On the Exploration and Protection of Resources of tibetan Medicines

Luo Dashang
Gansu College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou
The Qinghai-Tibet plateau, known popularly as"the roof of the world", and in habited by people of many nationalities since its civilized history, is the cradle of Tibetan medicine. Due to the vast area of the plateau with its rigorous and complicated natural conditions, a special flora, adapting to the serious environments is thus formed, thus imbued with a "mysterious" color for Tibetan herbals. What are the "mysteries" ezacdtly? First, this plateau itself, being the highest yet the yungest of its kind, is magnificent and powerful with great momentum, hence, the "third pole of the globe". Since ancient time, very few person performed field investigation and extremely rigorous natural condition. Thus, exactly how many medicinal resources it has, no one knows. Second, people are eager to know the special Tibetan medicinal species produced there. The therapeutic effect of Tibetan medicine is high because of the special natural condition there, including pure air, extremely scanty, dust and free of pollution, rich ultra-violet and blue-violet light radiction resulted in the high accumulation of photosynthesis. Unfortunately, the Tibetan medicinal resources are not so rich. Except in its southeastern and eastern parts, due to the low oxygen contents,arid and extreme cold weather in Tibet, the plants there grow very slowly,insufficient in yearly storage. The materials needed to provide for Tibetan pharmaceutical production is, by no means , endless and inexhaustible. It is therefore, very crucial to actively and well protect these resources.