Well after way too much Yak it seems that I have developed something of a “delicate” stomach so it seems like a short (very short) trip to the local Tibetan medicine college is in order to further the bounds of science and to see if they can identify the problem.
Mind you if you look at some of the street scenes I’ve included in this photo album you can probably see what caused the problem for yourselves!
Anyway after a short taxi ride I am greeted by an English speaking guide who shows no surprise at my appearance and proceeds to answer all my questions on Tibetan medicine. It appears that the diagnosis is identical to Chinese medicine, it is just the treatment that differs. They offer 3 forms of treatment, massage, herbal medicine and what seems from her description like bloodletting! The Thankhas on the wall of the hospital had pictures of medical issues instead of buddhist ones which was unusual but interesting I think I caught some of these on camera.
Some of the herbs I readily recogonised from Chinese medicine, including ginseng, red dates, liquorice, deer horn and deer penis (yes, they have both of these in stock and are prepared to ship these abroad I have the telephone number if anyone wants it!) and many more, but they also use many typical plants and minerals local to Tibet that are not common in regular Chinese medicine, the minerals I’m not too sure on but they include these in their pills and also yak penis!
OK now time for my check up! The doctor was a doctor professor and one of the most senior in the college who had been practicing for 38 years. He proceeded to take my pulses and look at my tongue and then told me that my condition wasn’t good and I had severe digestive problems amongst other things. Well he hit the nail on the head there, his office was a bit far from the loo for that particular morning but I was holding in there! So after asking some not so subtle questions about the state of my wallet he prescribed me some pills.
Well on getting home I took these as prescribed, which was take with hot water and chew well. DO NOT EVER follow this advice as these were the worst tasting thing I have ever put in my mouth and the taste stayed with you for hours. (I never knew yak penis tasted like that!) I decided that I’d swallow them straight, but since each felt like the size of a half-brick it isn’t easy. Oh well off to the pharmacy!
If you click on the following image you’ll be taken to the photo gallery
ReggieB
Hi Mark, just been catching up on your sojourn. Been a bit busy recently responding to tenders etc!! The first thing I log into is a story all about Yak and Deer PENIS….so now I’m worried for you but you’ve got my attention!! So now there is Penis and Swallowing all in the same sentence…I’m deeeply shocked! What a fantastic time you are having, love the pictures. Gota go you are on the phone. Reggie
