Traditional Tibetan Medicine (TTM) has a history
of over 2,000
years. TTM, practised by Tibetan
people generation after generation
in their
struggle against natural disasters and diseases, is a
resplendent jewel in the great treasure house of
China's traditional
medicine. With unique theoretical
system and rich clinical
experience, TTM has made
tremendous contributions to public health,
especially to the reproduction of Tibetan ethnic group. In
addition,
it has also formed a complete
theoretical system concerning the
growth.
classification and properties of medicinal herbs, as well as
prescription and preparation of herbal medicines.
The Central
Government has always paid great
attention to TTM and encouraged its
further
development and improvement. Famous ancient medical works
such as Tibetan Medical Code and Four-Volume
Medical Code have been
collated, translated and
published. A number of TTM monographs have
also
been published, including A New Compendium of Tibetan
Medicinal
Herbs and A New Compendium of Tibetan
Medicine.
Rare traditional Tibetan
medicine "Rannasangpei'' twice won gold
medals at the International Conference on Traditional
Medicine,
while another medicine "Zuotai''
won a state patent. In 1993, the
Ministry of
Public Health held a symposium on Tibetan medicine
standards in Lhasa. So far, Tibet has laid down standards
for 11
kinds of local medicinal herbs and 40 kinds of
medicines, a key step
for TTM to gradually enter
both the domestic and international
markets.
Medical scientific research has helped develop a
correct
understanding of the pathology, physiology and
clinical
manifestation of serious mountain sickness such
as highland
pulmonary edema and coma, and
emergency treatment has reached
advanced
international level. At the same time, great advances have
been made in the study of preventive medicine.