Tibetan Doctors' Biographies, organized by country
Doctors from Tibet -
There are many doctors practicing, undergoing training, and teaching new students in Tibet. The practice of Tibetan Medicine is widely respected in China and the practice has been preserved and encouraged.
Doctor Jampa Thinley
Doctor Tashi
Doctor Tsering Dorjee
Doctor Thupten Tsewang
Doctor Tashi Tsering
Doctor Dekyi Dolkar (Senior)
Doctor Gaway Dorjee
Doctor Nyima Tsering
Doctor Dawa Tsering
BIOGRAPHIES OF TIBETAN MEDICINE PRACTITIONERS FROM TIBET
Doctor Jampa Thinley
From SHEGA-TSE MEN-TSEE-KHANG IN TIBET
Dr. Jampa Thinley is 60 years old. He was born in Tshar near Thobyal in Namling.
From age 9 to 15 he studied at the Wen Monastery and from age 15 to 20 years he studied
Tibetan medicine at the Tibetan medicine school in Kyikyi Nagar at Tashi Lhunpo. This
school was established by the tenth Penchen Lama, whose master was Kachen Dawa. He was
Personal physician to the great tantric master Huthog Thug Dorjee Chang during the time of
the ninth Penchen Lama.
Dr. Jampa Thinley also received Tibetan medicine teachings from Kachen Lobsang Tashi, the personal physician to the tenth Penchen Lama, Tsultrim of Nyamring Chode, the disciple of Professor Khyenrab Norbu and Menrampa Kechen Penpa of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery.
From 21 to 25 he practiced Tibetan medicine at my
home village in Tshar. From 26 to 31 during the cultural revolution he worked in the
fields. From 33 to 41 he practiced Tibetan medicine in the Thobgyal Chue Community. From
42 to 46 he resumed as a teacher in the Middling medical school recently established under
the Shigatse Health School. When he was 47 he gave teachings to thirty senior doctors from
the Shigatse area for six months. From 48 to 50 he served as a chief medical officer of
the Shigatse Men-Tsee-Khang and gave teachings to the senior and junior doctors. From age
51 he has been serving as a teacher of two medical schools established by the Swiss Red
Cross. He has produced some medicines after doing research on Gall bladder stone and High
blood pressure and has gained some satisfactory results. In 1985, he worked with three
other Menrampa Doctors as a chief editor and compiled a book on the Nurses daily
practices. He has also written an article based on his experiences of the Gall bladder
stone.
[return to Index of Names]
Doctor Tashi
From MALDO GONGKAR MEN-TSEE-KHANG IN TIBET
Dr. Tashi was born in 1958 and he is from Meldo Gaonkar near Lhasa capital of
Tibet. He has practiced Tibetan medicine for 25 years and is Rabjampa in Tibetan medicine.
He works in Gyaltse Dzong Hospital in Tsang and takes the main responsibility for the work
of the hospital.
Dr. Tashi began studying Tibetan medicine in 1974 at Gyaltse Dzong Hospital. He studied at the feet of Doctors Samten, Yeshi, Topgyal, Yangchen Dolkar, the late Kaldor, late Tenkyong of Katsal Shang, late Karma Namgyal of Jamdha Dzong and Lobsang Norbu of Men-Tsee-Kang Lhasa. He received theoretical and practical training from them.
1975 to 1978 he practiced Tibetan Medicine at Maldo Gongkar Shang Hospital.
In 1978 he took examinations at Lhasa Health School and thereafter for three years he received advance training from a medical lecturer, Nyima Tsering, and from Doctors Tashi Gyatso, Choenyi Yangzom, Jampa Gelek, Sonam Dekyi, Jampa Gyatso and Tenzin Namgyal.
From April 1981 he received practical training from Doctors Tenchoe, Norbu and Jampa Gyaltsen. They are all dead now.
In 1983 he participated in the conference on Tibetan medicine organized by T. A. R.
From June 1984 to June 1985 he received advanced teachings at the Lhasa Men-Tsee-Khang organized for the five provinces. They were given teachings by Professor Tsenam, Tsultrim Gyaltsen, Jampa Tinley, the late Kunga Phuntsog, Samten, Wangdu, Mipham Yeshi, Karma Choephel, the late Lobsang Nyandag, Palden Tenzin, Yeshi Gyaltsen, Kalden, Jamyang, Lhundup Tharchen, Logey, Dakar and Sherdo Ngodup. He also received initiation and transmission of the Yuthog Nyinthig. He also received Teachings again from them in 1989 (4 months) and 1996 (3 months).
He was awarded 2nd prize for physiology by the Shigatse Science Academy in November 1993. In 1994 he published articles on vital essence and its function in the second issue of Bojong Lobso Magazine. In August 1994 Bojong mimang Pekrun Khang published his book on embryology in Tibetan medicine. It has 70,000 words. His articles on water and its effect in Tibetan medicine appeared in the fourth issue of a publication in Beijing in December, 1994. He published articles on the success of treatments given by the Gyaltse Men-Tsee-Khang over the 30 years in 1995 in the magazine Bod kyi sherig. In 1996 he published articles in the 4th issue of Tungo Sherig on the administration and opening of the traditional hospital. In May 1998 Bojong Mimang Pekrun Khang published his book Sorig rGyud- bzhi kadel which has 500,000 words. In 1998 his articles on Hepatitis appeared in the first issue of Bodman Lobso Shibjug published by the medical college.
In October 1996 he participated in the conference on Tibetan medicine organized by T. A. R. In the conference he stressed the importance on the administration of opening a traditional hospital and spoke of his experience with Trutsi Chuchig the colic medicine.
He participated in the National conference on Tibetan medicine in Shinying, Tsongon organized by the Tsongon Men-Tsee-Khang in August 8, 1999 and gave a talk on colic and also sent articles to Kutao in China where the international conference on Tibetan medicine took place in the year 2000.
Doctor Tsering Dorjee
From CHAMDO MEN-TSEE-KHANG IN TIBET
Dr. Tsering Dorjee was born in 1931 the iron sheep year of 16th Rabjung in Ridung ,
Chamdo. He serves as deputy Bumrampa in Chamdo Men-Tsee-Khang. He began studying from age
6. When he was ten he studied grammar and astrology from Lama Gontse of Khyodha Monastery.
From 15 he studied old and new words of Tibetan and sanskrit.
When he was 31 he received theoretical and practical training in Tibetan Medicine from alias Mangye, Jewa Rinsel, Mepoi Shallung, Soma Raza, Damngag Kagyama and Shelgong Sheltreng ( Name of famous Tibetan Medicine Books ) and many more.
In 1976 he served in the out-patient department of Chamdo Men-Tsee-Khang and gave a truck full medical substances he had collected over the years. He was promoted to Rabjampa in 1979 and then served as deputy director of the out -patient department of Tibetan medicine in 1981.
1981 to 1995, he traveled as a member of the National Tibetan Medical Association to facilitate the exchange the ideas between different ethnic groups. He went to Beijing, Shien, Inner Mongolia, Shinchang, Kansu, Tsogon, Sithon and Yunan. He continued his work for the Chamdo Men-Tsee-Khang during a difficult period and in 1988 he was promoted to deputy Bumrampa degree.
To promote Tibetan medicine he taught the rGud-bzhi to six persons including Gonpo Dorjee; and for 25 persons of the Chamdo Health School; and for 42 persons of the Chamdo Medical School. All of them now practice, teach and work in different departments.
He studied, practiced and researched on throat constriction, juvenile jaundice, gastro-intestinal disorder, infections, encephalitis, stroke and epilepsy and gained satisfactory results. He also continued to learn pharmacology and produced precious moon Samphel etc, in Chamdo Men-Tsee-Khang. He also practiced and taught students how to prepare Tibetan butter medicine.
He wrote articles on the teachings of the doctor called "Nyongom Kyi Labgyas Pema Karpoi Tsengwa" and on hot spring therapy, "Water Chutsan La Tagche gyepe Gyanshu Dutsi Segma" and received acclaim for them.
He has been awarded certificates from the National Science Academy and National Ethnic Council.
Doctor Thupten Tsewang
From CHAMDO MEN-TSEE-KHANG IN TIBET
Dr. Thupten Tsewang was born in Senge Dzong, Chamdo in 1951 in the time of the 16th
Rabjung in iron rabbit year. He works in the Chamdo Men-Tsee-Khang and has a Rabjampa
Degree in medicine.
From age 8 to 15 he studied Tibetan language, maths, and grammar at the local school. From age 15 he started memorizing the rGyud-bzhi and learnt Tibetan medicine from Dr. Ngawang Choezin of Zaju Ridung and Yabdo Tsering Dorjee. He received teachings on the rGyud-bzhi, identification of the medical substances, diagnosis and prescribing of medicines to the patients as well. He also learnt some basic knowledge from the allopathic system and acupuncture in the military hospital.
When he was 16 years old he received the bare foot doctor's certificate and thereafter he practiced medicines in the Shang and Chue Men-Tsee-Khang for advance studies on Tibetan medicine. For the following one and half year he received teachings from prof. Thupten Tsering of Chogpori Tibetan Medical Institute, Thupten Kalsang the pharmacist, and Tsering Palsen on clinical practices. He received many critical teachings and participated also in the pharmacy works and gained a certificate for his advanced studies.
In 1978 he worked in the Tibetan medicine Department of Chamdo Civil Hospital and earned a Kachupa degree in Tibetan medicine. He attained expertise in determining common diseases and in compounding medicines in accordance with the texts. Meanwhile, he received teachings also from Jamyang Choedar, an expert on medicine and astrology of Zigar, Jodha; and from Phagpa Losel of Langnag on the rGyud-bzhi; from Chime Norteng, and Mangag Lhanthab on transmission and astrology.
In 1984, he attended the advanced courses on Tibetan medicine organized at the Lhasa Men-Tsee-Khang. During that one year he received theoretical and practical training from Professor.. Thoru Tsenam Rinpoche, Lobsang Nyandak, Karma Choephel, Gojho Wangdu and Palden Tenzin and received a certificate.
He was appointed the chief medical officer of the in-patient department of Chamdo Men-Tsee-Khang in 1987 when it was inaugurated. In the past Chomdo Men-Tsee-Khang had never produced precious pills and there are very few experts in the whole of Tibet who have this practice. The Ven. Tulku Wangyal Dorjee who learnt this practice from Prof. Troru Tsenam Rinpoche in 1990 the iron horse year of 17th rabjung in first Tibetan month, revived this practice in Chamdo Men-Tsee-Khang and produced the great precious moon crystal pill (Rinchen Tsotru Dashel Chemo), the great cold compound black precious pill (Rinchen dranjor chemo )and the great Muthi compound precious pill (Rinchen Radna Samphel ). Prof. Troru Tsenam Rinpoche in 1994 compounded and produced the precious Wangril Shelkar Choeten which had never been produced since liberation.
Dr. Thupten Tsewang accompanied Prof. Troru Tsenam in his work and received practical training from him. He has earned satisfactory results in gastro-intestinal mugpo, high blood pressure, arthritis, nerve disorder and constricting stomach disorder. He has also earned some good results from combining both the allopathic and Tibetan system in diagnosis and treatment. He has written articles on gastro-intestinal mugpo's treatment, constriction of the stomach, gall bladder stone.
Doctor Tashi Tsering
From LHOKHA MEN-TSEE-KHANG IN TIBET
Doctor Tashi Tsering is 36 and after passing the Lhuntse Dzong middle school in
1978 he had an opportunity to study Tibetan medicine in the Lhasa health School. When he
was eighteen he graduated and was assigned to work at the Lhokha Men-Tsee-Khang in Tsang.
Since then he has returned again and again to continue his studies at the Lhasa
Men-Tsee-Khang and at the traditional medical science department of Lhasa University. He
received teachings paricularly from the prof. Jampa Tinley( former Director of Lhasa
Men-Tsee-Khang) and Tsultrim Gyaltsen of Lhasa Men-Tsee-Khang, and Prof. Thoru Tsenam,
Prof. Samten and Gojhowa Wangdu of Lhasa Traditional Tibetan Medical University. Many
renowned Doctors have contributed to improving his skill and knowledge. Due to other
assigned works and particularly to his position as vice principal of the Lhokha
Men-Tsee-Khang and deputy director of the pharmacy department, he has so far been not able
to see patients. But he has great interest in reading and writing medical books, and since
childhood in debating important issues, and particularly on doing scholarly work and
research on medical substances.
In recent years, he has written articles on medicine and medical substances, poems and stories in Lhokhae Tsomring Gyutsal, Gangjong Friney, Bojong Shibjug and Tungoi Bodkyi Sherig. In 1993 and 1995 he wrote " Bodlho Rangjung Chutsan" and Bodkyi Sowa Rigpe Chetsom Chogdue". These were published and distributed by the Bojong Mimang Pekrun Khang. He is also an editor of the Lhokha Men-Tsee-Khang " Yarlung Sorig" magazine. From 1986 he has been participating in the conference every third year and has visited many places for seminars.
Doctor Dekyi Dolkar
(Senior)
From LHASA MEN-TSEE-KHANG IN TIBET
Doctor Dekyi Dolkar ( Senior) passed Lhasa middle school in 1963 and after that she
joined the Lhasa medical and Astrology College. She studied medicine from Doctor Lhundup
Tendar of Chagpory and Doctor Samten of Lhasa Men-Tsee-Khang. After graduating from Lhasa
Men-Tsee-Khang she received theoretical and practical training from prof. Jampa Tinley (
Former director of Lhasa Men-Tsee-Khang), doctor Kunga Phuntsog, doctor Thubten Tsering
and doctor Palden Tenzin.
1963 to 1966 she studied Tibetan medicine at the Lhasa Men-Tsee-Khang. 1966 to 1979 she served on the Men-Tsee-Khang internal ward. 1979 to 1990 she served on the Men-Tsee-Khang section of combined of allopathic and Tibetan Medicine. 1990 to 1999 she served on the Men-Tsee-Khang emergency ward.
From 1974 she received two periods of training on the allopathic system in the internal ward of the Tibetan autonomous region's first civil hospital. In 1998 she received advanced training on emergency life saving in China.
Doctor Gaway Dorjee
From CHAMDO MEN-TSEE-KHANG IN TIBET
Doctor Gaway Dorjee was born in 1950, the iron tiger year of the 16th rabjung in
Sharlung, Nangchen, Kham. He serves in the Chamdo area Men-Tsee-Khang as a Rabjampa.
He was born into a family whose forefathers practiced Tibetan medicine. He learnt language and basic medicine from he parents. He studied the rGyud-bzhi, identification of the medicinal substances and clinical approach from Professor Rama Lhaje. Thereafter, he went to Lhasa Men-Tsee-Khang and received advance teachings on theoretical and practice from prof. Thoru Tsenam, Gojho Wangdu and Thubten Tsering. He also learnt allopathic, Chinese Language and Medicine in 1963 and began giving treatments from 1965.
In 1980, he was appointed the deputy director of the Chamdo Men-Tsee-kahng Tibetan medicine section. In 1987, he was appointed Khotang and then to deputy Yontang and is still working in the same post. For the sake of future generations he accumulated many medicinal books, took pictures of many medicinal substances and researched on them for many years. Based on Drimed Shelteng of Deumarpa and many other medicinal books, flora and fauna, and books on minerals he wrote "Trunpey Drimed Shelgyi Melong" and it was published and distributed by Beijing Mirig Pekrun Khang. The book introduces 1350 medicinal substances and contains 900 color pictures and has 400,000 wards. In 1997, he participated in the international conference on scientific medicine in Beijing and gave a talk. He was awarded the first prize on literature for above book and second prize on the 3rd National ethnic books celebration award.
In 1998, many scholars from different provinces gathered at the Tibet Autonomous Region Science Department and unanimously declared his book as one of the authoritative books on medicinal substances. He has also received many awards from health and science departments both local and in Tibet.
Doctor Nyima Tsering
From TRADITIONAL TIBETAN MEDICAL COLLEGE IN LHASA, TIBET
Doctor Nyima Tsering studied traditional Tibetan medicine from 1974 to 1978 at the
Lhasa Health School. He served as a teacher in traditional Tibetan medicine from 1978 to
1981 at the Lhasa Health School and also served as a Researcher in Traditional Tibetan
medicine at the Lhasa Men-Tse-Khang' research department from 1981 to 1983.
From 1983 to 1989, he served as a teacher in traditional medicine at the medical school. From 1982 he also received teachings from the Ven. Professor Troru Tsenam Rinpoche on the explanation of the medical texts, clinical examinations, treatment and pharmacology. In 1991, the Venerable Professor accepted him as his own student and for the following for three years he worked in the health Department and received a certificate from him as a holder of his lineage's knowledge. Besides Tibetan medicine, he learnt grammar, poetry and astrology from him. He has written a commentary on the Root Tantra, Sowa Rigpe Duming Datol and a commentary on the Chandrapa's Tsamjor Ngo. He has also written articles on clear identification of the Ovaries, analysis of three post-digestion tastes, Lusne Jungway Nyingpo, Ngulchu Tshotru Chenmo Laglen Logyu and identification of gems medicine.
At present he is serving as a senior-deputy teacher as well as vice-principal of the Lhasa Traditional Tibetan Medical College.
Doctor Dawa Tsering
From GOJHO MEN-TSEE-KHANG IN TIBET
Doctor Dawa Tsering was born in 1942 in Tse and he studied Tibetan medicine and
astrology from 1951 to 1958. After that he practiced Tibetan medicine in his home village
in Tse until 1972.
In 1973, he received an invitation from the Chinese government to work in the Gojho district and is still working in the same place. He is competent in the Tibetan medical system's pulse reading and urinalysis and in diagnosing diseases. He is also proficient in using X-rays, ultrasound and scans and different tests used in the allopathic system of medicine.
He has written some articles on Tibetan medicine and particularly on pulse reading and urinalysis. He is competent in eighteen practices from the Last Tantra excluding spoon surgery. He has also done research on the effectiveness of the medicines for tumor. His article on pulse reading and urinalysis contains unique special features and he would like to disseminate this knowledge as much as possible.