The Prime Minister’s Office has credited the Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama for bringing the traditional Tibetan medicine to India. The government is now planning to promote the Tibetan Medicine or technically known as Sowa-Rigpa under the Ministry of AYUSH, according to the reports.

Sowa-Rigpa which means ‘Science of Healing’ is one of the oldest and most well documented medical systems in the world. This traditional medical system is the indigenous tradition of Tibet which is today widely practiced in most of Himalayan regions of India. His Holiness the Dalai Lama after seeking refuge in India installed the Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute or Men-Tsee-Khang in Dharamshala and secured the tradition in the Tibetan exile community as well.

The government is currently working on a proposal to make National Research Institute For Sowa-Rigpa (NRISR) in Leh an autonomous institute by renaming it National Institute of Sowa-Rigpa (NISR). The autonomous institute will function under the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, Ministry of AYUSH. This proposal has been cleared by the PMO according to the report in The Print.

At present Men-Tsee-Khang is a full-fledged Institute with its headquarter in Dharamsala. The Academic field of activity includes, Men-Tsee-Khang College, Pharmaceutical Department, Astrology Department, Research & Development Department, Material Medical Department, Documentation & Publication Department, Herbal Product Research department, Body, Mind and Life Department and China Desk.

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