Indian Medicine (Medicin), translated by C. G. Kashikar c8.81

c8.81

1. Tibet:— H. Laufer's excellent *Beitrage zur Kenntnis der Tibetischen Medicin*¹ gives a good review. From the "Four Tantras" translated (Sanskrit original unknown) in the 8th century onwards a lot of medical Sanskrit texts have been translated into Tibetan. The Tibetan medicine is, therefore, mostly based on the Indian medicine. For example, 9 openings of the body and 900 nerves are from anatomy, the theory of Tridosa is carried to its logical conclusion, the harmfulness of the combination of milk and fish as well as the suppression of natural discharges are mentioned under dietetics, the three myrobalans, the blue lotus (*Utpala*), black pepper, garlic, ginger, cinnamon, root of costus (*Kustha*) are referred to in pharmacology, the scarification with the horn of ox, the designation of instruments as milletcorn, bird's beak, mouth of animal etc. are mentioned in surgery, the symptoms of the sex of foetus are given under the diagnosis of pregnancy. Several Tibetan works are translated into the Mongolian. The Tibetan medicine is used by Burjats, Dsungars, Tanguts, Wolgakalmuk as also by the Leptscha and other Tibetan people of the Himalayas².