins or causal
factors, long before the advent of advanced science and technology in
medicine. He also lay down the diagnosis, treatments and preventive measures
for all gnyan-rims diseases.

Does Tibetan Medicine talk about viruses into the future, that is, does it
foresee viruses such as the present COVID-19, which is new to humans?

Dr. PYA: According to my understanding, the above described terma books

could be some of the most useful material to form the basis for study and
experimental research for future prevention. I always say that diseases are
much cleverer than we are. They can change form, multiply or mutate, and
remain for long time in the body before beginning to attack and destroy the
health. Medical sciences and doctors remain confused when they introduce a
new disease. Generally speaking, spring and autumn seasonal flu, influenza
and even mild cold, could all become the cause of major chronic inflammation
disease that debilitates and requires lifelong medication. So for example,
Coronavirus is in the beginning not that bad, but later becomes a stronger killer
disease, as may occur in the future as Guru Rinpoche predicted. He said, one
fourth of the population of the world will be killed by gnyan-rims diseases in
degeneration age.

How is a gnyan-rims disease usually treated in Tibetan Medicine?

Dr. PYA: This coronavirus is a type of gnyan-rims disease, and shows some of
the usual cold and flu-like symptoms. Then, it turns into pneumonia with
coughing and respiration disease. I would say it is gnyan-rims glo-tsad disease
or viral asthma-bronchial disease. I believe that there are several Tibetan herbal
medicines single and combined that can be the subject of experimental
research with studies done on their effects.

In addition to following the National and International health advisories

and safety precautions, are there any other tips you can give that may be
helpful to avoid contracting coronavirus?

Dr. PYA: There are multiple precautions and preventive measures explained
and practiced by local people, and especially religious-spiritual practices as
described in Dutsi Bumchen:

1. Traditionally, close the entrance paths to village, cities, towns with special
medicinal plants and stone boundaries.
2. Keep clean self, house and exterior and respect nature and heal and
restore the ecology of the world.
3. Visualizing yourself protected by meditative light of Medicine Buddha.
4. Morning respiration, yoga and meditation practice
5. Taking traditional preventive medicines
6. Visualization and practice of Guru yoga of triple stacked sattva practice an
antidote Buddhas for Gnyan rims diseases: Buddha Vajrapani, Medicine
Buddha and Garuda, and reciting their mantras.
7. Inhale three times every day, the black pill made from nine black
ingredients.
8. Close nine orifices of your body by your own urine (this is interesting
subject of study)
9. Physically and psychologically should be strong and avoid fear.

NB. For the latest facts and guidance on the current COVID-19 outbreak,
including protective measures to keep yourself and your family safe, please see
the World Health Organization website:
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

 ..................................................

On March 29, 2020

Dr. Pasang Y. Arya gave a detailed lecture on the gnyan-rims disease and
the coronavirus.

This special online session is reserved for

TME's Tibetan Medicine and Tsalung healing students

 ..................................................

Also read: A Conversation on the Causes of Covid-19 with a Senior Tibetan

Doctor Living in Lockdown in Milan

[1] Guru Padma Sambhawa’s rin gter sman yig gces btus, published by Sichuan
people’s publishing house, China, 1997

  

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