Protecting Wildlife

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used to prevent, diagnose and treat a variety of conditions for thousands of years. TCM is rooted in philosophical traditions and the belief that Qi (our vital energy) flows along meridians in the body, and natural opposing forces of yin and yang maintain balance in our spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical health. When yin and yang are out of balance, it can block qi and cause disease. TCM’s goal is to restore this balance and harmony. TCM encompasses acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, Tui-Na (Chinese massage and joint manipulation), cupping, diet, physical exercise and meditation (Qi Gong and Tai Chi). Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are the largest branches of TCM.

Chinese herbal medicines are powerful and should be treated with the same caution and respect as pharmaceutical drugs. They should always be prescribed by a licensed acupuncturist and TCM practitioner. A proper Chinese medicine diagnosis is necessary since different Chinese herbs have different properties and can balance different parts of the body. Chinese herbal medicine includes raw preparations (often called herbal formulas) which can be boiled and taken as a tea, you can find them in capsules, powders or pills. Additionally, Chinese herbal medicinals can be used as pastes, liniments, plasters and lotions. Most Chinese herbs are plants and roots, but some herbal preparations include minerals or animal products.

In Chinese medicine, animal products are believed to be tonics and have curative value. They can even be used in “kitchen medicine,” for example if you are having liver or heart issues, you can eat animal liver or heart. Some of the Chinese animal products been obtained from wildlife species, including tiger bone, rhinoceros horn, bear gallbladder bile, and pangolin scales. The belief in the potency of these products, has dramatically driven the demand by the public and these wildlife species are now facing extinction.

Various governments worldwide have put forward efforts to protect endangered wildlife species and have removed Chinese medicine patent drugs containing endangered wildlife parts, and reinforced regulations and laws. Removing wild animal products from Chinese medicine is highly supported by the medical community both in China and worldwide. In the United States, licensed acupuncturists and Chinese herbal medicine practitioners do not have access to TCM herbal formulas containing endangered wildlife species. Chinese medicine no longer uses endangered wildlife in Chinese herbal products, however, due to illegal use of these medicinals by the general public, Chinese medicine’s image has been distorted. The famous TCM doctor, Sun Si Miao (581-682, Tang Dynasty), known as the “King of Chinese Medicine,” wrote, 

Physicians sometimes treat diseases with animal products. However, both human and animals cherish their lives. To treat humans using animals is against the principle of saving lives. Therefore, I don’t use animal production in my prescriptions.

Human actions are threatening the existence of many wildlife species. Wildlife species naturally have pathogens that threaten human health, trigger emerging infectious diseases and increase the risk of infectious disease outbreaks. Hunting, transporting, and eating wildlife for medicinal purposes can be dangerous to human and global health.

Despite many efforts, hunting and smuggling wildlife species remains a serious issue. Better efforts are urgently needed. Chinese medicine providers, like myself, can stand against the use of endangered animal products, impact the public and guide better consumption behaviors.

References:

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"If You Take These TCM Remedies You May Be Unknowingly Killing Endangered Animals" The Singapore Women's Weekly, Aug. 21, 2019.