Welfare Policy

Welfare of Animals in Traditional Medicine Globally

Traditional medicine systems globally including Ayurveda, traditional Korean medicine, and African traditional medicine use animal products creating varied welfare concerns.

Key Facts

Ayurveda uses animal products including bile, bone, and secretions
Traditional Korean medicine uses bear bile, wild-caught seahorses, and other species
African traditional medicine uses parts from many endangered species
Alternatives to animal-derived ingredients exist for most traditional applications
Community medicine practitioners vary enormously in their use of live versus processed animal products

Welfare Considerations

Traditional medicine animal use creates welfare harm across diverse cultural contexts. The most effective interventions work within cultural frameworks to promote synthetic alternatives and less harmful sourcing, rather than dismissing traditional knowledge wholesale.

What You Can Do

Support development of synthetic alternatives to animal-derived traditional medicine ingredients
Engage respectfully with traditional medicine communities about animal welfare
Advocate for wildlife protection laws that include traditional medicine supply chains
Donate to organizations developing alternative medicine ingredients that preserve traditional efficacy