Genghis Khan's 13th century  swords, helmets and horses have amazed Europeans. But what about  his medicine?

   Few people know about Mongolian traditional medicine, which is  said to have saved thousands of the soldiers who built the largest empire in the world.

   Soon more will be known about Khan's medicine as Mongolians are preparing for a medical expedition to the West.

   "Mongolian medicine has a history of 800 years. It is said to  have instantly stopped Genghis Khan from bleeding," said expert  Ukula, a Mongolian doctor.

   In the 13th century, when the Great Khan was in battle he was  shot on the neck. The army doctor successfully used a traditional  treatment, a mixture containing koumiss, to stop the bleeding.  

   Ukula said that in traditional Mongolian medical treatment,  plants, metal, animal bones and guts, as well as acupuncture are  frequently used.

   Mongolian medicine which is said to have curative effects on  vascular diseases and even AIDS, are looking for investments for  research and are ready enter the international market.

   Experts say Mongolian natural medicine could cure (or perhaps  prevent) over 90 percent of cardio- and cerebro-vascular diseases  such as coronary heart disease and strokes which are  main causes  of death.

   Inner Mongolia University Professor Bo Geriletu has developed  three kinds of polysaccharide compounds which he says effectively  immobilize the AIDS virus.

   No foreign company has been involved in the Inner Mongolian  medical industry and it is thought Westerners have little  knowledge of oriental medicine.

   But a policy has been set to change this. The autonomous region chairman Uyunqimg said, "Preference policies are under way to  attract investments."

   Due to its primitive make-up and other reasons, the potential  of Mongolian medicine has remained untapped. Experts hope it will  attract users who respect natural medicine.

   China's western development plan incorporates the development  of Mongolian medicine. The local government has promised an  initial input of one million yuan (121,212 U.S. dollars) to build  and fund a medical research and development center.  An estimated  5 billion yuan (60.6 million U.S. dollars) will follow in the next five years.

   Experts expect to cultivate four to five types of medicine for  the international market in the next five years, increasing the  output of the whole industry to represent 10 percent of the  autonomous region's annual GDP.