New Delhi : A traditional medicinal system popular in the Himalayan region was on Aug 25 included in the government's list of medical treatments.

With an amendment made in the Indian Medical Central Council Bill, Sowa-Rigpa, one of the oldest methods practiced by health professionals in the country, will be part of health ministry's AYUSH department.

AYUSH has already recognised Ayurveda, Yunani, Siddha, Homeopathy, Naturopathy and Yoga as traditional branches of medical studies. Sowa-Rigpa, knowns as 'Amchi', is considered as an effective treatment method in Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Darjeeling (West Bengal), Lahaul and Spiti (Himachal Pradesh) and Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir.