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"The Legacy of Menla is a fresh portrayal of Tibetan Medicine through the eyes of three Indian women who have been diagnosed with different stages of cancer. Often acting against their families’ wishes or the advice of Western doctors, they chose to put their faith in Tibetan doctors and change their lives. In the intersection of Buddhism and science, Tibetan Medicine has a peculiar place in the field of healing that speaks to both believers and nonbelievers. Apart from the patients’ perspectives, the film takes us through the process of medicine making in the Himalayas and shows us the education of upcoming doctors. With the help of established Tibetan healers we will see the past, present and future of this healing system."--Synopsis from Arrabona Studio: http://arrabonastudio.hu/portfolio/legacyofmenla/
INTRODUCTION: Tibetan medicine (TM) is a whole systems medical approach that has had growing interest in the West. However, minimal research, particularly with cancer, has been conducted. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of TM and describe a clinical case review study to obtain preliminary evidence of TM's safety and effect on patients treated for cancer or hematologic disorders.METHODS: A retrospective case review was conducted in India and cases met the following inclusion criteria: (a) confirmed diagnosis of cancer or hematologic disorder by standard Western biomedical diagnostic tests, (b) either treated exclusively with TM or received insufficient Western treatment followed by TM and (c) were in remission or had stable disease at least 2 years after start of TM.
RESULTS: Three cases were identified, 1 solid tumor and 2 hematologic diseases: Case 1--poorly to moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma of the stomach, positive lymph nodes and mucosal infiltration, with clear scans and excellent quality of life 29 months later ; Case 2--chronic myelogenous leukemia with normalization of hematologic labs within 3 months of starting TM and stable 4 years later; and Case 3--red cell aplasia improved significantly and reversed dependence on blood transfusions with TM. None of the cases experienced demonstrable adverse effects from TM.
CONCLUSIONS: This limited case review found TM to be safe and have positive effects on quality of life and disease regression and remission in patients with cancer and blood disorders. Further exploration and investigation using rigorous methods is warranted.