Traditional Tibetan medicine has developed steadily in recent years.

About 22 medicine enterprises have been set up in the Tibetan Autonomous Region, with total annual sales of 270 million yuan, or US$34 million, crienglish.com reported Saturday.

Scientific research on Tibetan medicine has also made breakthroughs, with about 30 topics listed as national key topics.

Tibetan medicine has a history of over 2,300 years. The raw materials of Tibetan medicine are collected from high altitude, unpolluted areas with very strong sunlight and extremes of temperature.

Modern research is proving that the medicines have unusual and effective pharmaceutical properties.

(Xinhua News Agency August 16, 2004)