Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-995ml Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-28T17:39:31.466Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Exploring the use of Viagra in place of animal and plant potency products in traditional Chinese medicine

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 January 2006

WILLIAM VON HIPPEL
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia
FRANK A. VON HIPPEL
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alaska Anchorage, 3211 Providence Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508-4614, USA
NORMAN CHAN
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia
CLARA CHENG
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Ohio State University, 1885 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA

Abstract

Recently, conservationists have debated whether consumers of animal and plant potency products used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) might be switching to Viagra, consequently consuming fewer of these animals and plants. To address this question, a survey examined the medical decisions of male consumers of TCM in Hong Kong who were over the age of 50. As predicted, these consumers reported selectively switching to Western medicines to treat ED, but not to treat other health ailments. These findings provide support for the possibility that Viagra may have conservation benefits for certain species.

Type
Papers
Copyright
2005 Foundation for Environmental Conservation

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)