Tibetan Medicinal Plants

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

Dr. Tenzin Dakpa was born in Lhatse Dzong, Central Tibet, in 1962. He hardly had an opportunity to go to school as his family was labeled as a ‘black hat’ by the Chinese. Dr Dakpa learned to read and write Tibetan while working in farms.

In 1981 he escaped into India, where he later joined Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute (TMAI). After completing five years study of traditional Tibetan medicine in 1947, Dr dakpa became as the resident doctor at the branch clinic in Zanskar, Ladakh.

In 1991, along with late Trogawa Rinpoche, Dr Dakpa established Chakpori Memorial College and became a lecturer there. He rejoined Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute in 1995 where he was made the resident doctor at their branch clinic in Holland. He was a professor of Tibetan medicine at the College of Tibetan Medicine and Astrology in TMAI, Dharamshala, from 2002 to 2004. His previous title was Benefits of Tibetan Herbal Pills. Dr. Dakpa has now settled in Canada.

Foreword

Tibetan medicine, which follows the principle of service to others, is one of the ‘five major sciences’ of Tibet. It is this seminal branch of science that all human beings depend upon to fulfil their desire to maintain healthy life, to be free from diseases and to prolong their lives. This healing system is essential and beneficial in any society and is relevant at any time in history.

The Tibetan science of healing has four major methods to treat a disease that a physician recognizes. Amongst these the ingredients needed to compound medicines - including medicinal plants - are the most important. The principle texts and tantras of Tibetan medicine have codified these medicinal plants, their tastes, therapeutic values and methods to compound herbal pills from them.

It is important that the objective of any book on medicinal plants should be to recognize herbs and their curative values to the same standards as the traditional source texts. In keeping with such an ideal, Dr Tenzin Dakpa has brought out a new title called Tibetan Medicinal Plants: An Illustrated Guide to Identification and Practical Use, which I feel is an important work on this subject. It is without doubt that this book will be of immense value to those who have an interest in learning and carrying out research into Tibetan medicinal plants. I compliment Dr. Tenzin Dakpa on this exemplary work and hope that in future he will continue to do more research in this field.

Back of the Book

This book, containing nearly three hundred medicinal plants, was compiled based on a wealth of botanic and medical references, so that ordinary people can easily identify and use them in their daily lives. Avoiding technical complexities, each plant is identified and presented in seven sections.

Tibetan Name
Botanical Name
Locations
Parts of the Plant Used
Collection Time and After Treatment
Taste and Potency, and
Medicinal Value.

“Dr. Tenzin Dakpa’s new title Tibetan Medicinal Plants: An Illustrated Guide to Identification and Practical Use is an important work. It is without doubt that this book will be of immense value to those who have an interest to learn and do research in Tibetan medicinal plants.”