Comprehensive traditional medicine care designed to heal mind, body, and spirit through Bhutan's ancient Sowa Rigpa wisdom
As per the Sowa Rigpa, Dietary Management ༼ཟས༽ Behavioral Modification ༼སྤྱོད་ལམ༽ Oral Medication ༼སྨན༽ and Therapeutic Interventions ༼དཔྱད༽ are deeply connected to both seasonal cycles and an individual’s body constitution ༼ཉེས་པ་གསུམ༽. The idea is that each one’s habitual actions act as medicine, and its effects vary depending on time, environment, and personal balance.
When food is consumed like medicine, it becomes a healing force rather than a source of imbalance.
When therapy is embraced with openness, it becomes a bridge to transformation rather than a struggle against limitation.
When conduct is refined with mindfulness, it becomes a medicine that nurtures harmony rather than a cause of imbalance.
When medicine is taken with mindfulness, it becomes a path to healing rather than a burden of dependency.
Both walk-in consultations and extended admission services for all traditional medicine needs
Walk-in consultations and scheduled appointments
General Consultation constitutes the routine and comprehensive clinical assessment of patients visiting the National Traditional Medicine Hospital. The consultation incorporates a structured assessment of the patient’s physical, physiological, psychological, emotional, functional, and behavioural status, together with relevant environmental, dietary, occupational, social, and lifestyle factors that may contribute to the onset, progression, maintenance, or recurrence of disease. The clinical assessment is primarily conducted through the three principal Sorig diagnostic approaches, namely: Ta (visual examination), Rek (assessment through touch) and Dre-ba (questioning).
Pharmacy Services constitute an essential component of Traditional Medicine clinical services and are responsible for the safe, rational and accountable dispensing of essential medicines. The service also includes counselling on the dose, timing, method and route of administration, storage conditions, precautions, potential adverse effects, dietary and lifestyle considerations. Pharmacy services also contribute to pharmacovigilance and medication safety through the systematic identification, documentation, assessment, and reporting of adverse drug reactions, suspected product-related adverse events, medication errors, dispensing errors, suspected quality defects, contamination, deterioration, and other medicine-related problems. All the Essential Traditional Medicines dispensed by NTMH are manufactured from appropriately identified and processed plant and mineral-based raw materials in accordance with the Sorig formulations, National Quality Standards, Good Manufacturing Practices, Standard Operating Procedures, quality-control requirements, and relevant national regulatory provisions. Raw materials and finished products undergo strict quality assessment and control measures to ensure identity, purity, safety, consistency, quality, and therapeutic integrity. No chemicals, artificial preservatives or pharmaceutical additives are incorporated into the formulations.
Urine Analysis constitutes an important diagnostic procedure within Traditional Medicine clinical services. It provides supplementary clinical information regarding the patient’s physiological condition, pathological processes, and disease pattern and contributes to the formulation of an appropriate diagnosis, prognosis, and individualised treatment plan. Urine analysis is performed using a standardised and systematic methodology in which the urine specimen is examined under controlled conditions through three sequential stages of assessment, followed by interpretation according to nine diagnostic categories. The findings from each stage are considered collectively rather than in isolation and are interpreted in conjunction with the patient’s clinical history, presenting symptoms, physical examination, and other Sorig diagnostic findings. The National Traditional Medicine Hospital provides urine analysis services as part of its routine clinical diagnostic services. The service is available from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Monday through Saturday, to facilitate timely diagnostic assessment and treatment planning for patients attending the hospital. Urine analysis is conducted in the designated Urine Analysis Laboratory, where urine specimens are examined using appropriate scientific and laboratory equipment under controlled and standardised conditions.
Referral Services constitute an essential component of the TM healthcare system and provide a structured mechanism for the timely transfer, consultation, escalation, and continuity of care for patients whose clinical needs exceed the diagnostic, therapeutic, or infrastructural capacity of the referring facility. The National Traditional Medicine Hospital functions as the national referral centre for Traditional Medicine clinical services in Bhutan. Patients presenting with complex, severe, refractory, recurrent, or otherwise clinically challenging conditions that require specialised assessment and management are referred from District Traditional Medicine Hospitals and Units to NTMH for further evaluation and appropriate management. Where advanced biomedical management is required, NTMH further refer the patient to the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital for scientific diagnostic investigations, specialised medical interventions, surgical management, emergency care, intensive care and specialist consultation.
Priority Services constitute a patient-centred healthcare arrangement designed to provide expedited, accessible, and appropriate clinical care to individuals who may experience greater difficulty accessing routine healthcare services because of age, disability, reduced mobility, functional limitations, frailty, or other special healthcare needs. The service aims to ensure that eligible patients receive timely access to consultation, clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatment, medicines, therapeutic procedures, counselling, and follow-up care without unnecessary delays. At NTMH, Priority services are primarily provided to older adults aged 65 years and above, as well as patients with disabilities, significant physical or functional limitations, mobility difficulties and other identified special healthcare needs that may warrant prioritised access.
Chirkoed Menchoe services constitute an outreach-based Traditional Medicine clinical service delivery model designed to improve equitable access to specialised Traditional Medicine healthcare services for populations residing in remote, rural, geographically isolated, and difficult-to-reach communities. Through Chirkoed Menchoe services, NTMH regularly conducts Laynga camps, Kamkhab camps and Tshub-ched camps according to identified community healthcare needs and service priorities.
Pharmacovigilance and Adverse Drug Reaction monitoring constitute a systematic, continuous, and proactive process for the detection, assessment, understanding, documentation, reporting, prevention, and monitoring of adverse events, adverse drug reactions, medication errors, product-quality defects, and other therapy-related problems. At NTMH, pharmacovigilance and ADR monitoring ensure that essential medicines, medicinal products, medical devices, and therapeutic services maintain appropriate standards of safety, quality, and therapeutic effectiveness throughout clinical use, while enabling early identification and management of potential risks, protecting patients from preventable harm, and promoting rational, safe, evidence-informed, and patient-centred Traditional Medicine healthcare
Extended care for complex conditions requiring admission
Numchoe is a preparatory therapy in traditional medicine, designed to ready the body for deeper cleansing and eliminative procedures. It involves the oral administration of purified, melted butter, which lubricates the internal channels and softens accumulated toxins.
Shel, commonly known as purgation therapy, is a specialised eliminative and bio‑purification therapeutic intervention involving the oral administration of specifically prepared medicinal formulations to induce controlled bowel evacuation from the gastrointestinal tract.
Chuk, commonly known as emesis, is a specialised eliminative therapy involving the oral administration of specifically prescribed medicated formulations to induce controlled vomiting for the elimination of accumulated pathological substances from the upper gastrointestinal tract to facilitate the controlled expulsion of aggravated humours, specifically Badken disorders from the stomach and upper gastrointestinal tract.
Namen is a specialized Laynga therapy that focuses on cleansing and rejuvenating the nasal passages, head, and sensory organs. It involves the administration of medicated oils, powders, or herbal formulations through the nasal route to expel excessive mucus, allergens, dust, and inflammatory secretions. Morecover to remove the accumulated toxins and balance aggravated humors, particularly rlung (wind) and badken (phlegm).
Jamtse is a mild eliminative therapy in which gentle herbal formulations, such as medicated decoctions, oils, or infusions, are introduced through the rectum to facilitate bowel evacuation, regulate gastrointestinal function, and restore physiological balance. This gentle form of enema therapy helps cleanse the lower gastrointestinal tract, expel toxins, and harmonize aggravated humors, particularly rlung (wind) and badken (phlegm), making it a safe and effective approach for patients requiring gradual detoxification.
Neruha is a strong eliminative therapy in traditional medicine that involves the rectal administration of potent herbal formulations—such as decoctions, oils, or medicated infusions—using an appropriate delivery device to target the colon and induce controlled therapeutic purgation. Unlike the gentler Jamtse therapy, Neruha produces a more vigorous detoxification effect, thoroughly cleansing the lower gastrointestinal tract, expelling deeply lodged toxins.
Ancient therapeutic techniques refined over centuries of Bhutanese healing practice
One of the specialized therapies provided by this unit is cupping therapy. The Cupping Unit offers five different types of treatments, tailored to the patient’s condition, using various forms of cupping sets. This therapy is commonly applied for musculoskeletal pain, stiffness, and muscle fatigue.
Jok Bum, commonly known as dry cupping, is the controlled application of therapeutic cups directly onto intact skin to generate localised negative pressure without prior skin incision, puncture, or deliberate blood withdrawal.
Khrag Bum is wet cupping therapy involving the combined application of controlled skin incision followed by therapeutic cupping to facilitate the controlled extraction of blood from selected points.
Chuk Bum, commonly known as rapid cupping or flash cupping, is the repeated application and immediate removal of therapeutic cups in quick succession following the generation of controlled vacuum force within the cup.
Jug Bum is a massage cupping and non-invasive therapy involving the application of therapeutic cups onto lubricated skin surfaces, followed by the controlled movement of the cups along specific anatomical pathways, particularly following the direction of muscle fibres, fascial planes, and soft tissue structures.
Ngap Ra is an invasive therapeutic procedure involving the application of a traditionally prepared horn-based suction instrument to selected therapeutic points. The procedure utilizes a horn cup connected to a sterile catheter tube and syringe, enabling the practitioner to generate and precisely regulate pressure within the horn.
Acupuncture therapy is a Traditional healing method that involves inserting fine needles into specific points on the body, known as meridians.
It is used to regulate the flow of vital energy, relieve pain, improve circulation, and restore balance among the body’s humors.
This therapy is commonly applied for chronic pain, musculoskeletal disorders, neurological conditions, and overall wellness, making it one of the core practices in Bhutanese traditional medicine.
Kamkhab commonly knowns as Acupuncture, one of the core therapies that regulate the flow of vital energy. A therapeutic procedure involving the controlled insertion of fine sterile needles into specifically selected anatomical points for the management of musculoskeletal disorders.
Trawai Kamkhab is knowns as Moxa Acupuncture. An Acupuncture that involves the insertion of acupuncture needles into selected therapeutic points with controlled burning of a moxa at the exposed proximal end of the needle. This synergistic approach enhances both the energetic regulation of acupuncture and the warming, tonifying effects of moxibustion.
Logjuen Kamkhab, also known as Electro-Acupuncture, is the controlled application of low-frequency electrical stimulation through acupuncture needles that are inserted into therapeutic points and connected to an electroacupuncture stimulator.
Mae-Bum Kamkhab is a combined acupuncture and cupping intervention in which acupuncture needles are inserted into designated treatment points, followed by the application of therapeutic cups over the needle-treated areas to generate controlled localised pressure and mechanical tissue stimulation.
Massage therapy is a Traditional healing practice that uses manual techniques such as pressing, kneading, and rubbing the body’s muscles and tissues.
It helps to relieve pain, reduce stiffness, improve circulation, and promote relaxation.
This therapy is commonly applied for musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, insomnia, stress, and overall wellness, making it an important part of patient care in traditional medicine.
Num Juk, meaning oil-based therapeutic massage, is a traditional external manual therapy involving the controlled application of medicated oil to the skin followed by the systematic and gentle rubbing to produce therapeutic effects.
Soched Jukpa, commonly referred to as therapeutic deep-tissue massage, is a specialised form of manual therapy within the Jukpa services, which involves the systematic application of appropriately graded deep-tissue massage techniques to the skeletal muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments, periarticular soft tissues, and associated musculoskeletal structures.
Dril Chey Jukpa, commonly referred to as herbal powder massage, is a specialised external manual therapeutic intervention which involves the systematic application of a prescribed fine medicinal powder to the skin, followed by controlled rubbing and massage using gliding, circular, and other appropriately graded manual movements.
Sorig Zhiney, A mind‑training practice rooted in Sowa Rigpa, focusing on calming the mind, cultivating awareness, and balancing emotions. It is used to reduce stress, anxiety, and mental restlessness, supporting overall mental well‑being
Sorig Luejong, A set of body movements and postures designed to improve flexibility, circulation, and energy flow. It helps prevent stiffness, strengthen the body, and maintain balance between physical and mental health.
Meditation involves focusing on a single subject or object without allowing the mind to wander. Freeing oneself from the discursive thoughts is known as the higher state of Samatha (Samten Gi Phareltu Chenpa) Initially, meditation is very difficult for beginners. However, all things can be accomplished with effort and perseverance. The best place to practice meditation is in a secluded and peaceful environment. Sorig Yoga refers to a practice aimed at promoting well-being, longevity, and healing by encouraging a balanced and healthy lifestyle in harmony with the external elements. To address ailments caused by imbalances or distortions in energy, three distinct segments of yoga have been developed as preventive, promoter and curative measures.
Prior to commencing the main practice, engage in preliminary exercises to enhance flexibility and promote better blood circulation through warming up. Mental well-being can be improved through eight distinct types of yoga practices.
Disease Prevention and Well-being Yoga primarily focuses on healthy individuals to maintain overall wellness and prevent illnesses. It is structured into eight steps, incorporating movements and exercises that engage the entire body from head to toe. These steps help activate muscles, tendons, and ligaments, enhancing flexibility. Additionally, the movements involve joint exercises that contribute to preventing joint-related ailments Disease Prevention and Well-being Yoga is highly effective in maintaining digestive health and promoting overall digestion. It supports a balanced lifestyle and contributes to longevity. When practiced regularly during a healthy state of body and mind, it strengthens the body’s immunity, helping to prevent non-communicable diseases and other health conditions. Our body contains many vital energy points, making it essential to control and maintain breath and avoid distractions from discursive thoughts while practicing Yoga. This focus enhances flexibility and promotes healthy blood circulation. Practicing Yoga until perspiration helps open the pores, facilitating detoxification, rejuvenation, and longevity. This aligns with the commentary from the Explanatory Tantra of Gyud-zhi which states: “Wholesome diet and lifestyle maintain healthy passages and therefore preserve good health.”
Neydzhi Selthab Luejong for Specific Health Conditions is a therapeutic approach that uses selected Luejong practices to support the management and overall well-being of individuals with specific health conditions. It may include appropriate Luejong postures, breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, and mindfulness practices based on the individual’s needs and health status.
Affusion therapy is a Traditional external treatment where warm or cold medicated liquids are gently poured over specific forhead of the patient. It relax muscles, improve circulation, reduce stress, and insomnia.
This therapy is commonly applied for insomnia, stress, musculoskeletal pain, and skin conditions, making it a soothing and restorative practice in Bhutanese traditional medicine.
Numgi Thrulkhor, commonly known as oil affusion, is a therapy in which medicated oil is warmed to body temperature and gently poured in a continuous stream over the forehead, particularly across the frontal region.
Womai Thrulkhor, also known as milk affusion therapy, is a treatment in which milk is warmed to body temperature and gently poured in a continuous stream over the forehead, particularly across the frontal region of the patient.
Chui Thrulkhor, or water affusion therapy, involves the controlled application of appropriately prepared cold water over the forehead to produce a localized cooling and soothing therapeutic effect.
Numchoe Khoryoug is a therapeutic intervention where appropriately warmed medicated oil is applied, particularly the lumbar (lower-back) region, knee joints, using a temporary containment structure prepared from a suitably formulated flour-based dough.
Gold Needle Therapy (Serkhap) is a distinctive Bhutanese Traditional therapy where pure gold needles are heated and applied to the specific points on the body.It is used to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, restore energy flow, and balance the body’s humors. This therapy is commonly applied for musculoskeletal pain, neurological disorders, and chronic conditions, and is considered one of the most specialized external invasive treatments in Bhutanese Sowa Rigpa medicine.
Ser-khab, commonly referred to as golden-needle therapy, is a traditional external therapeutic procedure where controlled therapeutic heat is applied through a specially designed golden needle to the predetermined therapeutic points. Sometimes, the needle is appropriately heated and applied to the designated point using a controlled technique and for a prescribed duration. The intensity and duration of thermal exposure are adjusted according to the patient’s condition and tolerance.
Nguel-khab, commonly referred to as silver-needle therapy, is a traditional external therapeutic procedure where the needle is appropriately heated and applied to the designated area for a prescribed duration.
Traden-Ser-khab is a point-specific external thermotherapeutic intervention where the procedure involves the controlled insertion of a golden needle a few millimetres into the vertex of the head, followed by the burning of the moxa, which is attached to the proximal end of the needle, generating therapeutic heat that is transmitted through the needle.
Maytsa-Sowa is the controlled application of heat generated by burning a moxa stick at an appropriately maintained distance from the skin. The distance between the moxa stick and the skin, duration of application, intensity of heat, and treatment frequency are adjusted according to the patient’s diagnosis, disease stage, and therapeutic requirements.
Galoen-Metsa is an indirect moxibustion in which appropriately prepared moxa is positioned on a freshly cut slice of ginger placed over a specifically selected therapeutic point and then ignited under controlled clinical conditions. The ginger slice is interposed between the burning moxa and the patient’s skin, thereby allowing the therapeutic heat generated by moxa combustion to be transmitted gradually to the underlying tissues without direct contact of the burning moxa with the skin.
Chingdug therapy is a traditional Bhutanese healing method that uses heated herbal compresses ball applied to specific points on the body part.
The herbal ball is prepared with selected medicinal herbs, wrapped in cloth, and warmed before application.
This therapy helps to relieve pain, reduce stiffness, improve circulation, and promote relaxation.
It is commonly prescribed for musculoskeletal disorders, digestive complaints, insomnia, and general body fatigue.
Ching Dhug is the controlled external application where herbal medicine is wraped in the cloth and make ball like shape, and then heated and applied to the specific body parts.
Laytae Sil Dhug is an external herbal therapy. It involves preparing a poultice from coarsely ground Tinospora cordifolia (a medicinal vine known for its immune‑modulating and anti‑inflammatory properties). The poultice is stored under controlled refrigeration conditions. The cold storage ensures that the herbal preparation maintains its therapeutic qualities until it is applied to the patient’s body.
Chudo Drangmoi Dhug is a form of Sil Dhug, which involves the external application of naturally occurring stones possessing traditionally recognised medicinal properties. The stones are appropriately selected, cleaned, and stored under controlled refrigeration conditions to maintain the required therapeutic cold quality.
Karchu Droed Pai Dhug is the controlled external application of naturally cooled water that is collected overnight in a clean, appropriate container under ambient environmental conditions. The therapy is particularly directed towards the eye and periorbital region, forehead, scalp, temples, face, and neck regions.
Tshasoe Dhug is the controlled application of a heated salt poultice specifically to the abdominal regions. The therapy is intended to provide localised warmth, alleviate cold-related symptoms, support the regulation of disturbed humours (Nyes-pa), and promote functional recovery of the affected body region.
Khenchai Ching Lum is the controlled topical application of a warm Artemisia (mugwort) herbal pack, which is heated to an appropriate therapeutic temperature and applied externally to the symptomatic regions.
Bloodletting therapy is a traditional invasive treatment where small amounts of blood are intentionally released from the body using controlled Traditional techniques.
It is practiced to remove toxins, unwanted bloods.
This therapy is commonly applied for chronic headaches, hypertension, skin diseases and sinusitis, making it one of the specialized external procedures in Bhutanese Sowa Rigpa medicine.
Tar, commonly referred to as therapeutic bloodletting, is a specialised invasive and purification therapy, which involves the controlled withdrawal of a predetermined quantity of blood from specific therapeutic points using single-use sterilised tissue-penetrating instruments.
Herbal Bath & Steam Therapy is a traditional external treatment where patients are immersed in or exposed to steam infused with medicinal herbs.
The therapy works to open pores, improve circulation, relax muscles, and expel toxins, while harmonizing the body.
It is commonly used for digestive complaints, sinusitis, body stiffness, skin conditions, and general fatigue, making it both a cleansing and restorative practice in Bhutanese Sowa Rigpa medicine.
Duetsi Ngai Langdhug is the localised application of herbal steam produced by Duetsi Ngai herbal formulation to the specific part of the body.
Duetsi Ngai Chulum is a traditional medicated hydrotherapeutic bathing intervention, which involves the therapeutic immersion of the whole body in warm/hot herbal water prepared from the Duetsi Ngai herbal mixture.
Duetsi Ngai Langlum is a form of herbal steam therapy, which involves controlled exposure of the whole body to warm herbal steam generated from Duetsi Ngai herbal mixture. It is performed by placing the patient in an appropriately designed herbal steam cabinet in either a seated or supine position, according to the patient’s condition.
sMed Dhug is the controlled application of warm Duetsi Ngai (five herbal mixture) steam specifically to the rectal and genitalia area for the treatment of Zhang-druum (haemorrhoids), Zhang-sin (anorectal disorder associated with pathogenic infection) and Drang-wa (Urinary tract infections).
One of the specialized therapies provided by this unit is Tshuk-rig. The Tshuk-rig Unit offers four different types of treatments, tailored to the patient’s condition, using various forms of therapy sets. This therapy is commonly applied for musculoskeletal pain, stiffness, and muscle fatigue.
Num-Tshuk, also known as Hor-gi-metsa, is the controlled application of a Go-nyad Num-tshuk that has been appropriately heated in sesame oil and subsequently applied to the selected therapeutic points, particularly the head and chest regions.
Shing-Tshuk is the controlled application of therapeutic heat generated through the repeated rubbing of a specially prepared wooden therapeutic instrument against a designated wooden block. Both the therapeutic tool and the receiving wooden block are selected and prepared according to their traditionally recognised therapeutic properties and intended clinical application.
Ra-Tshuk is an external therapeutic intervention involving the application of heat produced through the repeated rubbing of a specially prepared horn-based therapeutic instrument against a selected wooden block.
So-Tshuk is the controlled application of therapeutic heat generated through the repeated rubbing of a specially prepared traditional therapeutic instrument made from elephant-tooth against a designated wooden block.
Discover the holistic benefits of Sowa Rigpa for your health and wellness
Treatments derived entirely from natural sources — plants, minerals, and animal products — with minimal side effects.
Sowa Rigpa addresses the underlying causes of illness, not just symptoms, promoting lasting healing and balance.
Recognizes the inseparable connection between mental and physical health, treating the whole person, not just a condition.
Deeply rooted in Bhutanese identity and Buddhist philosophy, offering care that resonates with your cultural values.
Our Traditional Medicine Practitioners are ready to guide you through a personalized Traditional medicine care plan.
