Tibetan medicine production faces resource bottlenecks.

　　Due to the lack of standardized guidelines for the development of Tibetan medicinal materials, some of these materials either cannot be collected in a timely manner, are used for stewing soups, or are subjected to exploitative harvesting. As a result, Tibetan medicine enterprises are facing the predicament of "having no rice to cook with," and the sustainable production of Tibetan medicines is under serious challenge. The industry calls for the swift establishment of three major catalogs for the conservation-oriented development of Tibetan medicinal resources, the creation of a trading market for Tibetan medicinal materials, and the strengthening of research on their cultivation. These measures are aimed at achieving a win-win situation between the protection of Tibetan medicinal materials and the development of the Tibetan medicine industry.

　　As one of the ethnic medicines with a history spanning over a thousand years and a well-established system, Tibetan medicine boasts unique advantages in treating a variety of challenging and complex diseases, serious illnesses, chronic conditions, and endemic ailments. With the development of the Tibetan medicine industry, demand for certain Tibetan medicinal materials has begun to rise; however, resource shortages are posing significant challenges to Tibetan medicine production.

　　The reporter’s interview revealed that, in addition to the inherent scarcity of certain Tibetan medicinal plant resources—which is creating resource bottlenecks for Tibetan medicine production—improper harvesting practices, a lack of standardized regulations, and difficulties in artificial domestication are also posing challenges to the sustainable development of the Tibetan medicine industry.

　　First, improper harvesting practices are driving Tibetan medicinal herbs toward extinction. Driven by economic interests, some Tibetan medicinal herbs are being exploited in a predatory manner amid speculative hype. Take Rhodiola rosea as an example: under market speculation, local specialties and restaurants have started selling Rhodiola rosea, and Rhodiola-based cosmetics and beverages have also emerged one after another. Nima Ciren, the dean of the Tibet College of Traditional Tibetan Medicine, said that in the traditional distribution area of Rhodiola rosea—the Duodigou Valley near Lhasa—local residents used to harvest it using tractors; now, however, Rhodiola rosea is becoming increasingly scarce in that region.

　　Second, there is a lack of standardized guidelines for the collection of Tibetan medicinal herbs, leaving Tibetan pharmaceutical companies at a loss. Basang Ciren, Deputy General Manager of Tibet Ganlu Tibetan Medicine Co., Ltd., said that due to the implementation of ecological and environmental protection policies, some areas rich in Tibetan medicinal herbs are now prohibited from harvesting any plants whatsoever, leading to the natural degradation and waste of certain usable Tibetan medicinal resources. “For example, flower-based medicinal herbs like gentian typically have an annual life cycle; harvesting them does not harm the ecosystem. However, failing to harvest them at the right time is tantamount to wasting them.”

　　Third, artificial domestication is extremely challenging. In response to the scarcity of wild Tibetan medicinal plant resources, Tibet’s health and pharmaceutical authorities, enterprises, research institutions, and universities have all turned to exploring artificial domestication and cultivation, establishing a number of such cultivation bases. However, the prospects for large-scale artificial domestication of Tibetan medicinal plants remain rather bleak. According to Nima Ciren and others, compared with crops like barley, the history of artificial domestication of Tibetan medicinal plants is virtually nonexistent. Artificial domestication of Tibetan medicinal plants requires a considerable amount of time and places stringent demands on environmental factors such as temperature and soil conditions. Take Rhodiola rosea as an example: Tibetan pharmaceutical companies and research institutions have conducted several years of research into its artificial cultivation, yet the results have been far from impressive.

　　Tibetan medicinal plant resources are the foundation of Tibetan medicine production and are closely linked to the development of the Tibetan medicine industry and the preservation of Tibetan medical heritage. Industry stakeholders recommend establishing a scientific mechanism to resolve the conflict between the protection of Tibetan medicinal plant resources and Tibetan medicine production.

　　First, we should promptly release a catalog for the protective development of Tibetan medicinal materials. Lei Jufang, Chairperson of Tibet Qizheng Tibetan Medicine Co., Ltd., said that it is currently unclear which Tibetan medicinal materials can be used and how they should be used. She recommends issuing as soon as possible a three-part catalog of Tibetan medicinal resources—listing those that can be developed and utilized, those whose development and utilization are restricted, and those whose development and utilization are prohibited—providing a decision-making and enforcement basis for the government and industry regulators when formulating special economic policies for Tibet, and serving as a reference for enterprises developing new varieties.

　　Lei Jufang and others said that with this catalog, enterprises will have a reassuring guide in the production process, enabling them to adopt semi-wild cultivation methods—selectively harvesting or combining harvesting with replanting—thus ensuring that the natural habitats of Tibetan medicinal herbs remain intact under human intervention. Furthermore, they suggested drawing on the experiences of countries such as Nepal by engaging in green trade for Tibetan medicinal resources that are suitable for development and utilization, while strictly restricting the export of resources that are prohibited from being developed.

　　Second, establish special nature reserves for Tibetan medicinal herbs. Nima Ciren called for designating areas rich in traditional Tibetan medicinal herbs—such as Duodigou—as special protected zones, prohibiting or restricting development activities within these areas. “Establishing these protected zones will also facilitate research into the local hydrological, soil, and climatic conditions, helping us understand why these regions are conducive to the growth of Tibetan medicinal herbs and accumulating valuable data for future cultivation efforts.”

　　In addition, efforts should be stepped up to strengthen the protection of existing protected areas. In the past, Nanyigou Village in Milin County, Linzhi Region, served as the base where Yutuo Yundanggubu, the founder of Tibetan medicine, identified medicinal herbs and imparted his teachings. In 1996, Qizheng Tibetan Medicine was granted permission to establish a Tibetan medicinal herb conservation and research base here. However, in recent years, local governments and developers have become keen on transforming this area into a tourist destination, seriously jeopardizing the work of resource conservation.

　　Third, establish a unified Tibetan medicinal herb trading market. Basang Ciren suggests that, given the characteristics of Tibetan medicinal herb formulations—requiring a wide variety of herbs in small quantities—the relevant national authorities should take the lead in setting up a nationwide or regionally coordinated Tibetan medicinal herb trading market, gradually transforming the current chaotic situation in which Tibetan medicine enterprises individually go to rural areas to source herbs.

　　Fourth, we need to establish standardized research bases for the cultivation of Tibetan medicinal herbs. According to a manager of a cultivation base, currently, Tibetan medicine companies and research institutions are each setting up their own cultivation bases independently, which prevents them from achieving synergistic effects. It is recommended that the government, research institutions, and enterprises join forces to establish standardized research bases for the cultivation of Tibetan medicinal herbs. These bases should be set up in different regions, tailored to the specific growth environments of various species, and should integrate large-scale wild propagation with seed collection. Furthermore, we should explore a chain-based approach to research that encompasses standardized cultivation, standardized testing, and procurement.

　　Reporting Media: Economic Reference News

　　News link: http://jjckb.xinhuanet.com/2015-04/24/content_545676.htm