We interviewed French citizen and a traveler, Fauvel Suzycatherine. She has been travelling through Asia and it’s her first time arriving in Mongolia and she shares her experience with traditional Mongolian medicine.
–How do you like Mongolia?
I love travelling around the world. This time I’m travelling through countries in Asia by trains and buses. Among the Asian countries, Mongolia really captivated me. The wild nature and vast steppe was really beautiful. I also loved the fact that some people are still living a nomadic lifestyle.
–You received traditional medical treatment in Mongolia. Was it part of your travel plan?
-I did read about the traditional medical schools, hospitals and monasteries in the travel guide books about Mongolia and I was really intrigued. I was visiting Manba Datsan monastery and was really glad to discover that both the monastery and the hospital I was reading about were at the same location. Then I proceeded to see the head of Manba Datsan hospital, doctor Khamba Lama Natsagdorj.D for medical help. I have to say, I was really fascinated by his ability to diagnose an illness based on the pulse.
–Did you have any understanding of traditional medicine before? What fascinated you the most about the pulse diagnosis?
-We all know that countries such as China, Korea and Japan have traditional medicines of their own. But I have to admit that I found Mongolian medicine absolutely amazing. Khamba Lama Natsagdorj.D gave me an accurate diagnosis even though I hadn’t shared with him my medical condition beforehand and then I decided to stay in the hospital. In Europe, we normally take different sorts of medical tests and get the results within 1 or 2 working days. This could be the reason why traditional medicine is becoming increasingly popular in Europe.
–Did you get better after staying in Manba Datsan hospital?
-Of course, I was exhausted after a long travel. Now I feel quite energetic and active.
–What are your thoughts on traditional medicine, especially the therapies offered at Manba Datsan hospital?
-I loved it to bits. There are different sorts of therapies offered. I had massage therapy, cupping and moxibustion on daily basis during my stay. What fascinated me the most was taking a bath in medicinal water and broth, which left me sweating a lot and I slept for nearly 3 hours afterwards. I felt really good and active when I woke up and was told that my illness would leave my body through sweat. I was treated by a doctor named Temuulen.Ts and he was outstanding. I also noticed that all the doctors, nurses and trainees really do take pride in their work. I was quite grateful for the fact that all the employees of Manba Datsan hospital had high moral standards that some other clinics lack. They all seemed to have been trained well enough to know what the medical ethic really is. In addition, Manba Datsan hospital was very comfortable to stay in and the food was delicious. Overall, I’m very grateful for the opportunity to stay in Manba Datsan hospital and would like to express my sincere gratitude here. It was the best part of my travel so far.
–I take it that you gained a great deal of knowledge of traditional medicine. Is that right?
-Absolutely, I had heard of traditional medicine before. But as for someone who prefers naturopathic medicine, it was quite an experience for me. What fascinated me the most was that the physicians at Manba Datsan hospital heal both body and soul at the same time. The monks at Manba Datsan monastery chanted healing mantras for me, wishing me a quick recovery and it made me feel somewhat different afterwards. Traditional Mongolian Medicine is a complex medical practice that heals body, mind and soul. Again, I’m still amazed at the physician’s ability on pulse diagnosis.
-Thank you for talking to us. Wish you all the best