OIL

Which oil is good for me?
It does not have to be a special oil that you rub into your skin. 
Easily available are:

• Olive oil: neutral properties, useful for any type of skin
• Coconut oil: cooling properties, beneficial for Tripa personality or in Autumn and hot climate, pacifies Tripa disorder
• Sesame oil: warming properties, good for people who often feel cold and have poor circulation, pacifies Lung disorder

Is applying oil on the skin beneficial for everyone? 

Generally yes, but there are adjustments to be made according to your body type.

Even though we are all human beings our bodies might differ a bit.
Why is it so?
Genetic diversity and adaptation to the external environment play a significant role in our diverse appearance conditioning our metabolism, fat distribution, muscle composition and bone structure, lifestyle …

Body types are often classified into three broad categories, known as somatotypes:

• Ectomorph: Ectomorphs are characterized by a slim, lean build and have a fast metabolism, which makes gaining weight and muscle mass challenging. They typically have narrow shoulders and hips, a thin frame, and less body fat.
• Mesomorph: Mesomorphs naturally have a more muscular and athletic physique. They tend to gain muscle and burn fat more easily than the other types. Mesomorphs have a medium frame, wide shoulders, a narrow waist, and low body fat.
• Endomorph: Endomorphs have a softer, rounder build and tend to gain both muscle and fat more easily. They have a slower metabolism, which can make it harder to lose body fat. Endomorphs generally have wider hips and shoulders and a higher percentage of body fat.

These classifications help in understanding general tendencies in metabolism and body composition, but it's important to remember that many people are a combination of these types and that individual variation is significant.

According to Tibetan Medicine the classification of body types is not much different from what is listed above. 

In order to explain how the body and mind work, this ancient healing system utilizes the analogies of 5 elements known to everyone – space, air, fire, water and earth – in both their concrete and subtle aspects.

For example, just as fire gives heat by  transforming fuel into ashes, in the same way metabolism ( or ‘inner fire’) transforms the ingested food into energy and nutrients which supply our body. 

From the active function of the 5 elements there are 3 energies ( 3 Nyepas in Tib.) that govern the body and mind to be distinguished: 

• Lung/ Loong (Air)
• Tripa (Fire)
• Peken (Water + Earth
  
  

The elements possess their  inherent qualities or function in the body and mind and and thus based on the predominance of one or more of the elements in our body and mind various so-called ‘body types’ or ‘character types’ come to be. 

BODY TYPE

In Tibetan medicine, body types are fundamentally categorized based on the dominant energies, or nyepa, that define an individual’s physiological and psychological traits. These nyepa—Loong (Wind), Tripa (Bile), and Béken (Phlegm)—correspond to the classical elements of air, fire, and water combined with earth, respectively. Here is an extremely detailed description of each body type according to Tibetan medicine:

1. Loong (Wind) Constitution:

• Physical Characteristics: Individuals with a dominant Loong energy typically have a thin and light body frame, dry skin, and may appear underweight. Their movements and speech are quick.
• Psychological Traits: They are often energetic, enthusiastic, and changeable with a tendency toward anxiety and nervousness when out of balance.
• Health Tendencies: Prone to neurological disorders, joint problems, and digestive issues characterized by gas and bloating.
• Environmental and Dietary Preferences: Benefits from warm, moist environments and diets that include warm, cooked foods, and sweet, sour, and salty tastes to counterbalance their cool and dry nature.

2. Tripa (Bile) Constitution:

• Physical Characteristics: Medium build, muscular, with a warm body temperature; individuals often have a reddish complexion and may suffer from inflammatory conditions.
• Psychological Traits: Tripa types are intense, intelligent, and goal-oriented but can become overly aggressive or irritable under stress.
• Health Tendencies: Susceptible to diseases involving inflammation, liver disorders, and infections.
• Environmental and Dietary Preferences: Benefit from cool environments and a diet that includes cool, refreshing foods like cucumber and melons, and tastes that are sweet, bitter, and astringent to balance their inherent heat.

3. Béken (Phlegm) Constitution:

• Physical Characteristics: Individuals with a dominant Béken constitution tend to have a robust, rounded body, smooth and oily skin, and a calm demeanor.
• Psychological Traits: Naturally calm, methodical, and stable but can become lethargic and stubborn when imbalanced.
• Health Tendencies: Prone to respiratory issues, metabolic disorders like diabetes, and excessive mucus production.
• Environmental and Dietary Preferences: They thrive in dry, warm conditions and benefit from stimulating activities and a diet that includes pungent, bitter, and astringent foods to counteract their tendency towards moisture and stagnation.

Dual and Combined Types:

Additionally, combinations of these energies result in mixed body types, such as:

• Loong/Tripa (Wind/Bile): Characteristics of both wind and bile, with possible conflicts between the desire for activity (Loong) and the heat of bile (Tripa).
• Loong/Béken (Wind/Phlegm): A mix of the light, dry qualities of wind with the heavy, moist qualities of phlegm.
• Tripa/Béken (Bile/Phlegm): Combines the heat of bile with the cold, wet attributes of phlegm.
• Loong/Tripa/Béken (Wind/Bile/Phlegm): Represents a balance of all three doshas, considered rare and auspicious for health.

Understanding these body types helps in diagnosing and treating diseases according to Tibetan medicine. Treatments typically involve adjustments in diet, lifestyle, and herbal remedies tailored to balance the dominant nyepa to promote health and well-being. This holistic approach ensures that the treatments address not just physical symptoms but also psychological and environmental factors affecting the individual.