Programs & Campaigns

Action Alert!

Eastern Medicine's UnBEARable Suffering

The New England Anti-Vivisection Society (NEAVS) works to end the use of animals in research. As such, NEAVS focuses on the use and abuse of animals by Western medicine. However, NEAVS is also deeply concerned about animals used, abused and killed for medicinal purposes in traditional Eastern medicines.

Eastern medicinal formulas often contain cruelly obtained animal parts or derivatives, some from endangered species banned from commerce. From seahorses to deer, traditional Eastern medicine can consume and cause enormous suffering to many different species. Humane herbal or synthetic alternatives with the same medicinal value already exist for many human ills. In other cases, there is no medicinal value to the animal product or the animal ingredient is added to products like soaps and sodas.

The law currently only protects endangered species. With products like bear gall, rhino horn, and tiger genitalia in high demand throughout the East and West, the consequences are dire for species already pushed to the edge of extinction.

Bear gall, one of the most popularly used ingredients, has given rise to the cruel practice of" bile farming" where bears are held in coffin like cages and subjected to crude surgeries to make for easy access to bile " milkings " - an excruciatingly painful and terrifying daily occurrence.

Various groups are doing effective work in China and other countries to end this cruel practice. But we need to do our part in the US, Europe and other "consumer " countries. The bears on these "farms" live in desperation and pain. They live in hell. And they need us NOW.

Please take a moment to become an educated consumer who can Recognize, Reject and Report any Eastern medicinal
products that contain illegal species ingredients. Then go a step further and reject all formulas that include any animal ingredients - endangered species or not.

What You Can Do

Read NEAVS special report on the Use of Animals in Eastern Medicines. Download and distribute our FREE " 3 R 's" poster, "Recognize, Reject, Report " to help others recognize animals in traditional Eastern medicines and how to report illegal products.

The cruelties in countries producing these medicinal formulas will not end until all consumer nations reject the horrors of the animal suffering and death that goes into the products.

DO YOUR PART, PLEASE. If you practice alternative medicine spread the word to your colleagues. Or, if you are treated by an alternative health practitioner, bring one of our FREE 3 R ' s posters with you to your next appointment.

Let's not let ignorance of this issue make anyone an accidental and unknowing contributor to the suffering.

Thank you,
New England Anti-Vivisection Society
333 Washington Street Suite 850
Boston, MA 02108
info@neavs.org
www.neavs.org

Action Alert!
> Project R&R
> Ask Revlon to Join Leaping Bunny Program
> UnBEARable Suffering

Brochures
> View download options
> Cats
> Chimpanzees
> Rats
> Greyhounds