Tibetan herbs are plant sources used for therapy. Many of them are derived mainly from the ayurvedic system.
Some of the ones used most commonly include peppers, cumin, cardamom, clove, ginger, and other hot spices. These along with local aromatics such as saussurea and musk are often mixed in special formulas.
One focus of the Tibetan herbal therapy system is the emphasis of astringent herbs. This is done to make an attempt to conserve body fluids and alleviate any inflammation of the mucous membranes.
Example Herbs
The chebulic myrobalan is considered one of the primary (a.k.a. the “king”) herbs of Tibetan medicine. It is considered an astringent herb. This one is very significant because it is said to possess all the tastes, properties, and effects of different fruits.
Other herbs that are used quite a bit include the following: rhodiola and Hippophae. These are often blended with sandalwood, saussurea, carthamus, bamboo, terminalia, licorice; geranium, emblica, gentiana, inula, and/or grapes.
Other examples of Tibetan herbs include terminalia chebula, which is used for eczema and emblica officinalis, which is used to treat hypertension. Tibetan medicine combines herbs for to produce results similar to that generated by using TCM herbal blends.
The Six Tastes
The Tibetan herbs classification system is probably unique to that of other schools of herbal therapy. These are typically grouped according to six tastes. Three of the tastes include the following: acrid (spicy), bitter and astringent. Examples of herbs in this classification include ginger, beriberis and sandalwood.
Sweet, sour, and salty are the other three groups of tastes. This encompasses a wide variety of popular herbs used for all kinds of healing purposes.
The Eight Properties
Heavy, cool, smooth, soft, light, rough, acrid, and sharp are the eight main properties of Tibetan medicine. The heavy, cool, smooth, soft, are ones that combat what is typically called ‘chiba.’ The light, rough, acrid, and sharp are often used to combat peigen.
The Seventeen Effects
The seventeen effects of herbs include as follows: cold, hot, warm, cool, thick, thin, moist, rough, light, heavy, steady, motive, blunt, sharp, tender, dry, and soft. The distinction of the different effects of herbs helps easier make a way to treat any and all diseases.
Tibetan herbalists further consider the eight properties along with the seventeen effects of herbs. These are all mixed together in unique combinations to create a very powerful treatment for people.
Expected Results
Tibetan herbs are designed to give you fast relief of many common ailments. The real difference is in the method of approach, which is far different than that of traditional medicine.
Many modern medicines address the symptoms and not the causes of diseases. These herbs are designed to alleviate the cause, thus relieving the symptom.
Useful References
- https://www.tibetanmedicine-edu.org/index.php/n-articles/tibetan-herbs-formulas
- http://www.dreliaz.org/recommended-product/tibetan-herbal-formula/