New Delhi, Sep 10 - The world's oldest surviving system of medicine called 'Sowa-Rigpa' -popular in the country's Himalayan region and said to be taught by Gautam Buddha himself - got official approval from the Indian government Thursday.

The decision to approve it as part of the Indian medicine system was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and later announced by Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni.

The government's decision came following representations from many quarters for granting recognition and legal status to the system.

Sowa-Rigpa, commonly known as 'Amchi', is one of the oldest surviving systems of medicine in the world and is practiced in India in Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Darjeeling in West Bengal, Lahaul and Spiti in Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir, a statement issued here said.

According to the statement, the theory and practices of Sowa-Rigpa are similar to Ayurveda and also include few principles of traditional Chinese medicine.