All of us want to be happy and avoid suffering. So why are many of us anxious, angry, or depressed? We suffer from pain, hypertension, inflammation, indigestion, insomnia, and addiction. Yet, too often we make choices that undermine us rather than reverse what's wrong. Tibetan medicine, Tibet's ancient, timely science of healing, offers effective tools for transforming suffering into health and happiness. Tibetan medicine teaches that the purpose of life is to be happy, and that after our basic needs are met, happiness results primarily from our own thinking. When challenges arise, we choose how to interpret them. We can wallow in negativity and get sick - or even sicker - in mind and body. Or we can decide to create health and happiness. Making mindful, healthy choices won't solve every problem but will produce better results than poor or thoughtless decisions do. At least, we won't make things worse! This book explains how to use the concepts of Tibetan medicine for self-care and integrative care alongside Western medical interventions. By actively engaging in self-care, we make conscious, informed decisions to preserve and improve health and happiness. By (Both sentences begin with By. One sentence needs rewriting.) incorporating Tibetan medicine into our Western medical care, we include methods for preventing disease and mental distress, improving overall health outcomes, and preparing for a more peaceful death. The chapters cover the philosophical underpinnings of Tibetan medicine and nuanced explanations of health, illness, diagnosis, and treatment, focusing on diet and behavior. Anyone can use the information in this book to reduce stress, make healthy choices, improve overall health and wellbeing, and be happier. Using Tibetan medicine for self-care and integrative care promotes empowerment and offers more options than Western medical care alone (to be consistent).
Introduction. Tibetan Medicine: Self-Care and Integrative Care by Miriam E. Cameron The Practice and Relevance of Tibetan Medicine by Tenzin Namdul. Part A: Tibetan Medicine as Self-Care. Chapter 1: How to Be Happy! Karma. Suffering. Healing. Happiness. Sitting Meditation and Circular Breathing. Chapter 2: Live in Harmony with Your Constitution. Gold Standard: Consultation with a Tibetan Medicine Practitioner. "Constitutional Self-Assessment Tool" (CSAT) and "Lifestyle Guidelines Tool" (LGT). Complete the "Constitutional Self-Assessment Tool" (CSAT). Complete the "Lifestyle Guidelines Tool" (LGT). Use the "Constitutional Self-Assessment Tool" (CSAT) and "Lifestyle Guidelines Tool" (LGT) together. Meditation on a Lotus Flower. Chapter 3: Understand the Source of Your Existence. Health Is Balance; Dis-ease Is Imbalance. Earth: Cold, Stability, Structure. Water: Moisture and Cohesion. Fire: Heat. Air: Movement. Space: Allows the Other Elements to Interact. Tonglen Meditation. Chapter 4: Keep Your Three Primary Energies in Balance. Nyepa: Defect. Loong: Movement Energy. Tripa: Hot Energy. Baekan: Cold Energy. Balance and Imbalance. Meditation: Alternate Nostril Breathing. Chapter 5: Learn about Your Unique Nature. Who really am I? Loong Constitution: Nature of a Vulture, Crow, and Fox. Tripa Constitution: Nature of a Tiger and Monkey. Baekan Constitution: Nature of a Lion and Elephant. Dual and Triple Constitutions. Meditation: Om Mani Padme Hum. Chapter 6: Create a Healthy Mind. What Is Mind? Negative Thinking, Suffering, and Dis-ease. Heal Negativity. Develop Spiritual Immunity. Mindfulness Meditation. Chapter 7: Create an Enlightened Mind. Buddhism: Beyond Religion. The Four Noble Truths. The Eightfold Path of Ethics. Impermanence, Emptiness, Dependent Origination, Interconnectedness. Universal Compassion. Meditation on the Medicine Buddha. Chapter 8: Create a Healthy Body. Diet. Digestion. Behavior. Daily, Seasonal, and Environmental Changes. Rejuvenation. Meditation: Tibetan Prostrations. Chapter 9: Create a Good Death. Life. Death. Bardo: Intermediate State Between Death and Rebirth Rebirth. Tonglen Meditation while Dying. Part B: Tibetan Medicine in Integrative Care. Chapter 10: Tibetan Medicine Past and Present. History of Tibetan Medicine. Tibetan Medicine Today. Gyueshi: Fundamental Text of Tibetan Medicine. Four Tantra of the Gyueshi. Loving Kindness Meditation. Chapter 11: Tibetan Medicine's Code of Ethics. Unsuitable and Suitable Students. Core Values. Tibetan Medical Education. Exceptional, Ordinary, and Incompetent Practitioners. Rewards for Excellence. Shaking and Dancing Meditation. Chapter 12: Disease. Causes. Conditions. Location. Characteristics. Create Health. White Light Meditation. Chapter 13: Diagnosis. How to Prepare for Your Consultation. Diagnostic Process. Observation. Touch. Questioning. Classification. Meditation on Anger. Chapter 14: Treatment. Treatment Goal. Diet. Behavior. Tibetan Medicines. Accessory Therapies. Prognosis. Meditation on Sound. Chapter 15: Tibetan Medicine for Health Professionals. Overview. Scientific Basis. Application. Effectiveness. Meditation: Loving Kindness Is My Religion. Appendix References. Selected Bibliography
