Tibetan Formula Families
Tibetan Medicine has a number of formula families which are based around a specific herb, with a number of variations named after the number of medicines composing the formula.The following lists 7 of the main formula families of Tibetan Medicine, along with the main components and uses of the formulas.
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Aloeswood The Aloeswood formulas are primarily used for Nervous system disorders (Wind disorders). |
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The main ingredients combined with Aloeswood are Nutmeg, Clove, Costus, Chebula and Tabasheer. The larger formulas add Emblic and Belleric Myrobalans, Sandalwood, and the two Cardamons.
Aloeswood 6 (A gar drug pa)
Aloeswood 8 (A gar brgyad pa)
Aloeswood 9 (A gar dgu pa)
Aloeswood 10 (A gar bcu pa)
Aloeswood 15 (A gar bcu lnga)
Aloeswood 17 (A gar bcu bdun)
Aloeswood 20 (A gar nyi shu)
Aloeswood 31
Aloeswood 35 (A gar so lnga)
Chebula
The Chebula formulas are primarily used for the Kidneys.
The main Chebula formulas are Chebula 7, 10, 18, 23, 25, and 35.
Ingredients commonly combined with Chebula include Madder, Safflower, Lesser Cardamon and Shilajit.
Myrobalan 23 adds tonic herbs including Angelica, Soloman’s Seal, Asparagus root and Tribulus seed, and is used for chronic Kidney disease, weak, enlarged or shrunken Kidneys.
Chebula 7 (A ru bdun pa)
Chebula 10 (A Ru 10)
Chebula 18 (A Ru bcu brgyad)
Chebula 18 for Urinary Incontinence (Gcin snyi a ru bcu brgyad)
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Pomegranate Pomegranate refers to the use of the dried fruit. The Pomegranate formulas are used for the Stomach and Digestion. |
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The main Pomegranate formulas are Pomegranate 4, 5, 11, 12, 15 and 23.
Medicines commonly combined with Pomegranate include Cinnamon, Green Cardamon, Amomum, Clove, Long Pepper, Ginger, Safflower and Costus. When tonics are added (including Soloman’s Seal, Angelica, Asparagus root, and Tribulus seed), it is used for Kidney Yang deficiency.
Pomegranate 4 (Se ‘bru bzhi thang)
Pomegranate 5 (Se bru lnga pa)
Pomegranate 5 with Safflower (Se bru dang ne)
Pomegranate 8 (Se bru brgyad pa)
Pomegranate 9 Decoction (Se bru dgu thang)
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Safflower The Safflower formulas are used for the Liver and Blood The main Safflower formulas are Safflower 8, 9, and 13. |
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Common ingredients combined with Safflower include Clove, Sandalwood, Costus, Dendrobium, Swertia, the Myrobalans and Cinnabar
Safflower 7 (Gur gum 7)
Safflower 13 (Gur gum bcu gsum)
Safflower Supreme 7 (Gur gum mchog bdun)
Sandalwood
The Sandalwood formulas are primarily used for Heat and inflammatory disorders. Some (8, 9) are used for Lung heat conditions.
The main Sandalwood formulas are Sandalwood 8, 9, 10 and 18.
Medicines commonly used with Sandalwood for Lung conditions include Tabasheer, Clove, Safflower, Licorice, Rhodiola, Raisins, Cinnamon, Swertia, Picrorhiza.
When combined with Chebula and Shilajit, it is used for Kidney inflammation.
Sandalwood 8 (Tsan dan brgyad pa)
Sandalwood 18
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Costus The Costus formulas are primarily used for Stomach and Digestive disorders. |
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Medicines commonly used with Costus include Emblic and Chebulic Myrobalans, Green Cardamon, Long Pepper, Inula (Elecampane species) and Pomegranate.
Costus 6 Powder (Ru rta drug pa)
Tabasheer
The Tabasheer formulas are primarily used for Fever, Inflammation and heat-type Cough.
The main Tabasheer formulas are Tabasheer 7, 9, and 25. Some similar formulas which are individually named include ‘Eliminator of Lung Inflammations’.
Medicines commonly combined with Tabasheer include Safflower, Clove, Rhodiola, Amomum, Chebula, Picrorhiza, Sandalwood, Raisins and Licorice.
Tabasheer 7 (Cu gang bde byed)
Tabasheer 9 (Cu gang dgu pa)
Tabasheer 25 (Cu gang nyer lnga)