With the establishment of Exile Tibetan government in Dharamsala in 1961, His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama in keeping with the pre-existing traditions, has established Mentsee-Khang for the sole purpose of preserving & promotion of Tibet’s ancient unique healing system called Sowa Rigpa in 1962 with few Tibetan doctors & staffs. This Center has now grown into a full fledge Institution currently known as Mentsee-Khang( Tibetan Medical & Astrological Institution) with over 128 physicians, 12 Astrologers, 56 Branch Clinics catering to the health services of major exile Tibetans & local Indian populations through its simple, yet highly efficacious traditional and natural herbal remedies. The teaching, practice & use of Tibetan medicine have spread far beyond its exile horizon to become an essential part of the Healing Knowledge of World at large.
The Tibetan Medical Centre in Bangalore was opened in June 17th 1991 with a kind sponsorship from Bagaria Education Trust. Encouraged by the potential healing services of Tibetan Medicine when Dr.Dorjee, the then residential doctor in Bylakuppe Tibetan settlement was conducting regular monthly medical camps in Bangalore way back in 1990, the late Mr. Subash Bagaria decided to help set up the current Branch Clinic of Mentsee-khang in Bangalore. It started functioning with two doctors and 3 medical staffs with an average of 18 patients a day and has now three consulting doctors and nine medical staffs catering to the services of 70 patients a day on average and nearly 35.000 patients in a year. With the late Subashji’s sad demise, we have not only lost our kind benefactor, we also have lost one of Tibet’s great friends. Mere words are simply not sufficient to describe the lofty motivation and kindness of late Subashji, Bagaria Educaton Trust, which have and still continue to support and sponsor many of Mentsee-khang’s developmental projects and clinical research programs for the last twenty years.
Nestled simply in a quiet and far corner of Bangalore city, a small Tibetan clinic in Mahalakshmi layout has picked up slowly and silently without any means of commercial advertisement. We were sure that the medical system which had very effectively served as the only available knowledge of public health, disease control and management of Tibetan people throughout the centuries coupled with His Holiness’s statement that we Tibetan have nothing special to offer to this modern day world save for our two precious traditions of Tibetan people: Buddhist Teaching and Sowa Rigpa( Tibetan Medicine), that we will be able to take our precious healing knowledge to the greater height and to be able to serve the poor and needy people. With its wonderful healing effect, particularly, in the field of chronic functional disorders, the people of Bangalore did not take much time to accept our humble contributions. If one goes through the various testimonies of the people benefited by Tibetan Medicine in our testimonial book released on this occasion, one could find some 300 heart-pouring comments befitting the potentiality and humble service of Tibetan Medicine. Over the period of time, due to the sheer hard work, sincerity, helpful heart and dedication of our small team of health units coupled with the potentiality of the Tibetan Medicine with its innate healing values and holistic approach, the Tibetan Medicine in Bangalore has caught the attention of media people, VVIPs, Philanthropist and even the corporate hospitals. Bangalore Doordarshan Kendra has very kindly carried out couple of health programs and interviews with our doctors; major newspapers have come and carried out several interesting write-ups on the health and healing, the Tibetan way, and even some wellknown corporate hospitals have started to refer some of their cancer patients to our clinic. However, the most encouraging point is that our growing service and people’s admiration for the healing values of Tibetan Medicine was achieved mainly through patient to patient and people to people contact. It is neither through any means of expansive advertisement nor through any systematic media coverage.
The Centre got a big boost when His Holiness the Dalai Lama paid a visit and has personally inaugurated the new building provided by the Kemwell House in 26th Nov 1997. There was no looking back then. Trying to cope up with the increasing demand of it s health services, we have then started the much sought after monthly medical camp visit to Chennai, Hyderabad and Kerala with a small group of its dedicated medical staffs. Chennai camp began in year 2001 and was initially sponsored by late Col.Gopalachari who was then completely cured of his advanced medullary thyroid cancer with the help of Tibetan Medicine alone. The late colonel with his wonderful wife and all family members have supported us from the day one in Chennai in bringing Tibetan Medicine and helping it reach more needy people. Considering the effectiveness of Tibetan Medicine and its growing demand in the state of Tamil Nadu, a permanent Branch Clinic was set up in Chennai on July 2010 with a kind sponsorship from the CP Ramaswamy Iyer Foundation whose managing Director was completely cured of the pancreatic cancer with Tibetan Medicine only. With the kind support from the Foundation and the Managing Director herself, Chennai clinic is running very well much to the relief of many of the local patients there.
We are also proud to have been able to establish a new and permanent Branch Clinic in Hyderabad, Andhara Pradesh in the year 2009 with a kind co-ordination and logistical help from Mr. Ramakishna Raju who also happened to be the sponsor and co-coordinator of the 1st medical camp in Hyderabad. He came and stood with us till today. Subsequently, Mr. K.S. Raju, the managing Director of the Nagarjuna Chemical and Fertilizers Ltd have been very kind and supportive of our health services and has given us a space in his Lakshmi Cancer Research Institute for several years. So also, the much respected Ven. Dharma Rakshita and the Buddhist monks of the Mahabodhi Society in Secunderabad did their part to help us very kindly in organizing the medical camps in their temple premises for several years together.
The medical camp in Kerala began on the occasion of His Holiness 2nd visit to Kochi on 3rd September 2011 on the initiative of Friends of Tibet based in Ernakulam. With a very modest beginning in the land of what is popularly known as “God’s own country” and traditional home to the Ayurvedic medical system, we have been covering about an average of 280 patients for 3 days every month. To our immense satisfaction, the people of Kerala too has recognized our uniquely simple health services and we have been able to contribute and make some healthy differences in their way of life and health conditions all thanks to the kind help and organizational support from the dedicated team of Friends of Tibet led by Mr. Sethu Das. Their selfless hard work and voluntary services in organizing the whole things right from receiving our medical team at the train station with our bone- breaking heavy luggage of medicine and medicinal products to the arrangement of food, accommodation, appointments and registrations online, translations and providing every necessary assistance to the patients is something that has always inspired us to work more and serve more. And, all this above their cherished goal of introducing the unique tradition and culture of Tibet to the people of India; showcasing the just cause of Tibet and Tibetan people and their right to total freedom. This is why the camp is very aptly being called as a well being camp in the context of its much larger issue than merely giving and taking medicine.
It is also worth mentioning that on 25th November last year, Friends of Tibet have organized a special program for the participants of Wellbeing Camp on the occasion of His Holiness’s visit to Kerala. For more than 250 online registered patients plus twenty five well being staffs and volunteers, His Holiness has given an hour and half talk on the challenges of 21st century. But more than a talk, wellbeing participants have enjoyed the divine charisma and healing touch by His Holiness. I was able to present our 2 hand half years of medical camp service and wellbeing activities to His Holiness. His Holiness has amply rewarded us with his precious time and appreciation of the activities of wellbeing camp.
Bangalore Branch Mentsee-Khang, since many years has also served as one of the main centre of clinical research activities under the department of Clinical research in Dharamsala. We also have been able to co-ordinate many developmental projects of Mentsee-khang through our close links with some of the potential companies and resource persons. From year 1999 to 2001, we have participated very actively in the joint collaborative clinical research project between Mentsee-khang and doctors of All India Medical Institute of Science, New Delhi, for the study of efficacy of Tibetan medicinal herbs against the newly acquired cases of diabetes. The outcome of the research was thoroughly evaluated by statistician from the AIIMS and the study was published by Mentsee-khang and also the American Association of Diabetes Mellitus. The research conclusively proved beyond doubt that the Tibetan Medicine used were found effective in controlling not only the fasting and Post prandial blood glucose level, but also the HbAIc. Currently we are also working on the documentation of effectiveness of Tibetan Medicine against Type II diabetes mellitus and to observe and document its positive effects if taken in complimentary with modern drugs and Insulin too.
In the year 2001, the project team led by the eminent oncologist Dr. Kochupillai from AIMMS and the clinical research committee members of Mentsee-khang had 3 days of brain storming session in Dharamsala and came out with the pilot study project to study and document the effects of Tibetan Medicine against all forms of cancer cases. With the case-study format prepared by the AIIMS, we have, here in Bangalore, have completed the study 647 cancer patients in year 2005 the result of which was published by Mentsee-Khang journal IV, Issue 1, Aug-2007. This comprehensive study has helped to establish some positive facts and promising result of Tibetan Medicine against cancer control and management. The study was financed by Bagaria Education Trust.
The same study was presented by me on the occasion of 2nd International congress on Tibetan Medicine at Washington DC, USA in November 2007. Consequently, NCI department of CAMS, US have taken keen interest in the study of best cases under Tibetan Medicine. We have worked briefly on few best of best cases, but because of the stringent control measures in the acceptance of best cases and lack of proper investigation measures to meet their high standards, we have to abandon the joint work with the CAMS. Thereafter, several half hearted efforts have been made to find the right partner for the collaborative studies on some selected cancer like leukaemia and ovarian cancer, but failed to take off till now.
Currently, we are trying to document the treatment of cancer patients, Type II diabetes mellitus, Cholesterol patients and hypothyroid cases.
My only regret is that we have still not been able to evolve and expand our services beyond our small confinement and to the satisfaction of larger section of the people. Though we take little pride in our ability to treat and to good extent, have been quite successful in making some significant differences in the lives of some of the most challengingly difficult patients through on the spot application of few wellness therapies like meridian massage and moxabustions etc. It is no wonder that many terminally ill patients with chronic debilitating diseases like that of severe arthritis, neuro- degenerative diseases and some advanced cancer patients among others visits our clinic with a hope that they can stay in the Centre as long as required to enjoy some form of palliative care and with great expectations of complete treatment regimens. But unfortunately, because of our self imposed limitations, many of the patients had to return quite disappointed. These lacunae and shortcomings in the history of our health care facilities was long and very seriously felt by many others too. Obviously, as a responsible doctor, we have been feeling bit guilty in thinking that we have not been not been able to bring out all the potentially necessary health care services of Tibetan Medicine for the benefit of larger section of people. Hopefully, things may take a favourable course over the period of time so that we could do a better justice to the true potentials of Tibetan Medicine.
So today, at the conclusion, I take this opportunity to thank all our aforementioned sponsors and supporters on behalf of Mentsee-khang Dharamsala and the doctors and staff members of Bangalore Branch for their kind and continued support.
Dr. Dorjee Rapten Neshar
CMO, Bangalore Mentsee-Khang.
TIBETAN MEDICARE and HOLISTIC HEALTH 