Abstract
BackgroundThe medicinal plants and the associated Bhutanese traditional medicine (BTM) are protected by the country’s constitution and receive both government support and acceptance by the wider public. More than 1000 medicinal plants are described in the BTM but currently collects only 300 species for daily formulations of BTM. These medicinal plants have been one of the drivers of the ‘Gross National Happiness (GNH)’ and biodiscovery projects in Bhutan. However, no review covering the systematic evaluations of the contributions of medicinal plants and the BTM to the GNH and biodiscovery exist till date.MethodsThis paper, therefore addresses this information gap. It is based on the review of the existing traditional and scientific literature, government websites and policy documents. The descriptions and discussions of the paper is straightened, authenticated and enhanced by the data collected through the informal discussions with the BTM practitioners and also through the authors’ many years of practical observations of the impact of the medicinal plants programs and the BTM practices in Bhutan.ResultsThis paper found the following: a) the medicinal plants generates income to the farmers elevating their living standard and the economic status, b) it serves as the bulk ingredients of the BTM facilitating the provision of free traditional health care services to the patients, c) helps the conservation of medicinal plants and their pristine environment through recognition of their spiritual, social and economic values, d) preserves the rich BTM cultural heritage, and e) guides the biodiscovery projects based on their ethnobotanical information. The paper also identified the challenges and research gaps, and recommends appropriate strategies that can help secure the sustainable future of the medicinal plants, the BTM and the biodiscovery projects.ConclusionsThe medicinal plants play significant role in the country’s biodiscovery projects and the internationally renowned development policy of ‘Gross National Happiness’.
Highlights
The medicinal plants and the associated Bhutanese traditional medicine (BTM) are protected by the country’s constitution and receive both government support and acceptance by the wider public
Sachs [14], who is one of the world’s most influential living economists and a leader in sustainable development at the Earth Institute at Columbia University, believes that this Gross National Happiness (GNH) philosophy can help recreate a sensible economic life and happiness in America and the rest of the world which are afflicted by rapid urbanization, mass commercial media, global capitalism, relentless pursuit of Gross Domestic Products (GDP), environmental degradation, and failing health care system
The GNH concept is based on the realization that collective happiness of the society is more important than material growth alone, which has been explained and measured by its four pillars and nine domains [12]
Summary
It is based on the review of the existing traditional and scientific literature, government websites and policy documents. The descriptions and discussions of the paper is straightened, authenticated and enhanced by the data collected through the informal discussions with the BTM practitioners and through the authors’ many years of practical observations of the impact of the medicinal plants programs and the BTM practices in Bhutan
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