Bangalore - Mee-Tsee-Khang Institute, Tibetan healing.

Ranjan, now past the cycles of chemo, has started taking Tibetan healing to treat cancer. There is much spoken about the efficacy of the Tibetan medicine administered by the good doctor Yeshi Dondhen, who was the first in charge of medicine in the Men-Tsee-Khang (Medical, &Astro Institute) in Mcleodganj since its inception in 1961 (in India). I have heard of a village in Telangana which has this high incidence of cancer and how they send their reports to the clinic in Mcleodganj and the medicines are sent by post at a cost of some 1200 rupees a month. I met one patient directly, my neophrologist, who after surgery and chemotherapy has started on the Tibetan medicine administered by Dr. Yoshi Dondhen and who looks great. In fact Ranjan and I met Dr. Krishnan before we started the research on Tibetan medicine. Interestingly we found that Men-Tsee-Khang has a clinic in Bengaluru too.

The Men-Tsee-Khang, Tibetan Medical and Astro Institute, is a 100 year old institute with 51 branches in 16 states in India today. Originally started in 1916 in Lhasa, Tibet, by the 13th Dalai Lama, the Men-Tsee-Khang had to be relocated after the invasion of Tibet by China in 1959 during which the 14th Dalai Lama and 80,000 followers fled to India. The Tibetans continue to live in exile since, without a land of their own, but safe in the settlements in India, mainly Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh where the Dalai Lama resides. The objective of Men-Tsee-Khang is to preserve, promote and practice the Sowa Rigpa, ancient Tibetan system of medicine, astronomy and astrology. Men.Tsee-Khang provides accessible health care to people of all castes, colors and creeds. It also engages in research.

We went on Sunday morning, a couple of weeks ago, to the facility near Rajaji Nagar which is across the city from where we were staying. Kanchan and Anu drove us there. There was a group of patients waiting, of all classes, all sorts of health issues, some pretty serious and some not so. It's well organised - a house converted into the clinic. A pleasant receptionist who takes the consultation fee of Rs. 20 and gives a personal health record booklet. Consultation is similar to what the ayurveda doctors do in the sense that the doctor feels your pulse on both hands and prescribes medicines after asking you your health issues. I guess those with reports can show them for better accuracy in diagnosis. The doctor also asks if we have other issues which is probably an indication that we need to be careful about those areas. Medicines are given for a month or more and we were also advised to go to the centre in Hyderabad for the next visit. The medicines cost 500 bucks upwards for a month. The Bengaluru centre was inaugurated by His Holiness, the Dalai Lama.

It's amazing how many forms of medicines there are that are effective and affordable. As a supportive medical treatment to cancer I have heard some wonderful stories of people surviving well for seven to ten years and going - not one negative story yet about the Tibetan treatment of cancer. It does not cost much, does not require many restrictions. Dr. Krishnan however feels that it may be better not to take the medicine during chemo cycles etc but I don't know what the Tibetan doctors say about it. My take is that all medicine from good medicine men is helpful, one way or another. It cannot do harm.

There is an amazing amount of work done in Tibet on various disciplines - medicine being one of them. My faith in Oriental medicine as long term and holistic healing agents is high. For emergencies and diagnostics, you cannot beat allopathy though. I would like to spend more time and learn more about the Tibetan medicine though. For those wishing to call you can try 080-23496190.The Bengaluru clinic of Men-Tsee-Khang is located at 295, 5th Main, 11th Cross, Mahalaxmi Layout, Near Anjaneya Temple, Bengaluru. Timings are between 9 am to 11 am and 3 pm to 6 pm. Mondays are off. Website men-tsee-khang.org gives more information.