An approach to Illnessess by Traditional Medicine of Bhutan: An Introduction

Abstract

Depending on the different ailments, various diagnostic tools like laboratory tests, X-ray, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imagery, and computerized topography scan are used in modern medicine. However, in Bhutanese traditional medicine the method of diagnosis is based on the medical text of Sowa-Rigpa, the ancient practices involving physical examination, questioning, pulsation, palpation and analysis of excretion. These enduring techniques of diagnosis use no modern technologies. The system has been practised in Bhutan for hundreds of years and has been officially establishment in 1967. Insights of this article are compiled from the Buddhist medical text and oral transmission of senior physicians. We discuss diagnosis in three categories namely, visual (Ta-Wa), touch (Reg-Pa) and questioning (Dri-Wa). Visual diagnosis mainly investigates the urine, physical appearance and the tongue. Touch, reading the pulse through which the physician diagnose illnesses. Questioning about the signs and symptoms of the illnesses and past medical history.