As we know, the desire for herbal medicines in recent years has escalated partially as a small rebellion against modern, Western medicine. The techniques used in this new herbal medicine movement grew out of many cultures, particularly Asian cultures. Surprisingly, there is a strong tradition of herbal medicine use that developed right here in North America, which has been mostly ignored by modern-day herbal medicine users.

Modern herbalists draw a strong distinction between Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Western Herbal Medicine. There is a wealth of information available about TCM and its philosophy. The cultural influences of Chinese herbal medicine are quite complicated. Yin and Yang are the basic tenets of Chinese Herbal Medicine. The ultimate goal in one's life is to achieve a relative balance of Yin and Yang. This 'relative balance' does not mean that you have an equal quantity of both; rather, it means that they are proportionally correct depending on one's current situation. Herbs can help one to increase or decrease yin or yang. Herbs are often thought of not as a direct cure, but an influential force activating yin or yang forces, allowing the body to cure itself. Different combinations of herbs are required for a given person in a given situation. Furthermore, TCM does not only rely on herbs as curative agents. It also relies on animal parts from tigers, bears, and other animals.

The tradition of Western herbal medicine is somewhat different from that of Chinese/Asian herbal medicine. In Western tradition, given herbs and combinations of herbs are used to treat specific illnesses and ailments, rather than the body or spirit as a whole. It must be noted that prescribing for patterns of symptoms had also been typical in traditional Chinese medicine for many generations. However, although the use of a single remedy is an established technique within Chinese medicine under certain circumstances, Chinese herbal prescribing more often involves the use of formulas. Historians note that the Western tradition of herbal medicine has changed very little over thousands of years, although it is rarely practiced today. Of course, the practice of prescribing certain herbs for a specific ailment is alive and well in health shops across the Western world. Western herbal medicines mostly come from two traditions: Thompsonianism and Eclecticism. Thompsonianism departed somewhat from traditional folk medicine in that it set out to treat specific properties of diseases by removing toxins or other nasty health inhibitors. Eclecticism recognized the importance of the circulatory system and emphasized finding "balance" there. Eclecticism is credited with being the source of many modern herbal remedies for fever.

Obviously, there are deep cultural roots to herbal medicine all over the world. However, these cultural ties do not seem to be threatening endangered species. Most of the threat comes from large communities which are turning to herbal medicines as an alternative to Western medicines. The cultural ties which threaten species most are perhaps the Chinese (and other Asian) beliefs in herbal remedies. The demand in Asia for products of species, endangered or otherwise, is significant. However, many TCM herbalists and others have denounced the use of products of endangered species, both plant and animal. Dr. Lo Yan-Wo, a noted herbalist, has recently visited the famous Chinese Medicine Hospital in Guangdong Province and he has inquired about the use of endangered species there and the answer is that they do not use any of them at all because they are too expensive and too difficult to obtain thus they have formed a habit not to use them in all their daily prescriptions. However, this does not preclude a black or gray market in trade of endangered species products. An Internet search will quickly reveal several posted classified ads from people both purchasing and selling Goldenseal, recently listed on CITES appendix II, and other endangered herbs. This market will only be eliminated through vigilant enforcement of existing and new laws.

Eliminating the cultural desire for herbal remedies may be nearly impossible, especially in Asian cultures, which have used them for hundreds of generations. In the West, where herbal medicine seems more of a fad leftover from the health craze of the 1980's, it is difficult for us to imagine this dependency. However, the recognition of the endangered species problem by leading Chinese herbalists may help to alleviate this problem in the future. Education and alternatives to/cultivation of herbal medicines might also be possibilities to lessen cultural threats to endangered herbal medicines.

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