First International Symposium on Traditional Medicine in Sao Paulo
Thursday, 4 September 2008, 10:15 a.m.
New York: The Federal
University of Sao Paulo’s School of Medicine (UNIFESP) and Sao Paulo
based Palas Athena Association jointly organize the ‘International
Symposium on Traditional Medicine Contemplative Practices’ on 5 and 6
September 2008 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
This symposium is also organized as a part of the joint
initiative taken earlier by the Office of Tibet in New York, UNIFESP
and Palas Athena to promote a collaborative work between the Federal
University of Sao Paulo’s School of Medicine and Dharamsala-based
Tibetan Medical and Astrol Institute (Men-Tsee-Khang).
The two-day conference will evaluate the scientific evidence of
the efficacy of the traditional medicine; discuss the treatment of
chronic diseases and other conditions by traditional medicine; discuss
the role of contemplative practices for mental and physical health; and
also how to deal with destructive emotions and training in compassion.
Contemplative practices have been object of scientific research
for several decades, and are recently under the spotlights of the
media, mainly due to their efficacy in countering modern life stress
and conditions such as anxiety and depression.
On the other hand, there are evidences that traditional
medicine can contribute to prevent and treat many diseases, especially
those considered of chronic natures such as atherosclerosis, rheumatic
and inflammatory conditions, high cholesterol, asthma, diabetes,
cancer, and digestive diseases, among others.
The conference will be addressed by Dr. Pema Dorjee, a senior
physician at the Men-Tsee-Khang; Dr B Nanjundaiah Gangadhar, professor
of psychiatry at the National Institute of Mental Health and
Neurosciences; Shirley Anne Telles, a senior researcher at the Swami
Vivekananda Yogananda Yoga Foundation based in Bangalore and also
researcher associated with the Indian Council of Medical Research; and
more than ten eminent Brazilian researchers and professors including
Dr. Luiz Eugenio Mello, a leading Brazilian neuroscientist and
president of the Federation of Brazilian of Experimental Biology
Societies.
—Report prepared by Tsewang Phuntsok, Liaison officer, Latin America
