Men-Tsee-Khang distributes 113 medicinal plants
DHARAMSALA, 3 Sept: Men-Tsee-Khang, the Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute based here in the exile headquarters today distributed 113 medicinal plants jointly with the National Medicinal Plants Board(NMPB) and RFCFNR-1 Joginder Nagar.
The Medicinal Plant saplings were distributed today to the congregation of dignitaries, staff and students of the Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute and farmers.
Tashi Tsering Phuri, the director of Men-Tsee-Khang said the 113 medicinal plant saplings signifies 113 years that His Holiness the Dalai Lama has reaffirmed to live for on multiple occasions.
Speaking on the significance of cultivating medical plants, he said: “In Tibet, there was no need to cultivate medicinal plants because mother nature provides herbs in abundance and that it was only in the mid-’90s that Men-Tsee-Khang started taking interest in cultivation as herbs became scarce.”
The Director of the premier institute of Tibetan medicine said that the institute took part in the event as Tibetan medicine is recognised by the AYUSH(Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa and Homoeopathy) as Sowa Riga.
He further said that the institute also receives support and help from the Ministry of AYUSH through its Chauntra Sowa Rigpa Study And Research with the herbs and training to cultivate medicinal plants.
He further spoke on the significant contributions that the Sowa Rigpa can provide to humankind, and concluded with a quote by the Dalai Lama that read, “Humankind needs a healthy mind and a healthy body and we Tibetans can contribute to that need even though we are living as refugees.”
The initiative was launched by the NMPB under the ministry of AYUSH to promote the cultivation of medicinal plants in the country to celebrate the 75th year of India’s Independence with an objective to help increase the income of farmers.
The Campaign to promote the cultivation of medicinal plants in India will be undertaken across 75,000 hectares in one year.
AYUSH Vhibag, Himachal Pradesh has launched the campaign in the state.
