How the Dalai Lama’s Doctor Would Treat Your Symptoms

This CNN article looks at the Tibetan Medicine approach to treating disease by discussing interviews and talks given by Dr. Tsewang Tamdin’s, world renowned doctor of Tibetan Medicine. Taking an individualist and holistic approach to disease treatment, no two treatments are the same even if they are for the same disease. Individuals can be prescribed everything from traditional and modern medicine, to diet changes, to compassion meditation and improved kindness to others.

What’s most interestingly stated here is that “Tamdin said that modern medicine treats symptoms, but said a patient will never get better if they fail to attend to psychological issues.” This is all too often something we neglect in modern medicine, especially as we take on more of a business model with our clients in clinics and hospitals. Emotions no doubt have an influence on our health and well being, or social workers wouldn’t be needed, so we cannot fail to neglect this aspect of health.

These types of treatments have existed for thousands of years and have kept folks healthy, so there must be something to it. What gives Tibetan Medicine merit in my eyes is that it is open to putting itself before scientific inquiry and review. I think this is a great step towards enhancing the evidence needed to convince the skeptics of the mind-body connection, and something which puts it well in line with social work practice.

*By Georgianna Reilly, LMSW | SJS Staff Writer | *