Photo Courtesy of

Craig Kasnoff Media Center

(CKMC)

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

  email: rebeccaxie@actcm.edu

   

 
PROTECTING TIGERS

IN THE WILD

  

In Chinese society, the tiger continues to hold a position of reverence and prestige, symbolizing strength, beauty, and power. The tiger, now in a position of near extinction in the wild, can no longer be looked to for this purpose. In order to let tigers live in all their strength, beauty, and power, look to the following list of proven natural and herbal substitutes. 

 

While tiger parts were once prescribed to treat all of the conditions listed below, research has proven that herbal plant substitutes and acupuncture are effective as well. These herbal substitutes need to be readily available and well publicized. When combined with efforts to protect tiger habitat, these actions can help reduce the economic and political pressures that continue to undermine attempts to save the tiger.  

  

Physical Ailment Herbal Treatment
Insomnia Acupuncture, coptis root, fleece-flower stem, poria, wild jujube seed
Fever Anemarrhena rhizome, bamboo leaves
Leprosy & Rheumatism Corktree bar, achyranthus root, coix lachryma joba
Superficial wounds such as bites Astragalus root, dipsacus root, teasel root
General Weakness Corktree bark, achyranthus root, ledebouriella root, coix lachryma joba
Dysentery Anemone, white peony root, skullcap root, golden thread
Headaches Spring onion tea, wild ginger or wild angelica, ginseng, poria, Chinese date, schizonepeta, acupuncture
Epilepsy Sweet flag root, Chinese senegar root, bamboo shavings or bamboo juice from young shoots
Malaria Sweet wormwood and artemesia
Skin diseases Acupuncture
Convulsions/meningitis in children An herbal mixture named "White Tiger Decoction," made of gypsum and rice
Toothache Gypsum, acupuncture, ginseng, chrysanthemum flowers
Pimples Cleanse skin with a slice of fresh watermelon.  Drink herbal tea made of honeysuckle, chrysanthemum, or dandelion.  Skullcap, rhubarb, gypsum and rehmannia may be used for more severe cases.
Hemorrhoids Angelica, rhubarb, dandelion, magnolia bark, kapok flower
Alcoholism Green tea, kudzu vine or watermelon can all be used to detoxify the blood.

  

In addition, TCM retailers such as Mayway Corp. offer a list of effective substitutes for endangered species medicines. WWF and ACTCM applaud Mayway Corp.'s initiative in promoting alternatives to medicines derived from endangered species such as tigers and rhinos as it gives TCM practitioners and consumers the confidence that purchasing these alternative medicines will not contribute to harming wild endangered species.