Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners support use of alternatives to threatened wildlife

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners and Traffic, the wildlife trade monitoring network, have come together to find solutions to reduce the use of threatened wildlife in traditional medicines.
In a joint one-day conference, the Federation of Chinese Physicians and Medicine Dealers Associations of Malaysia (FCPMDAM) and Traffic highlighted substitutes to wildlife parts used in traditional medicine, discussed laws and enforcement aspects that govern wildlife use and the threats posed by the demand for wildlife-based medicines.
A major focus of the Alternatively Effective conference was the use of bear bile and gall bladder in the country’s TCM industry and the threat this posed to Asia’s wild bears.
Traffic surveys have shown the high availability of bear bile and gall bladder in TCM shops. Analysis of bear-related seizures across Asia from 2000–11 also found the country to be a key source and consumer of bear parts and derivatives.
“The TCM community of practitioners and users in Malaysia can be one of the strongest allies to ending illegal wildlife trade, and we are very glad to be partnering with Malaysia’s largest TCM community,” said Kanitha Krishnasamy, the Acting Regional Director for Traffic in Southeast Asia.
“The good news is that effective substitutes for bear-based products are available and being used worldwide and it’s important for the Malaysian community to know of these alternatives and work towards incorporating them into practice.”
At the conference, practitioners were invited to make a pledge to use only wildlife permitted under the laws, use only legally-sourced ingredients and support efforts to reduce the demand for wildlife-based medicinal products involving threatened species. A total of 46 practitioners signed the pledge on the day.
“This community of practitioners and physicians plays such a critical role in the sourcing and dispensing of wild plants and animals for medicines. A commitment to use only legal wildlife resources and educate their customers about sustainable alternatives will help reduce the tremendous pressure on bears and many other wild animals now in demand as cures,’’ said Lalita Gomez, Programme Officer for Traffic in Southeast Asia.
Federation President Ting Ka Hua, who signed the pledge said: “It is the responsibility of each of us to cherish and protect wild resources. Chinese medicine practitioners and retailers should choose the legitimately produced medicines, pay attention to the contents of the products, do not buy medicinal ingredients of unknown provenance, and consciously resist illegal items.
“Chinese medicine practitioners have the obligation to correct unfounded and inaccurate concepts of the use of wildlife in traditional medicine.
“Under the leadership of the Federation, we will drive support for the effort to end the use of illegal and endangered wildlife products in traditional medicine, within the Malaysian Chinese Traditional Medicine community, while maintaining the highest, safest and most reliable services.”