Understanding Traditional Chinese Medicine to strengthen conservation outcomes

People and Nature

article

Hubert Cheung¹  Hunter Doughty²  Amy Hinsley²  Elisabeth Hsu⁴  Tien Ming Lee⁵  E. J. Milner-Gulland²  Hugh P. Possingham¹  Duan Biggs⁷ 

[1] Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland;Department of Zoology, University of Oxford;Oxford Martin Program on the Illegal Wildlife Trade, Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford;School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography, University of Oxford;State Key Laboratory of Biological Control and Schools of Life Sciences and Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University;The Nature Conservancy;Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University;Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University;Centre for Complex Systems in Transition, School of Public Leadership, Stellenbosch University

关键词: consumptive use;    culturally sensitive solutions;    endangered species;    medicinal product;    TCM;    wildlife trade;   

DOI  :  10.1002/pan3.10166

学科分类：护理学

来源: Wiley

【 摘 要 】

Numerous treatments in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) involve the use of wildlife products, including some that utilize ingredients derived from endangered flora and fauna. Demand for such endangered wildlife products in TCM can threaten the survival of species and pose serious challenges for conservation. Chinese medical practice is embedded in the cultural fabric of many societies in East and Southeast Asia, and remains an integral part of everyday life and knowledge. It is grounded in principles and theories that have grown over hundreds of years and differ substantially from those of mainstream allopathic biomedicine. In order to address the threats posed by the medicinal consumption of endangered wildlife, conservation scientists and practitioners will benefit from a basic understanding of TCM. Such knowledge will enable conservationists to craft culturally nuanced solutions and to engage constructively with TCM stakeholders. However, conservationists typically lack familiarity with TCM as the incompatibility of many TCM concepts with those of the biomedical sciences poses a barrier to understanding. In this paper, we examine the core theories and practices of TCM in order to make TCM more accessible to conservation scientists and practitioners. A better understanding of TCM will enable conservationists to deliver more effective and lasting conservation outcomes. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.

【 授权许可】

CC BY