Myrobalan Clinic is an holistic practice, combining Tibetan Medicine and Western Herbal Medicine. There are some key points which sum up the approach used in this clinic:-
Holistic medicine treats each person as an individual. We are all complicated and unique beings, what is ‘normal’ for one person is not at all right for another.
We do not simply treat the symptoms, we treat the cause. Treating the symptoms is the equivalent of placing a bucket under a leaking roof. If you ignore the underlying problem it will gradually get worse.
Holistic medicine helps us to understand why our health imbalance has developed in the first place. By understanding how our condition can be influenced by lifestyle, emotional and spiritual factors, we are empowered to proactively seek good health once more.
What Happens During a Consultation?
During the first consultation it is important that a detailed case history is taken. You will be asked about all sorts of things which may not seem directly relevant to the current ailment, but this is in order that your individual circumstances can be fully understood and the root cause of your health problem identified.
Your pulse will be taken and your tongue will be looked at in order that Tibetan pulse and tongue diagnosis may be used. Other more ‘conventional’ measurements such as blood pressure and body mass index may also be taken, and your heart and lungs may be listened to with a stethoscope.
After a thorough case is taken you will be given an individually blended herbal prescription as well as some down to earth dietary and lifestyle advice.
Western Herbal Medicine
Western herbal medicine has an extremely long history, far longer in fact than ‘conventional medicine’. The earliest records of the use of medicinal herbs were associated with the Assyro-Babylonians and the Egyptians. The Egyptian Ebers papyrus (c1550 BC) includes over 700 prescriptions including caraway, coriander, garlic, linseed, peppermint, figs, fennel, anise, poppy and castor oil.
Herbal medicine uses whole plant preparations, so that the overall effect is gentle and balanced. Herbs may be prescribed in a wide range of forms including tinctures, decoctions, infusions, capsules, powders, creams, ointments, poultices, eye and ear drops, pessaries, gargles, scalp lotion, inhalation baths and more. Treatments are formulated here at the clinic and are tailored to the individual circumstances of each patient.
All of our medicines are made using the finest natural ingredients, organically grown or wildcrafted wherever possible. Many of the herbs are grown biodynamically in the clinic’s herb field which is located on a nearby organic farm. We believe that the intention and respect afforded to the herbs during gathering and processing helps to create the most potent and effective medicines.
Tibetan Medicine
Tibetan medicine is 5000 years old, yet its wisdom is still very relevant to our lives today. The ancient texts teach us that true health is achieved when there is a balance between three energetic principles (or humours) in the body, namely rlung (pronounced loong), tripa and péken. These humours are similar to the three doshas in the Ayurvedic tradition. If there is an increase, decrease or disturbance of a humour from its rightful place in the body we experience disease.
The humours can be disturbed by physical factors such as stress or diet, as well as certain thought patterns. Since Tibetan Medicine is based on Buddhism, it makes no distinction between body and mind, a positive mental attitude is as important as a healthy lifestyle for good health. Those that strive to achieve can be prone to rlung disorders, and those who anger easily tend to suffer from an imbalance of tripa. People who are ‘laid back’ and do not like to compete, are more likely to suffer from péken disorders.
We are all different and we have our own constitutional balance of the three humours. It is very useful to learn what works for us, and what tends to make us ill. Tibetan Medicine can give us an insight into how we can promote balance in our lives and maintain optimal health.