Men-Tsee-Khang Newsletter,
Vol XIV No. 2 Autumn 2006
Dr. Dekhang visits England
After wrapping up his Norway tour, Dr.
Dekhang Tsering Dorjee flew to London on the 4th of September,
for another medical camp. He visited the Kaliash Centre of
Oriental Medicine. This Centre is London’s leading clinic
specialising in Oriental Medicine, offering a tranquil environment
and is often visited by experienced physicians and practitioners.
It also provides a platform for the practice, research and
education of Oriental medical and philosophical traditions.
Dr. Dekhang T. Dorjee gave consultations to a number of patients
and presented a talk on the topic “Need of Tibetan Medicine
in this Modern Era” at the Kailash Centre of Oriental
Medicine. It is reported that the participants showed a keen
interest in the richness Tibetan Medical System has to share
and offer to the rest of the world.
Men-Tsee-Khang wishes to thank Hansjorg Mayer, the Director
of the Kailash Centre, his associates Karen De Vries, Edyta
Rychlicka and their friends and colleagues for making this
trip a successful one.
Kazakhstan medical
tour
Dr. Kunsang Dolma, CMO of Dalhousie Men-Tsee-Khang
clinic, visited Almaty and Astana in Kazakhstan for a medical
camp from the 5th to the 30th of August. She gave medical
consultations to 71 patients in the two regions. The majority
of the patients were reported to have come with complaints
of arthritis, nerve related, digestion, kidney problem,
liver inflamation, high blood pressure etc. Many of them
were also suffering from diabetes, neurological and prominently
lung diseases in children amongst other.
The Kazakhstan tour is one of the regular medical camps
organised by Roza & Sultan Zhakutov. Men-Tsee-Khang
doctors tour Kazakhstan at regular intervals.
The administration thanks the organiser for their hospitality
and for providing assistance to our visiting doctors to
the area.
Medical tour to
Uzbekistan
Dr. Tamdin Sangmo, CMO of Kollegal Men-Tsee-Khang
clinic, toured Tashkent and Andijan, Uzbekistan, from the
18th of July to the 2nd of August on a medical consultation
tour organised by Bobur Foundation.
The doctor gave medical consultations to 108 patients in
the two regions. The majority of the patients are reported
to have been suffering from nerve related, stress, arthritis,
gallstone, bile tumour and blood pressure diseases.
It is reported that the people of Uzbekistan have strong
faith and belief in Tibetan medicine made from pure herbs.
The organisers strongly believe that a branch clinic of
Men-Tsee-Khang in Tashkent will immensly help the people
of the region. They also have agreed to find a proper clinic
site in their vicinity if Men-Tsee-Khang feels it appropriate.
Men-Tsee-Khang administration thanks all the staff-members
of the Bobur foundation for their assistance to our visiting
doctor during this tour programme.
Free medical camp at Bajarai village
On request from the Indo- Tibetan Friendship
Association, Men-Tsee-Khang administration deputed Dr. Tsering
Tsomo, a resident doctor of Mcleod branch clinic, for a
one-day free medical camp at Bajarai village (Pre Panchait
Rait), one and a half hours drive from Dharamsala, on the
7th of September.
The medical doctor was assisted by Mrs. Passang Bhuti and
Ms. Norbu Dolma. The team gave medical consultations to
nearly 400 patients. In the appreciation letter written
by the Indo-Tibetan Friendship Association, the organiser
of this camp, mentioned that the heads of the village expressed
their appreciation and happiness over such a noble act.
The organiser, refering to the turn out of patients writes
that it “was a successful” one.
This was the second such free medical camp held in association
with the organiser. Earlier in connection with the world
health day, a free medical camp was organised on the 7th
of April at Dharamkot, Dharamsala.
One of the members of the Indo-Tibetan Friendship Association
believed that this free medical camp will further strengthen
and cement better understanding and relationships between
Tibetans and the local Indians in the region. During the
opening remarks to the visitors who thronged the campsite,
he reiterated better cooperation to make peaceful coexistance
amongst the people of the two races.
The chief guest of the first medical camp inauguration was
the Liaison Officer to the Ministery of External Affairs,
Government of India, who also urged the same cooperation
from both ends. The medical camp was headed by Dr. Dekyi
Tsomo of the Gangkyi clinic. She gave free medical consultations
and medications to nearly 40 patients.
Materia Medica team
embarks on medicinal field trip to Lahual & Spiti
Every year during the month of August,
Materia Medica Department (MMD) of Men-Tsee-Khang embarks
on a medicinal field excursion to different regions across
Nepal, Sikkim and Ladakh, especially the places bordering
Tibet and India, and in South India.
Despite inhospitable, harsh and tough weather conditions
in the higher reaches of the Himalayas, the team headed
by Dr.Tsering Norbu, Director of MMD, made their trip to
Lahual and Spiti from the 6th to the 14th of August. He
was accompanied by Dr. Tsultrim Kalsang, a doctor of MMD;
Mr. Tsewang Gyatso, a Science lecturer and Ms. Bhuti Karpoche,
a student from the University of British Columbia, Canada.
The team received assistance from the local resident doctors,
Dr. Norbu Gyaltsen and Amchi Ngawang Tsering. This field
trip was focused mainly in two important areas, Pin valley
and sMan Ri keybo (Medicine mountian).
The team were able to collect specimen samples of more than
one hundred medicinal plants for the herbarium here at the
Men-Tsee-Khang. The team had a very successful medicinal
field trip.
The purpose of the medicinal field trip was to collect various
kinds of medicinal plants from areas of high altitudes to
low regions and to preserve these plants in the herbarium
for specimens and documentation. These are also used as
important resources of education for medical students and
research scholars. Also intended is the inclusion of these
plants in the publication of books on medicinal plants.
The department successfully published the 1st volume of
their planned project to produce series of volumes on medicinal
plants both in English and Tibetan versions. The remaining
six volumes of the series of books on Tibetan medicinal
plants are currently being worked on.
Three-member doctors
tour Norway for medical camps
Dr.
Sonam Lhamo, CMO Dekyiling branch clinic; Dr. Dekhang Tsering
Dorjee, Deputy Director, Materia Medica Department and Dr.
Nyima Gyaltsen Mankhang, CMO Bandara Tibetan settlement
clinic toured Sandvika, Namsos and MO I Rana in Norway from
the 11th of August to the 3rd of September.
During the medical consultation tours, Dr. Sonam Lhamo gave
medical consultations to 50 patients, Dr. Dekhang T. Dorjee
gave consultations to 48 patients and Dr. Nyima Gyaltsen
Mankhang gave medical consultations to 74 patients in their
respective area. The majority of the patients who visited
the campsites were diagnosed as suffering from indigestion,
arthritis, nerve related diseases, stress, anxiety associated
disturbances, migraine, anemia, hypertension and others
such diseases.
This was the first time Tibetan doctors from Men-Tsee-Khang
have ever visited Namsos and MO I Rana on a medical tour.
Dr. Dekhang reports, “The use of Tibetan cupping therapy
in the treatment approach has shown significant results
even within a short period.” Dr. Mankhang was interviewed
by the local newspaper about the efficacy of Tibetan medicine
which he believed had helped in generating keen interest
among the general public. The organiser of MO I Rana medical
camp Ms. Ingrid Kristensen writes, “I have contacted
several clients that have been examined by Dr. Mankhang,
and they all are very satisfied with him.”
Apart from prescribing medications, the three visiting doctors
also managed to give clear and precise dietary and behavioural
instructions to each and every patient providing nearly
an hour each to clarify doubts and questions, which they
said were highly appreciated.
Men-Tsee-Khang administration thanks the organizers: the
director of Laserklinikken, Anne Harila; Marianne Kristensen
and Torstein Ronningean for their hospitality to the three
visiting Men-Tsee-Khang doctors and of course to their families
and friends for their benevolent acts and cooperation in
making the tours successful.
Tibetan Medical Centre awaits
opening in Kazakhstan
The administration decided to depute
Dr. Sonam Dorjee, CMO of Poanta Sahib branch clinic, as
the resident doctor of the proposed Tibetan Medical Centre
in Uralsk, Kazakhstan, for the period of one year. The administration
is in discussion with Mr. Aubakirov Murat, the head of the
newly coined Tibetan Medical Centre in Uralsk registered
under the name of the existing ‘Health Company’
of Mr. Murat. The documents and papers for the doctor are
currently being processed and scrutinised by the Kazakhstan
government. Once the legal obligations are met, the doctor
will soon leave for Kazakhstan.
Earlier, Dr. Ven Lobsang Soepa, on behalf of Men-Tsee-Khang
toured Uralsk, Kazakhstan, on a medical camp from the 8th
to the 22nd of June. This trip was organised by Mr. Aubakirov
Murat, the head of the Health Company. Initially, the doctor
gave medical consultations and advice on dietary and behavioural
regimens to 89 patients. The majority of the patients were
reported to have come with nerve related complaints, mental
stress, sinusitus, arthritis, goitra, food poisoning and
kidney diseases. He later had lengthy discussions on possibilities
of establishing a branch clinic in the region. The doctor
also visited the proposed site for a branch clinic adjacent
to a government office building situated at the heart of
the city which is owned by the Health Company and used as
a bookshop at the moment.
The organiser Mr. Murat and all his staff members working
at The Health Company are reported to have a keen interest
in Tibetan Buddhism and language as well as Tibetan medicine.
Therefore, the doctor also gave introductory teachings on
Tibetan language, culture, custom, history and Buddhist
philosophy to the interested teachers, students and the
staff of the Institute starting from the 10th to the 22nd
of June. It is reported that the majority of the staff-members
know Tibetan language.
Delek Hospital & MTK jointly organise
lecture on HIV-AIDS
Men-Tsee-Khang in assiciation with Delek
Hospital organised a lecture on HIV-AIDS at the Men-Tsee-Khang
hall on the 14th of August. The resource person was a former
doctor of Delek Hospital, Dr. Sonam Topgyal, who now practises
in the United States of America.
All the medical doctors and nurses of Delek Hosptial and
Men-Tsee-Khang staff attended the lecture followed by question
& answer session which went on for more than two hours.
The attendees asked many important questions to which the
doctor gave very satisfactory answers.
Men-Tsee-Khang administration would like to thank Dr. Tseten
Dorjee and the entire team of Delek administration and particularly
to Dr. Sonam Topgyal for making this important talk available
for the MTK staff members.
Lecture and consultation
tour to Japan
A two-member team from Men-Tsee- Khang, Mr. Dorjee Wangyal
the Director of Astrological Department and Dr. Penpa Tsering
a researcher of the Sorig Literary Research Department,
visited Tokyo, Japan for medical & astrological lectures
& consultations from the 9th to the 23rd of August.
The visit was organised by the Tokyo Liaison Office of H.H.
the Dalai Lama in association with Men-Tsee-Khang.
The two-member team gave medical and astrological lectures
to 50 and 20 people on the 12th and the 19th of August respectively.
During their seven day medical and astrological consultation
camp, the doctor gave medical consultations to 45 patients
whereas, the astrologer gave astrological consultations
to 54 people. They reported to have spent more than half
an hour per consultation. In addition, the team also made
available information brochures and newsletters to interested
people thus creating awareness about Men-Tsee-Khang. They
reported that the tour had helped the people of Japan in
knowing more on the ancient traditional science of Tibetan
medicine and astrology. Since Japan has their own traditional
astrological system, the Japanese were showing particular
keeness in understanding more on the Tibetan astrological
system. Despite a lower turnout for medical consultations,
the doctor said the people in general exhibited a high level
of eagerness in learning Tibetan medicine.
Going by the level of interest and enthusiasm shown by the
visiting people, the team believes, it will be a wise decision
to organise such a tour in the future which will largely
help in imparting knowledge of Tibetan healing science and
astrology to the people of Japan.
The administration thanks the Liaison Office of H.H. the
Dalai Lama for their hospitality during the team’s
stay in Tokyo. We also take this opportunity to thank the
officials for delightfully accepting to organise such tour
programmes in the future.
Dr. Pema Dorjee tours Northeast
Frontier regions and Pune
Dr. Pema Dorjee, the Director of the Sorig Literary Research
Depart-ment, visited Kalimpong, Darjeeling and Gangtok regions
on a medical consultation tour from the 19th of August to
the 2nd of September.
Dr. Pema Dorjee started his consultations in Gangtok on
the 20th of August from where he headed towards Rawang la.
On request from the settlement officer and the branch clinic
doctor, he gave a public talk on the importance of dietary
and behavioural regimens along with precautionary measures
and an introduction on some of the prevalent diseases in
the region. He also treated 15 patients who visited him
at his guest house the next day. His next stop was in Kalimpong
followed by a visit to Ghoom, Sonada, Darjeeling, Salugara,
Jaigaon, and finally Salugara on the 31st of August.
During this eleven-day medical tour programme Dr. Pema Dorjee
gave medical consultations and advice on dietary and behavioural
regimens to 832 patients.
He later visited Pune to give medical consultations to urgent
patients who were unable to visit Dharamsala, from 9 - 16
September. The visit was particularly impor-tant from the
public relations point of view. Madam Maheshwari, who initiated
and worked hard for the establishment of the Navi Mumbai
clinic co-ordinated the tour and borne flight expenses of
the doctor.
Branch Director visits Gujurat and
Mumbai
The Branch Director Mr. Tsering Dorjee
paid an inspection visit to Ahmedabad, Jamnagar and Mumbai
from the 16th to the 25th of September. He inspected the
plots intended for branch clinics in Ahmedabad, Janmagar
and Mumbai. He met with Mr. Rashmikant R Kalathai, the concerned
person and Mr. Pratik Shah, the sponsor of the proposed
Ahmedabad branch clinic. Mr. Tsering Dorjee also met with
Mr. Manoj Vadodaria in Jamnagar who earlier verbally accepted
to provide the building of a branch clinic in the region.
The Branch Director later met with Mr. Sanjay Shah, for
the Malad area in Mumbai, who strongly believes a branch
clinic in the region will make a difference to the people
inhabiting the area. He also proposed to offer his piece
of land for a clinic in the region.
Mr. Tsering Dorjee had a very fruitful tour. He also met
with all the staff members of the Navi Mumbai clinic and
talked to them on the importance of keeping proper accounting
and urged them to continue their good work for the cause
of human suffering.
