Thangka Thirty-Six.jpg [1/20] Title: Medical Instruments - Thangka Thirty-Six Source: Thangkas 014.jpg Caption: his thangka illustrates the final form of healing practiced in Tibetan medicine (after conduct, diet and internal medication) - external medication. This type of healing involves three different degrees of therapy: mild ('jam-pa), rough (rtsub-pa) and rigorous (drag-po.) In mild therapy, compresses, massage using ointments and fomentation (the relief of pain or inflammation by applying warm and wet coverings) are the main methods of healing. Rough treatment includes the practice of minor surgery, bloodletting and moxibustion (a technique used throughout traditional Chinese medicine.) The most extreme form of external therapy is rigorous treatment which includes incision, excision, extraction and scraping. Generally, these medical instruments are rarely used as surgery is viewed as a last resort according the Tibetan medicinal principles. For further detail on specific instruments, see the rest of the slides in this presentation. To place the close up photographs in context, refer back to this first slide. Sources and Further Reading: Averdon: pg 138 Dorje & Meyer: pg 83