A Core Concept of Health in Mongolian Traditional Medicine

Historically, Mongolians emphasized the importance of diet and lifestyle, aligning their habits with their land, climate, nomadic culture, and traditional work practices to prevent illness and maintain health. This study reviewed the customs and traditions Mongolians followed to prevent disease. According to ancient sutras, lifestyle falls into two categories: those for maintaining health and those for managing illness. A virtuous mindset is considered essential to maintain in both cases. Mongolian traditional medicine identifies desire, greed, anger, and ignorance as distant causes of illness. The sutras emphasize that harboring excessive desires, envy, or anger can lead to illness, even if one follows a healthy diet and exercise routine. In conclusion, by following the principles of Mongolian traditional medicine, including seasonally adjusted diet and lifestyle, Mongolians effectively prevent diseases and maintain health. These teachings remain relevant for addressing modern health challenges.