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Abstract
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been increasingly practised in many countries
of the world. Some recent textbooks of TCM still recommend formulas containing various
animal tissues such as tiger bones, antelope, buffalo or rhino horns, deer antlers,
testicles and os penis of the dog, bear or snake bile. Usually, animal tissues are
combined with medical herbs. In most of the cases, the medical use of the preparations
is justified in terms of the rules of TCM. So far, little research has been done to
prove the claimed clinical efficacy of TCM animal products. This paper discusses some
related ecological, ethico-legal and health concerns such as hunting, breeding and
trade with endangered species, risks of transmission of zoonoses, quality of the products,
and alternatives to preparations from endangered species.