The Chinese Tibetan Medicine Database Series, jointly developed by the Environmental Science Information Center under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Nuodi Tibetan Medicine Research Association under the Northwest Plateau Institute of Biology, also a branch of the CAS, has had its inaugural publication. The databases have a PC and network version.

The 2,300-year-old Tibetan medicine is an essential part of traditional Chinese culture.

In the current favorable climate for environmental protection and green issues, traditional medicines, including traditional Chinese medicine, are now being seen as a viable alternative and support to orthodox medical practice worldwide.

Tibetan medicine is playing a big role in this global event and has earned respect and a reputation, according to sources from the CAS.

The Chinese Tibetan Medicine Database Series provide medical researchers and others with convenient, quick and reliable access to literature across the spectrum of traditional medicine. It consists of five parts:

1. Database of Tibetan medicine resources

This includes 1,043 entries on names (with Pinyin and Latin), base materials, biological forms and structures, geographical distributions, ecological environments, planting and breeding, collection and storage, drug application locations on human body, appraisal, pharmaceutical ingredients, forms of finished products, effects and efficacies, pharmacology, compatibilities, properties, indications, toxicology, clinic applications and color illustrations of Tibetan medicine.

2. Database of set prescriptions and preparations of Tibetan medicine

This includes 290 entries on names (including Pinyin, Tibetan, Latin and transliteration), forms, prescriptions, sources of prescriptions, processing methods, properties, indications, dosages, specifications and storage of Tibetan medicine.

3. Database of literature and information on Tibetan medicine

This includes 412 entries on types, languages, titles, creators and contributors, names of creators and contributors' companies, sources, issue and page numbers, publishers, publication dates, websites and email addresses of journals, categorization marks, key words, abstracts and full texts of literature and information on Tibetan medicine.

4. Database of R & D Institutions of Tibetan medicine

It includes charts of producers, research and teaching institutes, clinics and hospitals of Tibetan medicine, totaling 42 entries.

5. Database of specialists of Tibetan medicine

It includes 58 entries on experts with senior professional titles in R & D institutions of Tibetan medicine.

Featured with illustrations and a parallel display in Tibetan, Chinese, English and Latin, the database has the field/ keyword search function.

The databases will help boost the development of Tibetan medicine and promote a better understanding of its many uses and practices.

(China.org.cn by Chen Chao, April 3, 2003)