Tibetan Medicine is the perfect respite from our hectic daily lives, says Deanne Panday

If the frenetic nature of city life has left your health compromised but you don’t want to subscribe to pills, Deanne Panday suggests Tibetan medicine 

Over the past decade or so, my travels have been underscored by a persistent quest for wellness—to immerse myself in environments that foster health and well-being through nutritious meals, luxurious  spa treatments, exciting fitness facilities or simply the natural surroundings of the space. 

These experiences are a stark contrast to city life, which, today, has deteriorated exponentially—pollution and dust  pose a significant threat to our health. As someone who has been an advocate of wellness for about three decades, it makes me happy to see societal priorities shift towards wellness, particularly after  the COVID-19 pandemic.  Wellness-focused travel is also taking centre stage. I have always been encouraging of these getaways—ones that allow you to spend quality time in clean air, amidst nature. I tend to select destinations where I can enjoy activities like yoga, trekking, spa therapies and swimming to help me return to the city fitter.

My experiences have introduced me to many forms of wellness-enhancing treatments, from Ayurveda to Chinese Traditional Medicine and sound healing. My recent visit to Six Senses Vana in Dehradun opened up a new chapter in my wellness journey. I encountered Tibetan Medicine—known as ‘Sowa Rigpa’—which is amongst the world’s oldest healing traditions, one that has been practised for 4,000 years in Tibet and in the Himalayan belt. 

Holistic healing for the win

Nestled in the thick of the Sal forest in Dehradun, Six Senses Vana is one the few wellness centres that offers Tibetan medicine in India, to make effective holistic healing accessible to its patrons, or “Vanavasis” as they like to call it. I’ve had the fortune of meeting the Dalai Lama twice in the past, and have always admired Buddhist and Tibetan cultures. So opting for Tibetan treatments seemed like  a natural choice for me.

I travelled to the retreat from Delhi and suffered from a cold, congestion, and fatigue. To release lethargy and reduce muscle tension, Dr Tenzin Sopa Bhutia, the property’s in-house Tibetan doctor, recommended I give the “Ku Nye” treatment a shot. It involved the application of oil blends prepared by combining traditional medicinal herbs through warm poultices at targeted areas of the body, which was instantly relaxing. This was followed by a warm water bath therapy called “Chu Lum” wherein I soaked in for about 30 minutes. Both of these treatments  helped in relieving stress, insomnia, and lethargy. I was told by the therapists—who are trained from the Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute by the Dalai Lama in Dharamshala—that the combination [of treatments] also calms a disturbed body and mind and boosts blood circulation.

I also tried “Hor Gyi Metsa,” a treatment that draws inspiration from native Tibetan medicine. Fomentation with healing herbs, dipped in warm oils, was pressed and rubbed across my back for an hour, which helped release stiffness and pain. The holistic approach to Tibetan medicine is similar to Ayurveda and offers long-lasting benefits, which can be helpful once you resume a sedentary lifestyle in the city.

Tibetan culture is big on spirituality. The on-site Buddhist monastery piqued my interest. I’ve always been fascinated by the portrayal of monasteries in films, and I know that American psychologist Richard Haier visits the monastery often.  I joined the monks for an hour-long chanting session. It took me to another level of calm, spirituality, and peace. 

The takeaways

Besides the clean air, nourishing meals , and a routine that engages all senses at Six Senses Vana, discovering the richness of Tibetan medicine has been vital in my wellness journey—a testament to the profound impact holistic healing coupled with mindfulness, can have in our wellness routine.  I’ve already recommended others to explore these ancient treatments as a respite from the frenetic pace of modern life, enabling a return to a more harmonious state of being. 

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