by Oleg Rinchinov, Department of Physical Studies, Buryat Scientific Center
* An absract of the presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Pacific Neighborhood Consortium, May 15-18, 1998, Taipei
For more than three centuries Buryatia was the most northern region of the extension of Buddhism. All traditional Buddhist arts got their development here and especially medicine.
There are several periods in the history of traditional Buddhist medicine in Buryatia that could be distinguished.
It is impossible to determine the exact time of Tibetan Medicine penetration onto the territory of modern Buryatia, because historically it was the part of large Mongolian world and was influenced by all processes of social and spiritual life of Mongolia related with Buddhism. We can reliably state that by the end of 17 - the beginning of 18 centuries TM had strong roots with the formation of institutional (monastery) forms of Tibetan Buddhism.
The prime time of TM was in the end of 19 - the beginning of 20 centuries when compilative and original works of Buryat authors appeared such as commentaries, medical reference books in Mongolian and Tibetan.
There was a decay of TM during the 30-50-s of 20 century related with Soviet anti-religious suppression.
New period began in the end of 60-s related with the beginning of scientific investigation of TM. The projects of translating and researching written sources, investigating remedies were worked out. In the late 80-s the work on computerisation of diagnostic methods was started.
The 90-s it is the period of the revival of old and formation of the new organisational forms of TM. It is the situation de-facto in the Buryat Republic today that TM coexists alongside with the European one and is implementing its own important social mission.
It is impossible to understate the role of modern science in further TM evolution. Science today should promote spreading TM's approaches and methods, which could greatly influence the face of future medicine based on coexistence and co-operation of different medicinal traditions and science.
Among other attractive features of TM we can distinguish the following ones:
TM is aimed at treating not external signs of diseases (symptoms and syndromes) but their internal causes. Any disease is considered as malfunction of general psycho-somatic patient's status. Healing methods of TM are aimed at correction of vital forces, disposition, bringing harmony to patient.
Diagnostic and treating means of TM are relatively low expensive and therefore more democratic, more accessible for people. All procedures are carried out under usual patient's life conditions. There is no need in hospitals and rehabilitation. Most acute and important this problem is in Russia going through the crisis of Soviet public health system.
Ecological consistency. Remedies are made of natural raw materials, not synthetic. There is no great need in industrial production or other polluting factors to provide the sustenance of TM.
Scientific investigation of TM in Buryatia is carried on in the following directions:
Original manuscripts study (translations, philosophic and culturological comprehension)
Computerisation of diagnostic methods (pulse diagnostics, interrogation, visual examination)
Investigation of remedies
Introduction of traditional healing methods (acupuncture, cauterisation, manual therapy)
Pulse diagnostics is one of the main diagnostic methods of TM. It is a convenient object for scientific studying and computerisation.
It possesses excellent knowledge base for making diagnosis with well-structured categorical system.
It is simple to measure pulse by means of modern electronic devices
It is objective from the viewpoint of biophysics
The special feature of Tibetan pulse diagnostics is that six points on both wrists of a patient are palpated simultaneously, each point carrying information about one of six system of hollow-full organs of human body. Thus physician can make decision about patient's status as a whole and each functional system in particular.
Our work on computerisation is conducted on the following main directions:
Development of mathematical methods of multiparametrical description of pulse wave (the model of pulse)
Experts' work which lead to disclosure of common parameters of pulses of certain diseases.
Development of classifying rules based on mathematical methods.
Our main task is to determine probabilistic fields for different disease forms on the base of expert description of pulses and their computed parameters. Of special importance is the work with experts because traditional pulse descriptions don't coincide with categories of science, and therefore it is almost impossible to determine direct categorical congruence only on the basis of textual analysis. Experts, being mediums between TM and scientists, create required layer of knowledge on the basis of which we can acquire a new quality.
A special feature of our work is to give the most adequate reproduction of traditional diagnostic procedure. For example, pulse sampling is undertaken by means of two specially constructed three-positional pulse transmitters placed on both wrists of a patient. Data through digital interface are transmitted to PC for further processing.
Mathematical methods applied by us can be separated into two groups.
Integral methods, which handle long signal samplings (up to several minutes). They permit to show common trends of the process and make qualitative estimation of a patient's functional status.
Single (or time-amplitude) ones which process single pulse wave, they allow to make more detailed decision.
Composition of these methods gives required flexibility and provides more information for making decision and final diagnosis. Set of analysed parameters includes spectral, correlation, time-amplitude characteristics of pulse wave, etc.
Applied time-amplitude method is based on analysis of derivatives obtained using splines. Also for this purpose depending of raw data quality and required exactness we use regularisation methods, Fourie series. Using B-splines it is possible to perform real-time computing.
Our device is introduced for conducting researches in several medical institutions. A number of developed methods is recommended for clinical use. Created know-how has been patented. Perspective are researches related with expert systems realising interrogation, one more diagnostic method of TM.
Computerised system of pulse diagnostics does not substitute physician, but intended as his assistant. The personality of healer remains the determining factor of medicine.