Shang Shung Institute - School of Tibetan Medicine

The School of Tibetan Medicine was originally founded in the USA by Professor Namkhai Norbu in 1997 and originates from an ancient lineage of Traditional Tibetan Medicine practitioners who received authentic knowledge of Traditional Tibetan Medicine in the historic oral tradition. There are now branches of the school in the USA, Russia and Spain.

Our Vision

Integrating ancient medical wisdom in the modern world.
Creating opportunities to learn and preserve authentic knowledge of
Tibetan Healing Arts.

Our Mission

Our mission is to preserve & spread Tibetan Medicine for the benefit of all.

We believe that modern societies can benefit greatly from the ancient knowledge of traditional healing systems. It is our mission to share the legacy of traditional Tibetan Medicine worldwide, promoting its practice for the benefit of all people today and in our future. Our approach is holistic: we work to foster a better integration between traditional medicine and modern medical science. We provide variety of trainings based on the authentic knowledge of traditional Tibetan Medicine for the benefit of all people!

SSI School of Tibetan Medicine – Founder and Director

Our Founder – Professor Namkhai Norbu

World-Renowned Tibetan Scholar & Dzogchen Master (1938-2018)

Professor Namkhai Norbu founded the International Shang Shung Institute in Italy, in 1989, to preserve and promote Tibetan culture, arts, language and sciences for future generations worldwide. He was considered one of the world’s foremost Tibetan Dzogchen Masters, one of the world’s leading scholars of Tibetan culture, history and heritage. Professor Namkhai Norbu founded the International Dzogchen Community, published a vast array of books, articles and research, as well as founded multiple international non-profit organizations. He was a celebrated professor at the Naples Eastern University from 1964 – 1992. In 2016, Professor Namkhai Norbu was awarded the highest civilian honor of the Italian national government, the title of Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.

Read full biography here

Our Director – Menpa Phuntsog Wangmo

International Director, World-Renowned Tibetan Scholar

careKhewang (Tibetan for Honored Scholar) Phuntsog Wangmo (Ping Cuowangmu) received her advanced degree from the Lhasa University School of Traditional Medicine in 1988 after completing her five-year training program and two-year residency. During that time she studied with the Khenpos Troru Tsenam and Gyaltsen, two of Tibet’s foremost Tibetan Medicine doctors.

Dr. Phuntsog Wangmo had the exceptional opportunity of extensive clinical training under Khenpo Troru Tsenam for four years.

Thereafter, she dedicated many years of work as a doctor of Tibetan Medicine in Eastern Tibet where she collaborated with and directed the implementation of A.S.I.A., the non-profit organization founded by Professor Namkhai Norbu. After that, she worked on behalf of A.S.I.A. setting up hospitals and training centers in the remote regions of Sichuan Province and Chamdo Prefecture.

From 1997-2000, she has been the A.S.I.A. project coordinator in Tibet for the development of Gamthog Hospital in collaboration with expatriate personnel as well as the overall health coordinator and practitioner of traditional Tibetan medicine, supervising healthcare activities throughout the surrounding region of Chamdo Prefecture.

In 2007 she co-founded the American Tibetan Medical Association (ATMA), a national organization representing the Tibetan medical profession within the United States. Its mission is to preserve, protect, improve, and promote the philosophy, knowledge, science and practice of Tibetan medicine for the benefit of humanity.

In 2012 Dr. Phuntsog Wagmo was appointed the International Director of the School of Tibetan Medicine

She is currently in residence at the Shang Shung Institute of America, the international seat of the School of Tibetan Medicine, where she continues in her leadership as Director and International Director of the Institute’s national and international programs in U.S.A., Russia and Tenerife, Spain.

“In order to live and remain in good health, every individual, whether woman or man, young or old, must first of all have an understanding of the nature of the ‘three doors’ and of the nature of the human body that ‘lives’, of the nature of the humours and of the organic components that ‘give life’, and of the nature of the behavior that constitutes life. It is on the basis of a precise knowledge of these factors that we can live in good health. “
– Professor Namkahi Norbu, Birth, Life and Death

SSI School in TeneriFe

Our Programs

Diet according to Tibetan Medicine

You will learn how to maintain health and balance the body through a suitable diet and lifestyle. A proper understanding of these fundamentals is an incredibly effective tool for a healthy and happy life.

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Massage Therapy & Tibetan Kunye External Therapies

Kunye includes therapeutic techniques such as warming, cupping, herbal oils, joint mobilization, herbal poultice, hot and cold compresses, special points and more.

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Free online webinars

Dr. Phuntsog invites outstanding speakers to discuss various topics like the health of body and mind, achieving of wellbeing in the modern world, culture and traditions, Buddhism and contemplative studies.
Here you can find all webinars which happened in the past.

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Our Team

Ilaria FACCIOLI

Executive Manager

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Karina TROFIMOVA

Educational program coordinator

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Vince LEE

Chinese Language Department

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Irina Pankevich

Junior Teacher

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Medegma BUDAEVA

Junior Teacher

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Aldo ONETO

Instructor

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Historical Tibetan Medicine Events in Tenerife

January – February 2020

Dzamling Gar, Adeje:

Diet according to Tibetan Medicine course Level 1
Diet according to Tibetan Medicine course Level 2
Diet according to Tibetan Medicine course Level 3

January- February 2019

Clinica IntegraSalud, Radazul
Conference Integrative Medicine with Dr. Phuntsog, Dr. Jordi Postius, Dr. Carlos Durán, Fabio Andrico

Dzamling Gar courses with Dr. Phuntsog Wangmo both part of 2 years full training
Kunye Massage course Level 1
Diet according to Tibetan Medicine course level 1

October 2019

Dzaming Gar, Adeje:

Diet according to Tibetan Medicine course Level 1
Diet according to Tibetan Medicine course Level 2
Kunye Massage course Level 1
Kunye Massage course Level 2

January- February 2018

Fundación Caja Canaria
Conference: Behavioural Awareness as the basis of Preventive Medicine with Dr. Phuntsog and Elio Guarisco

Dzamling Gar courses with Dr. Phuntsog Wangmo:
Kunye Massage course Level 1

January- February 2017

Courses on Tibetan Medicine with Dr. Phuntsog Wagmo in Dzamling Gar, Adeje:

Course: Introduction to Kunye Massage
Course: Mental illness according to Tibetan Medicine
Course: Diet and lifestyle according to Tibetan Medicine

April 2016

Dzamling Gar, Adeje course:

Tibetan Medicine Hospice Training with Dr. Phuntsog Wangmo

March 2015

Universidad de la Laguna

2nd annual Tibetan Medicine Congress in Tenerife with Dr. Phuntsog Wangm, Dr. Yangdron Kalzang, Dr. Namgyal Qusar, Dr. Roberti di Sarsina, Dr. Duran

January 2013

Convento de Santo Domingo, La Laguna
Conference with Chögyal Namkhai Norbu: Origins, History and Principles of Tibetan Medicine
1st annual Tibetan Medicine Congress in Tenerife with Dr. Phuntog Wangmo, Dr. Kunchok Gyaltsen, Dr. Lusham Gyal
Conference with Chögyal Namkhai Norbu: Death from the point of view of Tibetan Medicine in Universidad La Laguna, La Piramide
Course: Tibetan Medicine Hospice Training with Dr Phuntsog Wangmo

October 2011