9bDetoxification

This involves the separation of the toxic parts of the plant;after the plants have been collected their toxic parts haveto be eliminated. These toxic parts will not cause death,

however, they are removed in order to protect our digestivesystem, seven bodily constituents and subtle flow of Loong

energy.Plant part Toxic parts to be removed

Roots Outer skinTrunk Inner rindStem Stem jointsLeaves Leaf stalks

Flowers SepalLatex Heat unsalted butter, add latex and simmer

slowly (toxins are released through thevapours)

Sap No need to detoxifySeeds No need to detoxify

Bark Scratch the outer layerTreatment Techniques: Part II 169

Sorting and dryingWhen I was a student at the Tibetan and Astrological Institute

it was part of our studies to go to Manali in HimachalPradesh every September for herbs collection. This area inthe Himalayas is very close to Tibet and a lot of the plantswhich grow in Tibet can also be found there. It was verymoving and sad for us to know that our own country was

so close to where we were. As most of us had been born inIndia, our second home, Tibet was a place to which we hadnever been. A Tibetan medical professor would take us andintroduce us to each and every individual plant, its name,taste, potency and usage. It was a wild and beautiful placewith glacial valleys, natural waterfalls and sheep roaming

freely, and sometimes we would be in competition with thesheep to get to the same plant!

We would get up early in the morning and return inthe evening, spending the whole day collecting herbs. Wewould then wash the roots of the plants in the local waterwhich was so cold that while washing the roots we had to

stop for short periods because we could not feel our hands.Once they had been washed all the different parts of the

plant had to be separately sorted and allowed to dry. If theplant was cool potency it was dried in cool air and shade,if it was hot potency it was dried in the sun and fire. Any

potential pollutants nearby would affect the potency of the

plants and therefore were avoided.Duration and potency

For maximum potency, medicines should contain plantswhich were picked in the same year. The older the plant theless potency it has and therefore its healing effect will not

be so great.170 Principles of tibetan medicineMake herbal compound formulas

easy to ingest and assimilateAdd extra ingredients such as pomegranate and long pepper

to soothe the stomach, and add myrobalan for vitality.Follow pharmacological protocol

Compound the formulae according to their own hot andcold potencies.

4. Wood medicationsWood medications are compounded from roots, tree trunks,

stems, bark, sap, leaves, flowers and fruit. Examples are:• Teak wood – helps relieve heart fevers and lifechannel.• White sandalwood – eliminates agitated fevers of the

lungs and heart.• Red sandalwood – eliminates blood fevers.

• Frankincense – subdues demonic influences and actsas an analgesic.

• Birthwort – relieves fevers of the blood and blooddiseases.

5. MucilaginousThese are plant essences. For example, camphor eliminates

acute and chronic fevers; saffron eliminates all diseasesconnected to the liver and stops internal bleeding; nutmeg

pacifies Loong and eliminates heart disease.Treatment Techniques: Part II 171

6. ShrubsThe shrubs which we use in Tibetan medicine are grown onplains in a hot climate. Shrub medications are compounded

of roots, stalks, leaves, flowers and fruit. Examples ofshrubs are acacia which is used to treat arthritis and reduce

inflammation and skin diseases; barberry helps arrestpoisons in the body and drains the lymphs; felwort treats

jaundice; liquorice treats lung disease and nerve disorders;liburnum treats liver disorders and is a laxative; raspberry

treats epidemics; elecampane treats flatulence, gas formation,ulcers, diphtheria and heals wounds.