Education / Amchi network (Himalayan India)
Seminars / workshops
Seminars and workshops provide a unique forum for the amchis of Ladakh to gather together, improve their knowledge and discuss important matters. These formal meetings also allow them to discuss the future of their medical system and the critical issues facing it: the push to gain legal recognition by Indian central authorities and integration into the Indian Systems of Medicine; the emergence of new pathologies such as diabetes; and the importance of sustainable management of medicinal plants. Such events have been conducted by LSTM in partnership with respected practitioners and other experts from across the Himalayan region (Ladakh, Dharamsala, Tibet and Nepal).
Seminars organised:
| Year | Programme |
|---|---|
| 2008 | Regional Seminar: "Revitalization of Sowa Rigpa & Medicinal Plants Conservation" (22-23 October). Read the programme and the proceedings |
| 2008 | Regional Workshop in Changthang (19-21 October). Read the proceedings |
| 2008 | Regional workshop on “Strengthening young amchi knowledge”, co-organized with Zangskar Amchi Association (12 days, Padum, Zangskar). Read the Activity Report |
| 2007 | Regional workshop on “Strengthening amchi knowledge and developing a strategy for medicinal plants management”, co-organized with Zangskar Amchi Association (4 days, Padum, Zangskar). Read the resolution of the workshop (pdf) |
| 2005 | Strategy development workshop on medicinal plants conservation (3 days, Leh). |
| 2004 | Seminar on “Health and social harmony- medical pluralism and social relationships in Ladakh”, with participation from experts on Ayurveda, amchi and biomedical systems (5 days, Leh). |
| 2001 | Workshop on HIV/AIDS and Tibetan medicine, organized with the support of the National Aids Control Organisation (4 days, Leh). |
| 2000 | International seminar on Sowa Rigpa, with experts from Men-Tsee-Khang (Dharamsala) and Himalayan Amchi Association (Nepal), (7 days, Leh) |
| 1999 | Regional medical training workshop, organised with Ladakh Amchi Sabha (5 days, Leh) |
| 1998 | Regional medical training workshop and materia medica exchange meeting, organised with Ladakh Amchi Sabha, (10 days, Leh) |
Trans-Himalayan Amchi Medical Education newsletter (THAME)
Amchis across the Himalayan region have common bonds in the core medical theories and texts of Tibetan medicine, although their actual daily practices are markedly heterogeneous. As many live in isolated areas and are not able to travel far, they have little opportunity to interact and share information with one another. Moreover, many rural Amchis do not have good access to medical textbooks, or to expert practitioners able to provide them with training on particular subjects. These difficulties are felt strongly by amchis in many areas, who as a result struggle to raise their standards of knowledge and practice.
The THAME newsletter represents an attempt to meet some of these needs and to improve communication between Himalayan Amchis and raise the standards of their knowledge. The project, launched by Nomad RSI at the end of 1999, centred on the idea of creating a trans-national network of practitioners to provide regular articles on medical topics that could serve as tools for ongoing learning for all amchis. The newsletter, the first of its kind, contains articles on a wide range of topics relevant for practitioners of Tibetan medicine, in Tibetan language. Articles are written by experts and submitted to a scientific committee prior to publication (to ensure medical, social and linguistic accuracy). In addition to technical papers, each issue contains general news concerning Tibetan medicine in different parts of the world and details of LSTM’s project activities.
Eight issues have now been published, in partnership with Ladakh Amchi Sabha and have been distributed free of charge in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet and the West.
Refresher Courses
In order to continue the training of the young Dusrapa amchis, Nomad RSI and LSTM organise occasional post-graduate refresher courses. These occasions bring the young amchis together, enable them to share their knowledge and their problems, and improve their standards of knowledge and practice. So far, these have included:
| Year | Programme |
|---|---|
| July 2007 | Refresher course for young amchis from Zangskar (both Dusrapa and from Tungri Amchi School). Subjects covered included: moral conduct and good clinical practice; hygiene and disease prevention; diagnostic methods. |
| October 2005 | Refresher course on external therapies (moxibustion, hydrotherapy) and distribution of medicines to the Dusrapa amchis. |
| July 2005 | Training workshop on “Conservation and cultivation of Medicinal Plants”. |
Scholarships for medical education
LSTM provides scholarships to students participating in institutional training in Tibetan medicine. These institutions, accessible only to students who have completed 12 years of formal school education, offer the Katchupa (dka’ bcu pa) diploma, usually after five years of study.
One student is currently benefitting from such sponsorship and is studying at the Central Institute for Buddhist Studies (CIBS) at Choglamsar, under the technical supervision of the Men-Tsee-Khang, Dharamsala.