“Healing is not just cure — it is balance, energy, and alignment with nature.”
Ladakh is not just about majestic landscapes — it is also a land of deep ancestral wisdom, including the centuries-old healing system of Sowa-Rigpa, the traditional Tibetan medicine recognized by AYUSH, Govt. of India. This experience opens a window into a holistic healing tradition, where herbs, diet, pulse reading, spiritual health, and natural cycles determine well-being.
You’ll interact directly with Amchis (traditional doctors), visit herbal gardens, and learn the foundational principles of this ancient science practiced across Ladakh’s villages and monasteries.
Over 1–3 days, participants will be guided through:
The core philosophy of Tibetan medicine
Hands-on exposure to herbs and preparation techniques
Personal diagnosis sessions with Amchis
Interactive sessions on healing diets, seasonal balance, and spiritual health
Demonstrations of massage, cupping, and warming therapies (moxibustion)
| Activity | Description |
|---|---|
| Intro to Sowa-Rigpa | Understand the “science of healing” – its roots, texts, and integration with astrology and Buddhism. |
| Herbal Identification Walk | Explore wild medicinal plants in villages like Turtuk, Tingmosgang, or the Leh Herbal Garden. |
| Amchi Consultation | Watch the diagnosis process based on pulse, urine, and visual assessment. |
| Herbal Formulation Demo | Learn how herbs are dried, powdered, mixed, and preserved. |
| Self-Healing Tools | Learn breathing techniques, herbal teas, detox oils, and seasonal lifestyle corrections. |
| Spiritual Healing & Chanting | Understand the use of mantras and spiritual energy in healing chronic ailments. |
| Attribute | Description |
|---|---|
| Training | Passed through generations, or studied in Tibetan Medical & Astrological Institutes (Men-Tsee-Khang) |
| Regions Practiced | Zanskar, Nubra, Changthang, Leh, Kargil |
| Medicinal Sources | 250+ herbs, 40+ minerals, 20+ animal substances used (Dept. of AYUSH) |
| Diagnosis Method | Pulse reading (3 fingers, 6 pulses), urine color/odor/bubbles, tongue, eyes |
| Healing Principle | Balancing the three humors: Lung (wind), Tripha (bile), and Beken (phlegm) |
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| No. of Amchis in Ladakh | Approx. 500+ (Traditional & Govt. Recognized) |
| Sowa-Rigpa Institutes | 2 major institutes: Leh & Dharamshala (Men-Tsee-Khang) |
| Recognized by | Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India (since 2010) |
| No. of Medicinal Herbs | 300+ documented in Ladakh (ICIMOD 2022 report) |
| Common Conditions Treated | Arthritis, digestive disorders, asthma, stress, insomnia, menstrual imbalance |
| Tool | Use |
|---|---|
| Medicinal Teas (Dza-Nga) | For digestion, anxiety, sleep |
| Moxibustion | Burning herbs on key points to stimulate healing |
| Herbal Compresses | For body pain, inflammation |
| Detox Oils & Salves | Skin and muscle relief |
| Diet Charts (according to body type) | Seasonal recommendations to maintain humor balance |
| Region | Known For |
|---|---|
| Zanskar | High reliance on Amchis; herbal foraging communities |
| Leh Herbal Garden | Demonstration site for 100+ herbs |
| Tingmosgang | Home to old Amchi lineages |
| Diskit (Nubra) | Amchi-led community health projects |
| Changthang | Nomadic medicine adapted to cold desert |
| DO | DON’T |
|---|---|
| Seek permission before recording sessions | Expect immediate results |
| Be open to spiritual aspects of healing | Treat this as a replacement for emergency modern medicine |
| Engage with humility and curiosity | Disrespect plants or medicines on display |
This experience reconnects you with the wisdom of nature — not just herbs, but the way we breathe, eat, think, and live.
You’ll walk away not just with herbal teas and oils, but with an understanding of your body’s signals, natural rhythms, and how Ladakhi wisdom can inform modern wellness.
