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Medicines
All ancient cultures have used plants as a source of medicine. Today, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), as many as 80% of the world's people depend on traditional medicine and plant extracts for their primary health care needs. In traditional medicine, the value of medical herbs is well-known and good use made of the
hundreds of plant species that grow wild across the Himalayas.
The making of medicines is a highly skilled and refined process requiring years of experience. Plants that grow in different areas have different potencies. Yearly variations in the seasons affect the medicines and the timing for the collection of plants is crucial. Often an Amchie, or doctor will know this only by tasting the raw plant when collecting it. Specific parts of a plant are used for different medicines. Certain plants need to be dried in special ways: over a fire, in direct sunlight or sometimes by moonlight.
In addition, the astrology has to be checked and special ceremonies need be performed to ensure the power of the blessings of the Buddhas is contained in the medicine. This is especially important in the making of Precious Pills.
Then the herbs need to be ground in to a fine powder. Depending on the medicine this is done either by hand or by a
special machine. To hand grind the herbs we use a special stone that
was used by the Tibetan Master Depo Rinpoche for making medicine. Depo Rinpoche was a
renowned teacher, mediator and doctor who lived in exile at Pangboche.
At Sacred Land we make 18 different types of medicine as well as the Long Life pills for the prayer ceremonies conducted by H.H. Trulshik Rinpoche at the sacred caves of Hallesie, or Maratika. In the future we expect to make at least 40 different types of medicine as well as provide the raw herbs and ingredients for other clinics.
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