Basic principles

Sowa-Rigpa follows the Buddhist principals of Re-birth, Karma, Impermanence and relativity, and it is believed that whether we are physically healthy or not, all of us are sick until we attain Nirvana, and even though disease might not manifest, it is always present in dorment forms until we give up the root cause of sickness - ignorance. Ignorance gives rise to three basic illnesses: Nespa-gsum (Tri-dosha/Three humours) i.e Dod-chags (desire/lust), root cause of rlung (Air/Vata); Zes dang (anger), root cause of mkris-pa (Pitta, Bile); and Ti-mug (mental darkness), root cause of pad-kan (Kapha, Phlegm).

The animate and inanimate phenomena of the universe are composed of same material basis of Jung-wa-lna (English - five elements; Sanskrit - Panch-mhabhuta) namely sa, chu, mai, rlung and nam-mkha (roughly translated as earth, water, fire, air and space; Sanskrit - Dharti, Jal, Agni, Vayu and Akash).

The science of physiology, pathology and Pharmacology of this system are established on these theories, which means our body is composed of these five Cosmo physical elements of Jung-wa-Lna. When the ratio of these elements becomes imbalanced in our body, disorders result. The medicine and diet used for the treatment of disorders are also composed of the same five basic elements.

In the body, these elements are present in the form of Nespa-sum (Three humours) Luszung-Ldun (English - seven physical constituents; Sanskrit - Sapt Dhatu) and Tema-Sum (English –three excretion, Sanskrit - Tri mala). In drugs, diet and drinks, they exist in the form of Ro-tug (six tastes) Nuspa (potencies) Yontan (quality) and Zu-rjes (post digestive taste). It is in context of this theory that a physician would use his knowledge, skills and experience in treating a patient, using the theory of similarity and dissimilarity of five elements.