The 47th Wellbeing Tibetan Medical Camp organised jointly by Friends of Tibet Foundation for the Wellbeing and Men-Tsee-Khang, the Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute of HH the Dalai Lama will be held at Centre for Social and Political Art (CSPA), Sylviander House, from November 4 - 6 (Wed-Fri).
This is the 6th Wellbeing Camp at Sylviander House.
This time Friendsoftibet campaigner Eswar Anandan arrives alone the day before, as always bringing organic rice and organic vegetables for our meals. Friendsoftibet founder Sethu Das will reach on the 2nd day of WB Camp only.
Early morning as usual Eswar gets up very early in the morning to welcome the tibetan team at the railway station of Alappuzha.
The team is:
Dr. Dorjee Rapten Neshar
Dr. Lhundup Dorjee
Sonam Wangmo
Yeshi Chodon
Tenzin Dhonden
For Alexander and me living in the Sylviander House, it is very comfortable. Whenever there is a gap, we can consult Dr. Dorjee. As Dr. Lhundup has no patient in that very moment, he joins the consultation.
4 cars are quite the limit to park in the front garden of the Sylviander House. Many bring laying patients, who are too weak to sit or to walk.
This time more cancer patients as usual come to see the doctors, some in their last stages.
Heartbreaking to witness, especially to see children having cancer …
Later after sunset, it seems the beautiful evening sky wants to present us with solace.
Due to so many critical cases, it becomes late on the 2nd day.
In the afternoon Sethu Das has arrived together with Kallianpur, who is a very active member of Friendsoftibet.
But this time Kallianpur has come as a serious patient, recently he had suffered a stroke.
Next morning on day 3rd, the doctors study the protocoll of the hospital, where Kallianpur was admitted in Mumbai.
After analyzing and discussing the diagnose documents they start with pulse reading …
Dr. Dorjee takes his time to listen to the pulse …
Then he wants to check Kallianpur‘s physical condition testing which parts were effected …
This examination is followed by relaxing treatments …
Kallianpur was lucky, the stroke didn‘t cause too much damage.
Finally Dr. Dorjee decides to do a Moxa treatment for which exact points have to be identified.
Yeldtho Matthew, also a very active member of Friendsoftibet, will assist during the measurement with a thread …
All these points will be marked …
Even the proportion of Kallianpur‘s fingers help to find out the right location …
Unfortunately, the instrument for the Moxa treatment is not working, but fortunately Yeldtho is here an knows how to repair.
While I search successfully with Yeldtho for a spare cable in our universal box, so that he can do the repairs, Kallianpur enjoys a tea in the kitchen beside Eswar, who is busy around the clock to coordinate the appointments.
Unaffected of the turbulence, the kittens play on the verandah, and as always, the patients enjoy to watch them.
Officially the WB Camp ends on day 3rd, always a friday, at 1 pm. Often – as this time – it gets 2 pm until the last patient has left and everybody can have lunch.
Since Yeldtho is working in Goa, he can rarely manage to participate WB Camp as a campaigner.
So we are happy to spend in the afternoon some leisure time together with him, our Moxa instrument repair master, while Dr. Dorjee is having a nap.
Before starting the Moxa treatment, Dr. Dorjee has a look on Kallianpur‘s blood pressure, which was very high during the stroke.
And again he listens to what the pulse is telling.
Then Moxa treatment starts, Dr. Lhundup is assisting …
The marks which were done in the morning are still visible. These points are treated with heat, which would show always a good effect on the patients complaints, Dr. Dorjee explains.
The tool with the 3 holes is necessary for not to slip with the Moxa instrument, which is very hot.
Finally Dr. Lhundup applies a bit butter on all treated spots.
To complete the therapy, Dr. Dorjee is working out some exercises with Kallianpur to improve the motor function …
The Moxa treatment was a bit painful, but not heavy, Kallianpur says and smiles.
And while drinking tea with tiffins from Varghese‘s tea shop nearby, he has forgotten about pain and Moxa treatment and enjoys with everybody …
Next WB Camp will be in January 2016.
For all further information and online registration: www.friendsoftibet.org
Photographs by Sylvie Bantle and Eswar Anandan
Text by Sylvie Bantle
! Very sorry for the poor quality of the pictures. Due to very weak internet connections these days I could download the photographs in low resolution only !
