Kuala Lumpur: This second of a three-part series, on the availability of pangolin-based traditional Chinese medicines in the market despite the international ban on pangolin trade, takes a look at the shift towards plant-based products to protect wildlife species. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners and shops in Malaysia are transitioning from wildlife-based medicines to plant-based remedies to safeguard biodiversity.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the ingredients commonly used in TCM include animal parts from endangered species such as pangolins, the most trafficked wildlife in the world and popular in TCMs to treat everything from arthritis and swelling to breast milk obstruction.
TCM practitioners and industry players indicate that the focus of modern TCM is shifting towards sustainability, ethical sourcing, and scientific validation to ensure effective, responsible, and cruelty-free treatment options. This includes actively discouraging the use of endangered wildlife-derived ingredients in TCM and recommending plant-based or lab-synthesized alternatives that offer comparable therapeutic benefits.
Most of the traditional Chinese medicines are plant-based. According to Sunway TCM Centre herbalist Huong Hee, plant-based alternatives are generally more widely accepted due to their sustainability, affordability, and ethical advantages. “While animal-derived ingredients have historically played a role in TCM, there are always effective plant-based or synthetic substitutes that align with both ethical standards and modern scientific research. Furthermore, unlike rare and endangered animal-derived ingredients, herbs can be cultivated, making them more accessible and cost-effective,” she told Bernama in an interview recently.
Huong emphasized that identifying effective plant-based or synthetic substitutes is crucial in protecting wildlife from suffering and extinction while ensuring that patients receive safe and effective treatments. “For example, in place of pangolin scales, we now use herbs like Wang Bu Liu Xing (Vaccaria seeds) to promote blood circulation and lactation. Similarly, synthetic alternatives such as ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) have replaced bear bile for liver-related conditions,” she pointed out.
The acceptance of these alternatives is growing, particularly as research continues to validate their efficacy and as ethical considerations drive changes in consumer preferences. She also stressed that not all animal-based medicines or those containing wildlife ingredients, especially pangolin scales, are suitable for all patients.
Sunway TCM Centre pharmacist and head of operations Chan Si Yan highlighted the success in transitioning to plant-based medicines, noting the awareness among TCM practitioners that Malaysia is a multiethnic country with clientele from different racial backgrounds. “As part of our commitment to inclusivity, we avoid using animal-based medicines and ingredients whenever possible, opting instead for plant-based herbal remedies that offer the same therapeutic effects. Plus, most plant-based herbs and TCM products are vegan-friendly, ensuring that they are also halal for Muslim patients,” she said.
In an effort to increase awareness among TCM industry players and educate the public on the prohibition of endangered wildlife-based TCM products, TRAFFIC, in collaboration with the Federation of Chinese Physicians and Medicine Dealers Association of Malaysia (FCPMDAM), has launched the Ren Xin (Kind Heart) initiative. This initiative addresses the use of both locally and internationally protected and threatened species within the industry.
As part of the ‘Ren Xin’ initiative, a guidebook titled ‘Handbook for TCM Practitioners and Traders in Malaysia’ was published in November 2023 to raise awareness about the negative impact of using protected wild species in medicines. TRAFFIC International Southeast Asia program officer Serene Chng said this is the first publication of its kind for Malaysia’s TCM industry.
TRAFFIC has conducted extensive research, including surveys of TCM shops across Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah and Sarawak, over the past 10 years. TRAFFIC program officer Leslie Tsen noted that they have been engaging with Malaysia’s TCM industry to develop practical guidelines to help businesses adopt more sustainable practices.
Meanwhile, the reduction in the availability of pangolin-scale products in the market following their removal from China’s Pharmacopoeia has raised concerns about the rise in sales of traditional medicines made from fake animal parts. Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Drug Dealers Association president Ma Kum Keong highlighted the importance of ensuring authenticity in TCM products.
Conservationists are also concerned about the artificial breeding of pangolins and other endangered species in China. Erin Chong, a Malaysian pangolin campaigner from the United Kingdom-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), mentioned that artificial breeding, if done for commercial purposes, could be considered a ‘legal’ source of pangolin scales under China’s amended Wildlife Protection Law of 2023.