How are seahorses used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)?
TCM has made use of the seahorse for about 600 years. Seahorses and their relatives, the pipefish, are used to treat a variety of illnesses, from asthma and arteriosclerosis, to incontinence and impotence. They also provide remedies for skin ailments, high cholesterol levels, excess throat phlegm, goiters, heart disease, and lymph node disorders. As medicines and food are considered to lie along a continuum in Chinese culture, a large number of seahorses are eaten as tonic foods. TCM is recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a valid form of health care, has been codified for at least 2000 years, and is trusted by a quarter of the worlds population. It is important to focus on the over-consumption of seahorses, rather than the validity of TCM treatments. For example, it may be possible for practitioners and consumers to adjust the consumption of seahorses to relieve pressure on certain species and size classes.
