In ancient times, in their fight with nature, people living on the Tibet Plateau became knowledgeable about some medical characteristics and functions of herbs and animals, hence they began to use the herbs and animals for therapies.

At that time, without any systematic theory, doctors treated patients in three main ways, namely bloodletting, fire treatment, and spreading-kneading (massage). In addition, some primitive and simple therapies such as ghee (butter) for staunching (stopping blood flow) and highland barley wine for trauma treatment were also used.

Yuthog Yonten Gonpo (708-835), a former imperial doctor, was the most outstanding doctor in ancient Tibet and founded the Tibetan medical theory system.

With the development of the medicine practice in the 15th century there emerged two schools of Tibetan iatrology -- the north (the school of Jang) and the south (the school of Zur) schools, which summarized experiences with the common diseases and concerned treatments in the cold, northern area and the southern river valley areas, respectively.

These two lineages still exist today. Each school has its own views concerning prescription methods and The Four Medical Treatises. This conflict in ideas marked a new stage in the development of traditional Tibetan medicine. The two schools do not present substantial differences. Differences in the climatic conditions of the regions made the identification -- dampness in the south and cold in the north. Certain points of the body where moxibustion and bloodletting are performed also differ.

Ⅰ. North School

The north school of Jang originated with Jangpa Namgyel Trakzang (1395-1475). He was born to a family of local administrators in Jangpa Depa, a village in the area of Ngamring in Northwest Tibet. The main recipient and disseminator of the teachings and lineage of the new treatises written by Jangpa Namgyel, was Mi'i Nyima, his son, followed by Lhatsun Trashi Pelzang, Sonam Yeshe Gyaltsen and others.

The most important figure of this ancient school was Desi Sangye Gyatso (1653-1705). In Lhasa, on Chagpori Hill, he built the medicine school known as Dropen Rigje Ling, where students were given free education, lodging and food. Sangye Gyatso invited expert doctors from various regions of Tibet. With their collaboration and on the base of The Words of the Elder (composed by Zurkawa Lodro Gyelpo), he compiled The Blu Beryl, a new commentary on The Four Medical Treatises. Thanks to his work the teaching of the Jang School spread and flourished.

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