Published by: World Tibet Network News, Wednesday September 4 1996

LHASA (Aug. 31) XINHUA - A production line for red-spotted stonecrop, a medicinal herb mainly grown in the Tibet Autonomous Region, began operation here today.

The production line with annual capacity of 100 tons, funded by the Tibet Rhodiola Development Corporation, will manufacture dark-red rhodiola cakes that can be used for drinks when it is mixed with water.

According to the general manager of the company, Xu Li, the medicinal herb is rich in nutritious elements, and its pharmaceutical properties keep people alert, slow down aging, and prevent altitude sickness.

Tibet has 32 kinds of rhodiola, and a reserve of two million tons of the herb, which mainly grows on snowy mountains and highlands, above 4,500 m.

Rhodiola has become popular with tourists and foreign businessmen are looking into cooperating with Tibetan firms in developing the herbal medicine, Xu said.