Sowa Rigpa
Sowa Rigpa can be translated as the science of health and happiness and is recognised as an official medical system in India, Bhutan and Nepal amongst other countries. Tibetan medicine has many similarities and has been influenced by Ayurveda (Traditional Indian Medicine) and Traditional Chinese Medicine, as well as Greco Arab (Unani) medicine. It is a holistic form of medicine that starts with what makes a person fundamentally healthy and happy. It acknowledges that our mind and body are interconnected and that one cannot help the health of one without considering the other.
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Sowa Rigpa views a person as being an extension of the environment we live in and not some separate or foreign entity. In the same way the world is made up of 5 elements (space, wind, fire, water and earth), so is a human being. Health occurs when the elements are in balance in the body and disease occurs when they are not. It is acknowledged that each individual is different and a healthy balance is different for every person. As such, there are people that have more fire in them or more water etc. This is not considered an imbalance but rather a typology. At the same time however, if a person naturally has a lot of fire in them, they have the propensity and a higher risk to have their inner fire element in excess and as such such they are susceptible to fire based pathologies. This is why it is important to first understand ones typology before concluding what pathologies might be at play. It is also essential to understand ones typology before any recommendations are made.
Exploring Balance
Once one's elemental typology is understood, we explore and investigate whether elemental imbalances are at play through various diagnostic tools and then explore what can be done to support the mind and body to correct any disorders and return to the natural state of balance and harmony. Various treatment options are available.
"Everyone has a doctor in him or her; we just have to help it in its work. The natural healing force within each one of us is the greatest force in getting well."
Hippocrates