
  
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

|
  

SPECIALIST CATEGORIZED BOOKLIST
Reading suggestions for students of Tibetan Medicine and readers with a scientific interest in Tibetan Medicine.
This listing has been compiled by Raymond G. Landgraaf, MD (December 2008) as a specialist supplement to the Tibetan Medicine Resource Guide presented by the Alternative Medicine Foundation.
For a list of general interest books on Tibetan Medicine, CLICK HERE.

Suggestions for Students of Tibetan Medicine
Arya, Pasang Yonten (1994) Dictionary of Tibetan Materia Medica
This dictionary is the first of its kind. All the entries are arranged in Tibetan alphabetical order. Inclusion, in the main entry, of different names of medicinal ingredients such as names dervied from foreign languages, synonym, secret and poetical names will prove extremely useful for identification. Description of every medicinal ingredient and information on their tastes, powers and uses are also given according to some of the most popular texts. In this English version, Latin names of almost all the medicines are given.
Aschoff, J.C. (1996). Annotated Bibliography of Tibetan Medicine (1789-1995).
Urm/Germany: Fabri Verlag und Dietikon/Switzerland: Garuda Verlag.
Aschoff J, Rösing I. (1997). Tibetan Medicine - 'East meets West, West meets East'
Fabri Verlag (Germany), ISBN: 3-931997-04-9
Professor Aschoff's book is a collection of all the monographs, academic and general articles in periodicals published throughout the world up to 1995. The information is in both German and English. This vast bibliography is also available in full text by clicking on "International Bibliography of Tibetan Medicine" within the authors website: http://www.uni-ulm.de/~jaschoff
Avedon, J.F., A.M. Sackler (1998). The Buddha's Art of Healing: Tibetan Paintings Rediscovered
Rizzoli Publications.
This book presents the world's most important collection of Tibetan medical art, an illustrated 17th-century medical text known as The Atlas of Tibetan Medicine, created by the teacher and scholar Sangye Gyamtso, a regent of the Great Fifth Dalai Lama.
Badmajew, et al., (1982) Healing Herbs, The Heart of Tibetan Medicine.
Red Lotus Press, Berkeley, CA, United States.
The colorful story of Sul-Tim-Badma who left his monastery to travel to the Russian capital of Petersburg, the subsequent journeys of the family through Poland, Switzerland, and now in the United States.
Dawa D. (1999). A Clear Mirror of Tibetan Medicinal Plants.
Rome: Tibet Domani Associazione
Dhonden, Dr. Y (1996). Ambrosia Heart Tantra.
Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, Dharamsala, India.
In Sanskrit this text is known as Amrta-astangahrdayupadesatantra; in Tibetan: bDud rtsi snying po yan lag brgyad pa gsang ba man ngag gi rgyud tranlslated into English as Ambrosia Heart Tantra: The Four Secret Oral Teachings on the Eight Branches of the Science of Healing.
Drungtso TT, Drungsto TD.(2005). Tibetan-English Dictionary of Tibetan Medicine and Astrology. Archana: Drungtso Publications, India.
A dictionary with over 7000 terms clearly and simply defined. Includes transliteration, phonetics, many Sanskrit equivalents, common English word, botanical terms and latin names. Accessible style avoids unnecessary jargon.
Drungtso, T.T. (2006) Healing Power of Mantra. The wisdom of Tibetan Healing Science.
Drungtso Publications, Dharamsala, India.
Drungtso, T.D. Tibetan Elemental Astrology
The instructions given in this book will create a bond with you to know exactly who you are, what you want and with whom you associate. It gives tips on how to choose one's best life partner, business partner and tells secrets of knowing others' personalities as well. However, it is important to keep in mind that, astrology cannot reveal all the information about someone.
Finckh, E. (1988). Studies in Tibetan Medicine.
Ithaca, NY, Snow Lion.
This scholarly collection of papers on specialized topics in Tibetan medicine deals with various aspects of the medical system, including comparisons with the Chinese system. It presents the Tibetan medical tree and diagrams all its parts. Contents: Tibetan Medicine: Theory and Practice; The System of Tibetan Medicine; Notes on Pulsology; Characteristics of Pharmacology; Constitutional Types.
Finckh, E. (1975). Foundations of Tibetan Medicine.
Watkins, London & Dulverton.
Gerke, Barbara. (1999). Tibetan Medicine in Kalmykia.
In: Ayur Vijnana a periodical on Indo-Tibetan and allied medical cultures Vol. 6. Kalimpong: International Trust for Traditional Medicine ITTM. 48-52.
Gyal, Y. and T. Namdul (2006). Tibetan Medical Dietary Book: Vol 1.
Dharamsala, Clinical Research Department Men-tsee-khang, Dharamsala, India.
Kletter, C. and M. Kriechbaum, eds. (2001). Tibetan Medicinal Plants.
Boca Raton, London, New York, and Washington DC, Medpharm Scientific Publishers.
Men Tsee Khang. (1997). Fundamental of Tibetan Medicine According to the rGyud-bZhi.
Men Tsee Khang publication, Dharamsala, India.
Tsarong, T.J. (1986). Handbook of Traditional Tibetan Drugs.
Tibetan Medical Publications, Kalimpong, India.
[Back to Contents]
Books of Scientific and Specialist Interest
See http://www.thdl.org/collections/medicine/biblio_medicine.html
Asshauer, Dr. E. (1989). Gesund bleiben mit der heilkunst der Tibeter.
Trias Verlag, Stuttgart, Germany. (not available in English)
Asshauer, Dr. E. (1993). Heilkunst vom Dach der Welt/ Tibets sanfte Medizin.
Herder, Freiburg, Germany. (not available in English)
Dolkar, Khanguar TIBETAN MEDICINE: The Buddhist Way of Healing
Tibetan medicine is a traditional form of healing which basically employs natural materials (herbs, minerals, precious stones, metals) for compounding medicines. Buddhist healing is intimately linked with Buddhist philosophy. Initially, monks were initiates into the art of healing, but later family lineages developed till eventually it became a community service. Today it is practiced by a handful of authorised amchis (doctors) only.
Dorje and Meyer, eds., Tibetan Medical Paintings, Vol. 1.
New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1992
Khangkar, Lobsang Dolma. Journey into the mystery of Tibetan medicine : based on the lectures f Dr. Dolma.
New Delhi: Yarlung Publications, 1990.
Khangkar, Lobsang Dolma. Lectures on Tibetan medicine.
Dharamsala, H.P., India : Library of Tibetan Works & Archives, 1986.
Khangkar, Tsewang Dolkar. Health and harmony through the balance pulse rhythms.
New Delhi : Yarlung Publications, 1990.
Khangkar, Tsewang Dolkar. Tibetan medicine: the Buddhist way of Healing.
New Delhi: Lustre Press, 1998.
Lobsang Rapgay. Rlung (Vata) Diseases, Diagnosis and Cure.
Dharamsala, H.P., India: Lobsang Rapgay, 1981.
Lobsang Rapgay. The Art of Tibetan Medical Urinalysis.
Dharamsala, H.P., India: Lobsang Rapgay, 1986.
Rapgay, L. (1984). Tibetan Medicine: A Holistic approach to Better Health.
Dharamsala, India, Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute.
This is an overview of the healing modalities offered in Tibetan medicine from a humanistic perspective. Dr. Rapgay has written many informative texts on different aspects of the Tibetan medical tradition.
Lobsang Rapgay. Tibetan therapeutic massage.
Dharamsala, H.P., India: Lobsang Rapgay, 1985.
Rechung Rinpochee. (1973) Tibetan Medicine.
Welcome Institute, London, U.K.
Thubten Jigme, Norbu. Dolma & Dolkar : mother and daughter of Tibetan medicine.
New Delhi : Yarlung Publications, 1990.
[Back to Contents]
Additional Specialist Literature
See: www.thdl.org/collections/medicine/biblio_medicine.html
Kosoburov AA. Transducer for pulse diagnostics, in Med Tekh. 1996 Sep-Oct;(5):35-6. Russian.
Azargaev LN, Boronoev VV, Poplaukhin VN, Storchun EV. Pulse wave recording device, in Med Tekh. 1998 Mar-Apr;(2):28-32. Russian.
Begley SS. Tibetan Buddhist medicine: a transcultural nursing experience.
J Holist Nurs. 1994 Sep;12(3):323-42.
Boronoev VV, Poplaukhin VN, Storchun IuE. Amplitude-time and phase characteristics of pulse signal force transducer in multizone pulse diagnosis, in Med Tekh. 1998 Mar-Apr;(2):32-5. Russian.
Boroyonev. Research on Tibetan Pulse Diagnosis.
Buryat Institute of Natural Sciences (BINS) Laboratory of Radiobiophysics, Buryatia, Russia AyurVijnana, 1998; 4.
Boronoev VV, Rinchinoiv OS. Several aspects of software implementation of a computerized pulse diagnostics complex, in Med Tekh. 1996 Sep-Oct;(5):36-8. Russian.
Burrow, Hopkins, Dhondhen, and Dolma, Goiter in Tibetan Medicine in Tibetan Medicine 5 (1982), pgs. 39-46
Changbhar. Tibetan Medicine in the treatment of Aplastic Anaemia, AyurVijnana, 1998;4.
Clarke C. Amchhi Inji-ne, the English doctor: part 2.
Wilderness Environ Med. 2000 Spring;11(1):47-51.
Clarke CR. Three journeys to high altitude: medicine, Tibetan thangkas, and Sepu Kangri.
J R Coll Physicians Lond. 1999 Jan-Feb;33(1):78-84.
Loizzo JJ, Blackhall LJ. Traditional alternatives as complementary sciences: the case of Indo-Tibetan medicine. J Altern Complement Med. 1998 Fall;4(3):311-9.
Matzner Y, Sallon S. The effect of Padma-28, a traditional Tibetan herbal preparation, on human neutrophil function. J Clin Lab Immunol. 1995;46(1):13-23.
Moore C, Adler R. Herbal vitamins: lead toxicity and developmental delay. Pediatrics. 2000 Sep;106(3):600-2.
Namdul T, Sood A, Ramakrishnan L, Pandey RM, Moorthy D. Efficacy of Tibetan medicine as an adjunct in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2001 Jan;24(1):175-6.
Navchoo IA, Buth GM. Medicinal system of Ladakh, India. J Ethnopharmacol. 1989 Sep;26(2):137-46.
Prasaad Steiner R. Tibetan medicine. Part I: Introduction to Tibetan medicine and the rGyud-bzi (Fourth Tantra). Am J Chin Med. 1987;15(1-2):83-8.
Randal J. Diagnosis, Tibetan style, underlies small herbal study of advanced breast cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1999 Apr 7;91(7):587-8.
Rapgay L. A guide to Tibetan medical urinalysis. Acupunct Electrother Res. 1986;11(1):25-43.
Ryan M. Efficacy of the Tibetan treatment for arthritis. Soc Sci Med. 1997 Feb;44(4):535-9.
Tokar E. Seeing to the distant mountain: diagnosis in Tibetan medicine. Altern Ther Health Med. 1999 Mar;5(2):50-8. Review.
Tokar E. Building A Means of Discourse For Integrative Medicine: A Tibetan Medical Perspective on Irritable Bowel Syndrome, AyurVijnana, 1999;6.http://www.kreisels.com/ittm/Ittm52.htm
Vouk K. Tibetan medicine--encounter with a traditional system of healing, in Osterr Krankenpflegez. 1995 May;48(5):18-20. German.
[Back to Contents]
Selected Pharmacological Studies
Aschoff, Jurgen. Tibetan 'Precious Pills': the Rinchen medicine; a tantric healing system with great benefits, some problems, many secrets. Ulm: Fabri, 2001.
Clark. Problems in Identifying and Translating Materia Medica used in Tibetan Medicine in AyurVijnana, 2000; 7. http://www.kreisels.com/ittm/Ittm58.htm
Cox, E. H. M. Plant-hunting in China; a history of botanical exploration in China and the Tibetan marches. London, Collins, 1945.
Dash, Bhagwan. Formulary of Tibetan medicine. Delhi, India : Classics India Publications, 1988.
Dash, Bhagwan. Illustrated materia medica of Indo-Tibetan medicine. Delhi, India : Classics India Publication, 1987.
Dash, Bhagwan. Pharmacopoeia of Tibetan medicine. Delhi, India : Sri Satguru Publications, 1994.
Ding LS, Wu FE, Chen YZ. Diterpenoid alkaloids from Aconitum gymnandrum Yao Xue Xue Bao. 1993;28(3):188-91. Chinese.
Fan W, Tezuka Y, Ni KM, Kadota S. Prolyl endopeptidase inhibitors from the underground part of Rhodiola sachalinensis. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo). 2001 Apr;49(4):396-401.
Jin C, Yan Z, Jianwei L, Ruodeng X, Sangbu D. Environmental fluoride content in Tibet.
Environ Res. 2000 Jul;83(3):333-7.
Li YW, Fang QC. Isoquinoline alkaloids from Corydalis thyrsiflora prain Yao Xue Xue Bao. 1991;26(4):303-6. Chinese.
Matzner Y, Sallon S. The effect of Padma-28, a traditional Tibetan herbal preparation, on human neutrophil function. J Clin Lab Immunol. 1995;46(1):13-23.
Moore C, Adler R. Herbal vitamins: lead toxicity and developmental delay. Pediatrics. 2000 Sep;106(3):600-2.
Morita T, Zhou J, Tanaka O. Saponins from Panax pseudo-ginseng Wall. subsp. pseudo-ginseng Hara collected at Nielamu, Tibet, China. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo). 1986 Nov;34(11):4833-5.
Ohsako T, Yamane K, Ohnishi O. Two new Fagopyrum (Polygonaceae) species, F. gracilipedoides and F. jinshaense from Yunnan, China. Genes Genet Syst 2002 Dec;77(6):399-408
Tanaka O, Han EC, Yamaguchi H, Matsuura H, Murakami T, Taniyama T, Yoshikawa M. Saponins of plants of Panax species collected in Central Nepal, and their chemotaxonomical significance. III. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo). 2000 Jun;48(6):889-92.
Wang Q, Shu J, Zeng L. Chemical constituents of Drosera peltata Smith var. lunata (Buch.-Ham.) C.B.clarke collected in Tibet Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 1998 Nov;23(11):683-4, 704. Chinese.
Yi JH, Huang XP, Chen Y, Luo ZY, Zhong CC. Studies on the iridoid glucosides of the root of Lamiophlomis rotata (benth.) kudo, a medicinal plant in Xi zang (Tibet) Yao Xue Xue Bao. 1997 May;32(5):357-60. Chinese.
Zhang H, Wang T, Fang X, Shuai H, Xie C. Plants of Coptis from Tibet and Yunnan
Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 1990 Jun;15(6):326-8, 382. Chinese.
Zhang JS, Li SH, Lou ZC. Morphological and histological studies of Chinese Ephedra, ma huang. II. Species produced in southwestern China and other species
Zhang JS, Tian Z, Lou ZC. Quality evaluation of twelve species of Chinese Ephedra (ma huang)
Yao Xue Xue Bao. 1989;24(11):865-71. Chinese.
[Back to Contents]
Selected Publications on the History of Tibetan Medicine
Bolsokhoeva, N. Introduction to the studies of Tibetan medical sources.
Kathmandu, Nepal: Mandala Book Point, 1993.
Bunkol. The Tibetan physician Garma Ngesdon Tanjin Phrinlas Rabgyas and his medical works
Zhonghua Yi Shi Za Zhi. 2000 Jul;30(30):160-1. Chinese.
Qigeqitu, Siqingqimuge. Guan-bu-za-bu, A Mongolian physician, Zhonghua Yi Shi Za Zhi. 1997;27(1):46-8. Chinese.
Jackson R. Tibetan medicine and dermatology in the fifteenth century. Int J Dermatol. 1995 Dec;34(12):834-6.
Marmori MG. Medical marvels of the Tantra manuscripts Kos 2002 Apr;(199):52-7. Italian.
Pezzi G.[Italy and her medical relationships with China and Tibet during the XVIth and XVIIth centuries Ann Med Nav (Roma). 1970 Jan-Feb;75(1):41-51. Italian.
Bergemann H. From the history of medicine in Tibet, Orv Hetil. 1968 Aug 25;109(34):1885-7. Hungarian.
Li Q. Origin of gestation theory in Tibetan medicine, Zhonghua Yi Shi Za Zhi. 1995;25(4):233-7. Chinese.
Jigmed B, Naran C, Bao L. Preliminary research of Astangahrdayasamhita Zhonghua Yi Shi Za Zhi. 1996;26(1):39-42. Chinese.
Ward MP, Milledge JS. Griffith Pugh, pioneer Everest physiologist. High Alt Med Biol 2002 Spring;3(1):77-87
[Back to Contents]
|