As a recognised ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine, bear bile has become a leading marketing tool, supported by beliefs that have no scientific grounding.
Bear bile has always been used in traditional Chinese medicine. It is reputed to “cool down” “hot” illnesses, such as inflammations and to dissolve gall and kidney stones. Its effectiveness in medical terms to cure these illnesses and certain liver diseases is based on scientific fact.
From popular belief to marketing product
However, popular belief also gives it aphrodisiac virtues that no scientist would accept. Supposedly possessing properties that increase male sexual performance when consumed regularly, bear bile has become a highly sought-after product, including by restaurateurs who serve it in their establishments and especially by “marketers” who have turned it into a key marketing product. Today bear bile is increasingly used to manufacture products that are neither “traditional” nor essential, such as shampoo, drinks, cough syrups, haemorrhoid creams, toothpaste, skin lotions, infusions and so on. What they do not say is that behind these "miracle" products which have no proven effectiveness, sensitive beings are being tortured and are dying because of man’s barbarism and cruelty.
Scientifically-recognised alternatives
Yet there are artificial or plant-based substitutes for bear bile which are as effective and are considerably less expensive. According to the conclusions of a study conducted by Earthcare and the Chinese medicine and philosophy association, funded by the International Fund for Animal Welfare, there are no fewer than 54 known plant-based remedies able to replace bear bile in its different applications (rhubarb, peony extract, gardenia variety, Madagascar periwinkle, etc.). Since 1954, the Japanese have synthesised bile chemically to dissolve bile stones and treat a fatal form of cirrhosis. In total, no fewer than 75 alternatives are recognised and used by many scientists.
There are no fewer than 54 known plant-based remedies able to replace bear bile in its different applications (rhubarb, peony extract, gardenia variety, Madagascar periwinkle, etc.).
EXTRACTING BILE: A SLOW DEATH
The bile extraction processes are more or less archaic. Regardless of the method used, death is often the only end result.
Bile can begin to be extracted as soon as a cub reaches 100 kg in weight (Chinese regulations). Usually bile is drawn off twice a day, every day, generally before mealtimes, which is considered the best time.
Two techniques are used. The first, and oldest, involves introducing a permanent catheter, 8 to 12 cm in length, directly into the gall bladder. Several centimetres are left outside the abdomen to enable pumping. Once variant involves inserting a probe and an ultra-modern medicinal pump, a technique, which causes immense suffering and a slow death. The vet, or untrained person, who carries out the operation on the drugged, partially asleep, animal punctures the abdomen several times without any sterilisation or disinfection. The bears often die after bile is extracted for the fourth time. In any case, the animals do not survive for long and are sent to the butcher. Bear meat is highly sought after and brings in even more money than bile.
