One of the (completely valid!) ongoing conversations around traditional medicines in modern society focuses on the use of endangered animal and plant species.
The largest amount of attention has been given to substances obtained from critically endangered animals such as tiger bone, rhino horn and pangolin scales.
The earliest surviving Chinese herbal text is the Shen-nong Ben-cao Jing (“Shen-Nong’s Herbal Classic”) dated at around 200 AD, however the practice of Chinese herbalism has been in existence for several thousand years. The herbs used by traditional practitioners differed province to province within China and were often isolated to what could be locally harvested or cultivated. This therefore often included the use of current endangered species which previously would have been more commonly found in these areas.
Many herbs from endangered species are no longer included as part of the modern pharmacopeia, for example tiger bone (Hu Gu) was removed by the Chinese government as an approved medicinal in 1993. Sadly however there remains a thriving black market trade in endangered species.
Modern day practitioners of Chinese medicine face both ethical and legal considerations around the use of these products.
CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) was brought into force by the United Nations in 1975. The purpose of CITES is to protect threatened and endangered species by better regulating and enforcing the trade of live wildlife and wildlife products.
In Australia the Department of Agriculture implements and legally enforces CITES policy, meaning people face significant legal ramifications (including fines and imprisonment) if they are found to have illegally imported endangered species.
As a Chinese Medicine Practitioner, part of our education focuses heavily on the idea of holism; that parts cannot operate or be fully understood in independence or isolation to the whole.
While this idea is particularly relevant to Chinese Medicines understanding of the human body, this can also be extended to our understanding of human beings and our relationship with our environment. It is important to consider the effects of our actions on the environment around us, which is why I believe it is of utmost importance that herbal medicines are sourced in an ethical and sustainable way.
Any proficiently trained and experienced herbalist should be adept at effectively substituting endangered species with other medicinals with similar properties and effects.
