Health and Hygiene

Before biomedicine was introduced in the 20th century, the Bhutanese depended on Sowa Rigpa tradition and local healing practices for medical treatment and health. The Sowa Rigpa practitioners and the local elders including women advised others on health and wellbeing including nurition and hygiene. People also used a wide range of medicines from herbs, minerals and animal products and carried out blood letting for infection and pain, and minor sugeries for fractures and cuts.