The national centre for traditional Bhutanese medicine, located on a hilltop above the Folk Heritage Museum in the Kawajangsa area. The institute functions as a working hospital — outpatient services run daily — as well as a training centre for traditional medicine practitioners. There is a small exhibition space explaining the principles of Sowa Rigpa medicine and showing some of the herbal preparations used in treatment. The hilltop location offers good views, and the gardens contain medicinal plants used in the pharmacy.
Institute of Traditional Medicine Services
Centre for the practice of traditional Bhutanese medicine
A story
Traditional Bhutanese medicine (Sowa Rigpa) is a living practice informed by Tibetan Buddhist medical theory dating back to the 8th century. The Institute of Traditional Medicine Services treats around 500 outpatients a day using herbal formulations, dietary advice, and physical therapies. The institute also manufactures over 300 traditional medicines from locally sourced herbs — Bhutan is one of the few countries where the complete supply chain for traditional medicine still exists.