Médecine traditionnelle : une menace sérieuse mais méconnue
Traditional Medicine (TM) has a global impact on wildlife, people, and the environment we share. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 4.8 billion people -- 80 percent of the world’s population -- use traditional medicines as their primary form of health care.
The widespread and growing popularity of TM threatens the survival of tigers,
rhinoceroses, bears, seahorses and other endangered species historically used in
these traditional formulations.
In 1999, the global market in traditional medicines was estimated to be a US$20 billion business. Europe spent approximately US$7 billion on herbal remedies in 1999; North America spent US$3.8 billion; and Asian nations spent US$5.1 billion.
Since then, the popularity of alternative medicine, as measured by the utilization of natural products, has grown exponentially throughout the world.
In addition, dramatic growth in E-commerce has augmented the availability of traditional medicines by creating new and increasingly accessible avenues of availability. The increased availability of TM products that contain endangered animal parts and herbs has a sizeable impact on wildlife populations.
Through IFAW’s work on traditional medicine issues, we work with the TM community of practitioners to promote the health and well-being of all species, including humans.
Many of the animals IFAW works to protect suffer tremendously from the demand for their body parts for use in TM. Among these are bears, hunted in Canada, Russia and the USA, and farmed in China; and seals, hunted in Canada and South Africa. Other wild species -- including tigers, rhinos and leopards -- are hunted throughout their ranges.
IFAW is increasingly concerned with the plight of wildlife whose numbers are dwindling and who suffer great cruelty as a result of the growing global expansion of TM.
Four Ways to Reduce Exploitation
IFAW believes that the preservation -- and the welfare -- of wildlife utilized in TM can only be achieved by reducing the commercial exploitation of these species.
Our approach to this challenge includes:
Collaborating with members of the TM community and industry; Informing consumers about the connections between TM and the depletion of species; Encouraging the development of non-endangered herbal alternatives to traditionally used wildlife; Caring for individual animals harmed in illegal trade.
In 1999, the global market in traditional medicines was estimated to be a US$20 billion business. Europe spent approximately US$7 billion on herbal remedies in 1999; North America spent US$3.8 billion; and Asian nations spent US$5.1 billion.
Since then, the popularity of alternative medicine, as measured by the utilization of natural products, has grown exponentially throughout the world.
In addition, dramatic growth in E-commerce has augmented the availability of traditional medicines by creating new and increasingly accessible avenues of availability. The increased availability of TM products that contain endangered animal parts and herbs has a sizeable impact on wildlife populations.
Through IFAW’s work on traditional medicine issues, we work with the TM community of practitioners to promote the health and well-being of all species, including humans.
Many of the animals IFAW works to protect suffer tremendously from the demand for their body parts for use in TM. Among these are bears, hunted in Canada, Russia and the USA, and farmed in China; and seals, hunted in Canada and South Africa. Other wild species -- including tigers, rhinos and leopards -- are hunted throughout their ranges.
IFAW is increasingly concerned with the plight of wildlife whose numbers are dwindling and who suffer great cruelty as a result of the growing global expansion of TM.
Four Ways to Reduce Exploitation
IFAW believes that the preservation -- and the welfare -- of wildlife utilized in TM can only be achieved by reducing the commercial exploitation of these species.
Our approach to this challenge includes:
Collaborating with members of the TM community and industry; Informing consumers about the connections between TM and the depletion of species; Encouraging the development of non-endangered herbal alternatives to traditionally used wildlife; Caring for individual animals harmed in illegal trade.
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Tiger populations throughout Asia are the target of illegal poachers who hunt these great cats to use their body parts in traditional medicines. IFAW works with traditional medicine practitioners worldwide to encourage alternatives to the use of animal products.
