Tibetan Medicine
01 · Historical Records
Records of purgative therapies are found in historical texts of the ancient 'Zhang Zhung' period. The appearance of the 7th-century Tibetan medical classic 'Yue Wang Yao Zhen' (Moon King's Medical Diagnosis) and the 8th-century classic 'Four Medical Tantras' brought the theoretical and practical system of the pulse-purgative (zajong) therapy to greater maturity; according to textual research, its development spans more than 1,300 years to the present day. Dima Danzin Pengcuo, born in 1672, vigorously promoted this therapy and supplemented its theoretical system; through transmission generation after generation, this unique therapy has continued to the present day. Since 1997, more than 300 students have studied this therapy; many of those trained have subsequently gone on to advanced study at Tibetan medicine schools and institutions in Tibet and Qinghai, continuing to contribute to local medical and health undertakings and to the health of the people.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
The Tibetan pulse-purgative therapy, called 'zajong' in Tibetan, is a therapeutic method unique to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and one of the eighteen treatment practices of Tibetan medicine with special curative effects. The Tibetan zajong pulse-purgative therapy is grounded in the physiological characteristics of the human circulatory and urinary systems and, combining the pathophysiological theory of Tibetan medicine, involves the selective administration of three medicines — 'Qiangba Dunba,' 'Jiaru Gujue,' and 'Najia Saixie' — under the special nursing care of the Tibetan 'pulse-purgative nursing' method, so that internal pathogenic factors are expelled from the body through the urinary and digestive systems. It belongs to the category of purgative therapies in Tibetan medicine. As Tibetan medicine developed, it divided into Northern and Southern schools; within the Southern school of Tibetan medicine, the Drigung school of Tibetan medicine emerged and spread eastward. The Tibetan zajong pulse-purgative therapy has high clinical application value and technical content. The technical difficulties of this heritage practice include the differentiation and diagnosis of contraindications and indications, the selection of formulas for diseases, mastery of the key techniques of the five clinical stages (namely, opening the pulse orifices, dredging the channels and vessels, inducing latent diseases, purging away the disease, and eliminating future harm), and the management of emergencies such as suppressing vomiting, stopping pain, and relieving obstruction.
Choosing the three drugs
The method rests on the physiology of the circulatory and urinary systems and uses three named drugs, whose correct choice is the first threshold of success.
Opening the channels
The first of five clinical stages: opening the channels so that what is trapped inside has a way out.
Clearing the vessels
The second stage clears the vessels so that the medicine can move; the vessel is where disease takes hold, and where much of the difficulty lies.
Drawing out latent illness
The third stage provokes latent illness to the surface so that it can be cleared—a step that demands careful judgement.
Purging the disorder
The fourth stage purges the disorder through the urinary and digestive tracts, and calls for skilled management of vomiting, pain and obstruction.
Preventing recurrence
The fifth and hardest stage: once the disorder has been purged, nursing under the method's special regime carries the patient the rest of the way.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
The Tibetan zajong pulse-purgative therapy has a complete system and remarkable efficacy. In particular, carrying out this distinctive medical procedure in the agricultural and pastoral areas of Tibet can genuinely solve the dual economic and health problems of local farmers and herders. Its advantages are prominent, it is an indispensable and important component of medical and health undertakings in Tibet, and it has great potential for transmission and promotion as well as room for development. It is of great significance for enriching and developing the system of Chinese medicine and for the benefit of people of all ethnic groups.
Other submitting regions for the same item: Tibetan Medicine · Tibetan Medicine · Tibetan Medicine · Tibetan Medicine · Tibetan Medicine · Tibetan Medicine · Tibetan Medicine · Tibetan Medicine · Tibetan Medicine · Tibetan Medicine · Tibetan Medicine · Tibetan Medicine · Tibetan Medicine · Tibetan Medicine · Tibetan Medicine · Tibetan Medicine.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
This therapy has unique curative effects on numerous diseases, including chronic and long-standing illnesses, uterine masses, retained dead fetus, sterility, gout, damp impediment (rheumatic conditions), boils and abscesses, and edema. It has irreplaceable therapeutic value particularly for diseases of the channels and vessels, and it achieves good results on diseases that have not been eliminated after treatments such as induced vomiting, purgation, nasal drops, and enemas. At present, the Tibetan zajong pulse-purgative therapy is practiced mainly at the Su County Tibetan Hospital in Nagqu City, and other medical institutions are gradually adopting this therapy as well.
05 · Associated Representative Bearers
Representative bearers recorded under this item, organized by national nomination batch:
- Qiangbachilie 01-0220
- Nimaciren 01-0221
- Suolangqimei 01-0222
- Gawu 01-0223
- Duoji 01-0224
- Tangka Angwengjiangcuo 01-0225
- Gesangnima 01-0226
- Mima 03-1450
- Gesangciren 03-1451
- Lixianjia 03-1452
- Danzengpengcuo 03-1453
- Suolangdunzhu 03-1454
- Luosangduoji 03-1455
- Baimajiacuo 03-1456
- Eri 03-1457
- Gamacuoni 03-1458
- Sangjie 03-1459
- Nima 03-1460
- Zhandui 04-1947
- Mingzhu 05-2957
- Suonanwangjie 05-2958
- Nimacairang 05-2959
- Dansongzhaba
- Yujue
- Duojierenqing
- Cirenluobu
- Kanzhaojia
06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography
Sources
China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)
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