Bhutan although modernized with time still emphasizes on traditional medicines. There are some people who still prefer traditional medicines over modern. The traditional medicine is popular among locals and some foreigners.
The National Institute of Traditional Medicine is a training centre for medical practitioners. Herbal medicines are prepared and dispensed here. Bhutan has rich tradition of medicine based on natural remedies derived mainly from plants, earth and some animals. The institute collects medicinal plants from remote corners of Bhutan’s Himalayan region such as Lingzhi, Laya and Lunana.
The institute has facility for outpatients, training, research and production of traditional medicines. The institute also has an exhibition room. The institute was established in 1978.