Traditional Medicine Leaders Call for an End to Rhino Horn Use

Rhino horn has long been sought after for use in traditional medicine. While it appeared in some ancient medical texts for very limited purposes, its purported benefits have since been exaggerated, turning it into a so-called “miracle drug.” These misconceptions have fueled demand, driving poaching and illegal trade and pushing rhino species to the brink of extinction. Since the beginning of the 20th century, the global wild rhino population has plummeted to fewer than 28,000 individuals.

In response, the Coalition for Wildlife Protection in TCM, in collaboration with WildAid and Choice, launched “The Practitioner’s Dilemma.” The campaign calls on the traditional medicine community to help raise awareness and abandon the use of rhino horn in treatments.

“The Practitioner’s Dilemma” aims to debunk persistent myths that rhino horn can cure cancer, treat strokes, or soothe hangovers — claims unsupported by both traditional and modern medicine. At the same time, the campaign encourages the use of herbal alternatives that are more effective, affordable, legal, and humane.

Historically, some medicinal ingredients derived from wildlife were used when treatment options were limited and medical knowledge was less advanced. Today, science has progressed, and effective herbal alternatives are increasingly abundant and accessible. Continuing to use wildlife products is no longer necessary.

Commenting on this shift, Dr. Dinh Thi Lan Huong, Deputy Head of Training and Scientific Research at the Institute of Traditional Medicine in Ho Chi Minh City, shared: “There are things for which you only need to step into the garden to find. You can find medicinal herbs with heat-clearing, detoxifying, sedative, and anti-convulsant effects similar to rhino horn, such as Eclipta prostrata or Houttuynia cordata, things mothers still use when their children have a fever. But because they are so common and accessible to everyone at no cost, they do not become popular medicinal ingredients and yield no commercial profit. Meanwhile, rhino horn is regarded as a symbol of power and wealth, tipping the scales in favor of poachers. However, in terms of ethics and practice, never in my life, nor in the lives of my parents or grandparents, has there been a need to use rhino horn.”

This perspective is deeply rooted in traditional medical ethics. Sun Simiao, a renowned physician of the Tang Dynasty, wrote in On the Absolute Sincerity of Great Physicians: “From ancient times, celebrated physicians sometimes treat diseases with animals. However, both humans and animals cherish their lives. To treat human beings using animals is against the principle of saving lives. Therefore, I do not use animals in my prescriptions.” 

At the heart of the campaign is a public service announcement that illustrates the evolution of traditional medicine. Through two contrasting settings, it depicts a physician of the past, constrained by limited treatment options and viewing rhino horn as the only solution, alongside a modern practitioner with access to a wide range of herbal alternatives that are effective, affordable, legal, and humane.

The campaign calls on everyone to take action by signing the pledge to reject rhino horn and choose herbal alternatives instead. Together, we can help end rhino poaching and consumption and build a future where people and nature thrive side by side.