Tibetan medicine eyes place on UN list

The process of placing Tibetan medicine on UNESCO's intangible heritage list has started with the Ministry of Culture receiving supporting material from the Tibet autonomous region.

With roots dating back at least 2,300 years, Tibetan medicine is one of the world's four traditional medicines, the other three being Chinese, Indian and Arab.

Similar to traditional Chinese medicine, Tibetans use herbs, minerals and sometimes insects and animal parts in their preparations.