RE-FORMULATIONS: HOW PHARMACEUTICALS AND ANIMAL-BASED DRUGS CHANGED CHINESE MEDICINE, 1950-1990

Abstract

MY DOCTORAL DISSERTATION AIMS TO EXPLAIN THE INCREASING USE OF ANIMAL PARTS IN `CHINESE MEDICINE?. BEAR BILE, FOR EXAMPLE, HAS BEEN TOUTED BY CHINESE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES AS EFFECTIVE FOR A NUMBER OF AILMENTS SUCH AS HOT FLASHES CAUSED BY MENOPAUSE. DESPITE SUCH MEDICAL CLAIMS, BEAR FARMING HAS IN THE LAST FEW DECADES BECOME A FOCUS OF CONTROVERSY BETWEEN ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST GROUPS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CHINESE MEDICAL COMMUNITY. OUTSIDE OF CHINA, ENDANGERED ANIMAL SPECIES (RHINOS, TIGERS, PANGOLINS ETC.) ARE BEING POACHED IN INCREASING NUMBERS FOR THEIR PURPORTED HEALING PROPERTIES. MY PROJECT IS THE FIRST ACADEMIC ATTEMPT TO RE-CONTEXTUALIZE THE MEDICINAL USE OF ANIMAL-DERIVED SUBSTANCES IN THE HISTORIES OF BOTH CHINESE AND WESTERN MEDICINES, WITH MORE FOCUS ON THE FORMER. MY WORKING THESIS IS THAT MAO ZEDONG?S AIM TO BUILD A PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY CONTRIBUTED TO THE RISE IN ANIMAL FARMING FOR MEDICINAL PURPOSE, A STORY I FOLLOW THROUGH THE 1980'S.