Latest news with #SowaRigpa
Time of India
6 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Sowa Rigpa healthcare facility in Arunachal soon: NISR director
Leh: The National Institute of Sowa Rigpa (NISR), an autonomous body working on this traditional Himalayan system of medicine, is set to open a healthcare facility in Arunachal Pradesh, a top official said. Within five years of its establishment, this institute under the ministry of Ayush has already enrolled its fifth batch of students in the undergraduate course, he said. "Sowa Rigpa is recognised by the government of India as a traditional medical system under the Ayush ministry . All the systems of medicine under the ministry have a central institute each, and in line with this, the NISR was announced by the prime minister in 2019. After necessary approvals, the institute started functioning in 2020," NISR director Padma Gurmet told PTI in an interview here. One of the oldest medical traditions in the world, the term 'Sowa-Rigpa' means 'knowledge of healing' in Bhoti language. This system is popular in Himalayan societies such as Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh (Spiti and Lahoul), Jammu and Kashmir, West Bengal (Darjeeling), Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim. It is also practiced in some parts of China, Mongolia, Nepal, Russia and Bhutan. Gurmet said the main objectives of the institute are to impart quality education in the Sowa Rigpa system of medicine , conduct research in a scientific line and also cater to public health in the Himalayan region. He maintained that NISR's progress has been fast as it launched its five-year undergraduate (UG) programme within the first year of establishment. The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine conducts the NEET for admission into the Bachelor of Sowa Rigpa Medicine and Surgery programme run at NISR. "We enrolled 10 students in the first year, who will be passing out next year. The fifth batch of students has been inducted this year based on performance in the national-level entrance exam," the director said. On expansion plans, Gurmet said NISR has been conducting outreach programmes such as seminars and conferences in different places, including Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim. "We are now in the process of establishing a healthcare setup in Arunachal Pradesh. It will be done in two-three months. After that, we will try to open another campus in Sikkim," he said. The director said infrastructure development of the NISR is also progressing rapidly. "The central government has allocated Rs 40 crore for the first phase of construction. A new academic building is coming up, while hostels and a new hospital are in the pipeline. The construction should be completed in three to four years," he added. Gurmet also emphasised the need for adequate manpower to run the institute and its facilities. A total of 49 posts, including teaching, laboratory, and support staff, have been sanctioned, with the second phase of recruitment currently underway, he added. PTI
Borneo Post
16-07-2025
- Health
- Borneo Post
Tibetan doctor brings ancient healing to global stage
Mikyi (left) examines a patient at the University of Tibetan Medicine in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region on March 21, 2025. – Xinhua photo LHASA (July 17): In the University of Tibetan Medicine in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Mikyi Tsomo, a regional inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage of Tibetan medicine, was treating a patient who had traveled more than 600 kilometers to seek her medical help. 'The old Tibetan doctors in our village used to be called 'Great Pandita' when I was a child,' Mikyi Tsomo recalled, using a term of high reverence for master healers in Tibetan culture. The girl who followed local doctors around has now become a master healer herself in the eyes of her patients. Tibetan medicine, known as Sowa Rigpa in Tibetan, with Sowa meaning 'nourishment' and Rigpa meaning 'knowledge system', is a unique medical tradition developed by the Tibetan people in the high-altitude environment. It is one of China's important systems of traditional medicine. Born in 1972 in Xainza County, Nagqu City, located in the heart of the Qiangtang Grasslands, Mikyi Tsomo grew up surrounded by the flourishing culture of Tibetan medicine. Her name, 'Mikyi', means 'good medicine' in Tibetan. At the age of five, she first witnessed the magic of traditional Tibetan medicine. A hunchbacked old doctor arrived from the valley, his bag filled with handmade herbal remedies. 'The old doctor simply touched my wrist and accurately identified my illness,' she recalled. 'I was fascinated – and a bit skeptical. Could just a touch really diagnose a disease?' Driven by curiosity, Mikyi Tsomo began her journey in Tibetan medicine. At 17, after graduating from a school specialising in Tibetan medicine, she was assigned to a local hospital perched at an altitude of 4,500 meters. In these remote pastoral regions, visiting a patient often meant riding for an entire day. Mikyi (right) instructs students at the University of Tibetan Medicine in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region on March 21, 2025. – Xinhua photo Once, a herdsman from Xiaqu Township arrived breathless, saying: 'Doctor, my mother is seriously ill!' Although Mikyi Tsomo had never ridden a horse before, she grabbed her medicine bag and mounted the horse without hesitation. After eight hours of bumpy riding, she arrived with her legs so stiff she could barely walk. In a humble adobe house, the elderly woman lay gasping from a severe lung infection. Thanks to Mikyi Tsomo's timely treatment, she made a full recovery. 'In the pastoral areas, illnesses can be very complex and unusual,' Mikyi Tsomo said, adding that at the time, she juggled the roles of practitioner and student – treating patients during the day and studying medical texts at night. Since Xizang's peaceful liberation in 1951, Tibetan healthcare has undergone a dramatic transformation. At that time, there were only three Tibetan medicine institutions across the entire region. Today, a comprehensive medical system has been established. Life expectancy in Xizang has risen from 35.5 years in 1951 to 72.19 years in 2021. After receiving her master's degree in 2004, she went abroad and earned a PhD in medical anthropology from Humboldt University of Berlin in 2010. She later completed postdoctoral research at Oxford University and the Austrian Academy of Sciences. During her time abroad, she brought Tibetan medicine to the global stage, but it was not received without skepticism. 'Many people only turn to us with a try-it-out mindset when Western medicine has no solutions,' she said. While working in countries like Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, she treated many severe cases – including tumors, mental disorders, and chronic skin conditions. In some cases, her patients were in an emotional or agitated state when seeking medical help. She would spend hours listening to them, explaining their conditions and treatment plans. One such patient, a yoga teacher from Spain, was so severely affected by neurasthenia that she could barely sit. Under Mikyi Tsomo's care, she made a remarkable recovery and began actively promoting Tibetan medicine in her community. For Mikyi Tsomo, Tibetan medicine is not only a means of healing, but also a bridge of cultural exchange. In 2018, thanks to her team's efforts, the practice of Lum Medicinal Bathing of Sowa Rigpa – knowledge and practices concerning life, health, and illness prevention and treatment, as passed down through generations in China's Tibetan regions – was successfully inscribed on Unesco's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Despite lucrative offers abroad, she chose to return to her roots for research in Tibetan medicine. Mikyi poses for a photo at the University of Tibetan Medicine in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region on March 21, 2025. – Xinhua photo In her lab at the University of Tibetan Medicine, Mikyi Tsomo has been lately focused on analysing clinical data on diabetes. As the only university in China dedicated to Tibetan medicine, the University of Tibetan Medicine has trained more than 8,000 professionals since its founding in 1989. In recent years, China has stepped up efforts to promote and preserve traditional medicine as part of its national healthcare strategy. Tibetan medicine, along with other ethnic medical systems, has received increased policy support and academic attention. 'Even prescriptions written by our ancestors a thousand years ago remain legible today,' she said. 'Updated with new medical insights, they will continue to be passed down and carried further into the future.' – Xinhua China medical Mikyi Tsomo tibet Xinhua
NDTV
28-04-2025
- Health
- NDTV
Tech-Free Vacation: 6 Best Wellness Retreats In India Perfect For A Digital Detox
In a world where our screens often receive more attention than the scenery unfolding around us, the simple act of disconnection has emerged as the ultimate modern indulgence. With every notification, our ability to be truly present slips a little further away. India, with its centuries-old traditions of healing, meditation, and mindful living, offers rare sanctuaries where digital devices are politely tucked away, and life is savoured at an unhurried pace. These wellness retreats, ideal for digital detox, are not just beautiful destinations surrounded by natural splendour; they are carefully curated experiences, designed to gently reintroduce guests to a slower, richer, and more meaningful way of being. 1. Six Senses Vana, Dehradun Entering Vana feels like stepping into a private forest where the outside world simply fades away. Spread across 21 acres, this wellness retreat doesn't just suggest a digital detox - it actively supports it. Mobile phones are required to stay in silent mode in public areas, and photography is discouraged to protect the sacred atmosphere. Days unfold with Sowa Rigpa therapies, personalised Ayurvedic consultations, daily yoga, Tibetan meditation sessions, and a plant-based, nutritionally rich diet. Guests are assigned a dedicated wellness team who curate a tailored itinerary, making sure every ritual, massage, and moment of stillness serves a deeper sense of restoration. 2. Swastik Wellness, Pune Nestled among rolling hills just outside Pune, Swastik Wellness takes a distinctly holistic approach to disconnection. Here, digital detox is not mandated, but it is woven into the fabric of daily life. Programmes focus on inner healing and empowerment, with therapies like Integrated Healing, and Weight Reset sessions. Pick the seven-night Holistic Detox programme that allows you to detox both physically and mentally to achieve an optimal state of wellbeing. This program features internal organ cleanse, gentle exercises, yoga, meditation, cognitive behavior therapy, personalised nutrition, and synchronising circadian rhythm. Meals here are satvik (pure, vegetarian, seasonal), prepared without excessive oil or spices to complement the internal cleansing. There's also a dedicated space for sound healing and 'yoga nidra' for a sound sleep. 3. Ananda In The Himalayas, Rishikesh Perched above the Ganges River Valley, this beautiful retreat occupies a 100-acre Maharaja's palace estate. At Ananda, you get to choose from a holistic integrated detox programme, a Yogic shatkarmas-based cleanse, or a comprehensive traditional Auyrvedic Panchakarma programme. Their Yogic Detox Programme focusses on shatkarmas, the six powerful purification techniques of Hatha Yoga, designed to detoxify the body and mind. These cleansing practices harmonise the Solar and Lunar energies within the body, clearing internal systems of impurities caused by modern habits, diet, and stress. Additionally, daily activities range from Himalayan salt scrubs and Shirodhara therapies to guided Vedanta philosophy sessions. Yoga is not a casual morning class here; it's an integral, disciplined practice with expert teachers. Even the absence of TV screens in rooms nudges you gently toward introspection. 4. Atmantan Wellness Centre, Mulshi, Maharashtra Atmantan's setting — overlooking Mulshi Lake — sets a tranquil tone before any treatment even begins. Their Atmantan Living programme is not symbolic — it is clinical in its approach. Upon arrival, devices can be voluntarily deposited, and the programme unfolds with detoxifying spa therapies, cultural art sessions, and structured ancient healing practices from all over the world including the Taoist Chi Nei Tsang therapy, Pranic Healing, and breathing techniques that promotes both cleansing and longevity. Days are punctuated with yoga, Qi Gong classes, water therapy, and guided meditation, with an emphasis on recalibrating both mind and body through nutritional cleansing. 5. Shreyas Retreat, Bengaluru At Shreyas, detoxification is approached as a holistic cleansing journey, working across the physical, pranic, emotional, mental, and spiritual layers of the individual. Yoga practices such as asana, pranayama, and meditation are thoughtfully integrated to release accumulated stress, while Naturopathy treatments focus on activating and supporting the body's natural eliminatory systems. Complementary Ayurvedic therapies enhance physiological functions, helping the body to purify itself from within. A carefully curated detox diet - light, sattvik, and soothing - features fresh fruits, vegetable juices, salads, and steamed vegetables, all aligned with the principles of Yoga, Naturopathy, and Ayurveda. The result is a profound sense of lightness, renewed energy, and deeper calm across every dimension of being. 6. Niraamaya Surya Samudra, Kovalam The gentle roar of the Arabian Sea forms the backdrop to Niraamaya Surya Samudra, a Relais & Chateaux property that offers digital detox through elemental living. Here, daily routines revolve around traditional Kerala Ayurvedic therapies such as Abhyanga massages, Shirodhara treatments, and detoxifying Pizhichil oil rituals. Private heritage cottages, with their open-air showers and sea-facing verandahs, invite you to leave your phone behind and live by the rhythms of sunrise, ocean tides, and hand-delivered herbal teas. Yoga pavilions catch the early morning light, while their culinary workshops explore Ayurvedic nutrition tailored to your dosha (body type).
