Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Seahorses in Traditional Medicines: A Global Overview

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Animals in Traditional Folk Medicine

Abstract

Seahorses (Hippocampus spp.) are under threat worldwide because of the global demand for them and products arising from them, and by destruction of their habitats. A landmark report published in 1996 exposed the massive trade in seahorses, involving at least 32 countries, and established that the market for these fishes was threatening their wild populations. A subsequent set of surveys identified a much larger number of countries (nearly 80) involved in the seahorse trade, thus furthering concern over its sustainability. As a means of ensuring that trade is not detrimental to the survival of wild populations, all species of Hippocampus were added to Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), effective May 2004. Given that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and its derivatives account for the largest consumption of seahorses, further understanding of traditional medicinal uses of seahorses is central to conservation efforts, both on national and international levels. This chapter summarizes knowledge about the medicinal uses of seahorses, focusing on the species used, illnesses and ailments to which species are prescribed, and implications for conservation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Alakbarli F (2006) Medical manuscripts of Azerbaijan. Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Baku

    Google Scholar 

  • Alino PM, Cajipe GJB, Ganzon-Fortes ET, Licuanan WRY, Montano NE, Tupas LM (1990) The use of marine organisms in folk medicine and horticulture: a preliminary study. Seaweed Information Center (SICEN), University of the Philippines, Quezon City

    Google Scholar 

  • Almeida CFCBR, Albuquerque UP (2002) Uso e conservação de plantas e animais medicinais no Estado de Pernambuco (Nordeste do Brasil): Um estudo de caso. Interciencia 27(6):276–285

    Google Scholar 

  • Alves RRN, Rosa IL (2006) From cnidarians to mammals: the use of animals as remedies in fishing communities in NE Brazil. J Ethnopharmacol 107:259–276

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Alves RRN, Rosa IL (2007a) Biodiversity, traditional medicine and public health: where do they meet? J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 3(14):9

    Google Scholar 

  • Alves RRN, Rosa IL (2007b) Zootherapeutic practices among fishing communities in North and Northeast Brazil: a comparison. J Ethnopharmacol 111:82–103

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Alves RRN, Rosa IL (2007c) Zootherapy goes to town: the use of animal-based remedies in urban areas of NE and N Brazil. J Ethnopharmacol 113:541–555

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Alves RRN, Rosa IL (2010) Trade of animals used in Brazilian traditional medicine: trends and implications for conservation. Hum Ecol 38(5):691–740

    Google Scholar 

  • Alves RRN, Rosa IL, Santana GG (2007) The role of animal-derived remedies as complementary medicine in Brazil. Bioscience 57(11):949–955

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alves RRN, Lima HN, Tavares MC, Souto WMS, Barboza RRD, Vasconcellos A (2008a) Animal-based remedies as complementary medicines in Santa Cruz do Capibaribe, Brazil. BMC Complement Altern Med 8:44

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Alves RRN, Vieira WLS, Santana GG (2008b) Reptiles used in traditional folk medicine: conservation implications. Biodiversity Conserv 17(1):2037–2049

    Google Scholar 

  • Alves RRN, Neto NAL, Brooks SE, Albuquerque UP (2009) Commercialization of animal-derived remedies as complementary medicine in the semi-arid region of Northeastern Brazil. J Ethnopharmacol 124(3):600–608

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Alves RRN, Oliveira MGG, Barboza RRD, Lopez LCS (2010a) An ethnozoological survey of medicinal animals commercialized in the markets of Campina Grande, NE Brazil. Hum Ecol Rev 17(1):11–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Alves RRN, Souto WMS, Barboza RRD (2010b) Primates in traditional folk medicine: a world overview. Mamm Rev 40(2):155–180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andrade JN, Costa Neto EM (2006) O comércio de produtos zooterápicos na cidade de Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brasil. Sitientibus Série Ciências Biológicas (Etnobiologia) 6:37–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Araújo AM (2004) Medicina rústica. Martins Fontes, São Paulo

    Google Scholar 

  • Ashwell D, Walston N (2008) An overview of the use and trade of plants and animals in traditional medicine systems in Cambodia, 1st edn. TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, Greater Mekong Programme, Ha Noi, Vietnam

    Google Scholar 

  • Barros S (1977) Arte, folclore, subdesenvolvimento. Civilização Brasileira, Rio de Janeiro

    Google Scholar 

  • Baum JK, Vincent ACJ (2005) Magnitude and inferred impacts of the seahorse trade in Latin America. Environ Conserv 32(04):305–319

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baum JK, Vincent ACJ (2011a) Seahorse trade in Central America. In: Vincent ACJ, Giles BG, Czembor CA, Foster SJ (eds) Trade in seahorses and other syngnathids in countries outside Asia (1998–2001). Fisheries Centre Research Reports 19(1). Fisheries Centre, University of British Columbia, pp 78–101

    Google Scholar 

  • Baum JK, Vincent ACJ (2011b) Seahorse trade in Mexico. In: Vincent ACJ, Giles BG, Czembor CA, Foster SJ (eds) Trade in seahorses and other syngnathids in countries outside Asia (1998–2001). Fisheries Centre Research Reports 19(1). Fisheries Centre, University of British Columbia, pp 57–77

    Google Scholar 

  • Baum JK, Rosa IL, Vincent ACJ (2011) Seahorse trade in South America. In: Vincent ACJ, Giles BG, Czembor CA, Foster SJ (eds) Trade in seahorses and other syngnathids in countries outside Asia (1998–2001). Fisheries Centre Research Reports 19(1). Fisheries Centre, University of British Columbia, pp 102–128

    Google Scholar 

  • Begossi A (1992) Food taboos at Búzios Island (SE Brazil): their significance and relation to folk medicine. J Ethnobiol 12(1):117–139

    Google Scholar 

  • Begossi A, Braga F (1992) Food taboos and folk medicine among fishermen from the Tocantins river. Amazoniana 12:341–352

    Google Scholar 

  • Begossi A, Figueiredo JL (1995) Ethnoichthyology of southern coastal fishermen: cases from Búzios Island and Sepetiba Bay (Brazil). Bull Mar Sci 56(2):710–717

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennet G (1834) Wanderings in New South Wales, Batavia, Pedir Coast, Singapore, and China: being the journal of a naturalist in those countries during 1832, 1833, and 1834. Richard Bentley, London

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Bensky D, Clavey S, Stöger E (2004) Chinese herbal medicine: materia medica. Eastland Press, Seatle

    Google Scholar 

  • Bisset NG (1991) One man’s poison, another man’s medicine? J Ethnopharmacol 32(1–3):71–81

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bonifácio KM (2002) Estudo etnoictiológico e de comércio de cavalos-marinhos (Teleostei: Syngnathidae: Hippocampus) por pescadores artesanais do Estuário do Rio Mamanguape—PB. BSc monograph, Universidade Federal da Paraíba

    Google Scholar 

  • Bostock J, Riley HT (1855) The natural history. Pliny the Elder, Taylor and Francis, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Brautigam AJ, Howes T, Hutton H, Hutton J (1994) Analysis of the market for tigers, bears and musk deer in the Russian Far East. Traffic Bull 15(1):23–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruckner AW (2002) Life-saving products from coral reefs. Issue Sci Technol 18(3):39–44

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruckner AW, Field JD, Daves NK (2005) The proceedings of the international workshop on CITES implementation for seahorse conservation and trade. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-OPR-36, Silver Spring

    Google Scholar 

  • But PP, Tam YK, Lung LC (1991) Ethnopharmacology of rhinoceros horn. II: Antipyretic effects of prescriptions containing rhinoceros horn or water buffalo horn. J Ethnopharmacol 33(1–2):45–50

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Call E (2006) Mending the web of life—Chinese medicine & species conservation. IFAW/AHPA-ERB Foundation, Yarmouth Port/Silver Spring

    Google Scholar 

  • Camargo MTLA (1985) Medicina popular: aspectos metodológicos para pesquisa: garrafada, objeto de pesquisa: componentes medicinais de origem vegetal, animal e mineral. Almed, São Paulo

    Google Scholar 

  • Cameron G, Pendry S, Allan C, Wu J (2004) Traditional Asian medicine identification guide for law enforcers: version II. Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise, London, and TRAFFIC International, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Chivian E (2002) Biodiversity: its importance to human health. Center for Health and the Global Environment, Harvard Medical School, Boston

    Google Scholar 

  • Christie P, Oracio EG, Eisma-Osorio L (2011) Impacts of the CITES listing of seahorses on the status of the species and on human well-being in the Philippines: a case study. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Circular, vol 1058. FAO, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen TM, Yan M (2009) A tradition of soup: flavors from China’s Pearl River Delta. North Atlantic Books, Berkeley

    Google Scholar 

  • CITES (2002) CoP12 Prop. 12.37—consideration of proposals for amendment of Appendices I and II. Inclusion of all species of the genus Hippocampus (Hippocampus spp.) in Appendix II of CITES

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke S (2002) Trade in Asian dried seafood: characterization, estimation and implications for conservation. Wildl Conserv Soc, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Costa-Neto EM (1999a) Barata é um santo remédio: introdução a zooterapia popular no Estado da Bahia. Editora Universitária da UEFS, Feira de Santana

    Google Scholar 

  • Costa-Neto EM (1999b) Healing with animals in Feira de Santana City, Bahia, Brazil. J Ethnopharmacol 65:225–230

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Costa-Neto EM (1999c) Traditional use and sale of animals as medicines in Feira de Santana City, Bahia, Brazil. Indig Knowl Dev Monit 7(2):6–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Costa-Neto EM (2000) Zootherapy based medicinal traditions in Brazil. Honey Bee 11(2):2–4

    Google Scholar 

  • Costa-Neto EM (2001) A cultura pesqueira do litoral Norte da Bahia. Salvador/Macéio, EDUFBA/EDUFAL, Salvador/Macéio, Brazil

    Google Scholar 

  • Costa-Neto EM (2002) The use of insects in folk medicine in the State of Bahia, Northeastern Brazil, With notes on insects reported elsewhere in Brazilian folk medicine. Hum Ecol 30(2):245–263

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Costa-Neto EM (2004) Implications and applications of folk zootherapy in the state of Bahia, Northeastern Brazil. Sustain Dev 12(3):161–174

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Costa-Neto EM, Marques JGW (2000) Conhecimento ictiológico tradicional e a distribuição temporal e espacial de recursos pesqueiros pelos pescadores de Conde, Estado da Bahia, Brasil. Etnoecológica 4(6):56–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Costa-Neto EM, Mota PC (2010) Animal species traded as ethnomedicinal resources in the Federal District, central west region of Brazil. Open Complementary Med J 2:24–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Demunshi Y, Chugh A (2010) Role of traditional knowledge in marine bioprospecting. Biodivers Conserv 19:3015–3033

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dharmananda S (2002) Treatment of diabetes with Chinese herbs and acupuncture. http://www.itmonline.org/journal/arts/diabetes.htm. Accessed 28 Aug 2011

  • Dias TL, Rosa IL, Baum JK (2002) Threatened fishes of the world: Hippocampus erectus Perry, 1810 (Syngnathidae). Environ Biol Fishes 65(3):326–326

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eastman CR (1915) Olden time knowledge of Hippocampus. Ann Rep Board Regents Smithson Inst 1915:349–357

    Google Scholar 

  • El-Deir ACA, Collier CA, Neto MSA, Silva KMS, Policarpo IS, Araújo TAS, Alves RRN, Albuquerque UP, Moura GJB (2012) Ichthyofauna used in traditional medicine in Brazil. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine (in press)

    Google Scholar 

  • El-Kamali HH (2000) Folk medicinal use of some animal products in Central Sudan. J Ethnopharmacol 72:279–282

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ellis R (2005) Tiger bone & rhino horn: the destruction of wildlife for traditional Chinese medicine. Island Press, Washington D.C

    Google Scholar 

  • Ewbank T (1856) Life in Brazil; or a journal of a visit to the land of the cocoa and the palm. Harper & Brothers, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Fan Z (2005) National report—China. In: Bruckner AW, Field JD, Daves NK (eds) The proceedings of the international workshop on CITES implementation for seahorse conservation and trade. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-OPR-35, vol 1. Silver Spring, pp 54–61

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferreira FS, Albuquerque UP, Coutinho HDM (2012) The trade in medicinal animals in Northeastern Brazil. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. doi: 10.1155/2012/126938

  • Ferreira FS, Brito S, Ribeiro S, Saraiva A, Almeida W, Alves RRN (2009) Animal-based folk remedies sold in public markets in Crato and Juazeiro do Norte, Ceara, Brazil. BMC Complement Altern Med 9(1):17

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fontenelle LFR (1959) Aimorés: análise antropológica de um programa de saúde. Dasp/Serviço de Documentação, Rio de Janeiro

    Google Scholar 

  • Foster SJ, Vincent ACJ (2004) Life history and ecology of seahorses: implications for conservation and management. J Fish Biol 65(1):1–61

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fulder S (1993) The book of ginseng: and other Chinese herbs for vitality. Healing Arts Press, Rochester

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaski AL, Johnson KA (1994) Prescription for extinction: endangered species and patented Oriental medicines in trade. TRAFFIC USA and TRAFFIC International, Whasington D.C./Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Giles BG, Ky TS, Hoang H, Vincent ACJ (2006) The catch and trade of seahorses in Vietnam. Hum Exploitation Biodiversity Conserv:157–173

    Google Scholar 

  • Goenka D (2005) National report—India. In: Bruckner AW, Field JD, Daves NK (eds) The proceedings of the international workshop on CITES implementation for seahorse conservation and trade. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-OPR-35, vol 1. Siler Spring, pp 62–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Gray AC (2005) Experience of medicine 2—clinical manuals in Homeopathic medicine, vol Two. Alastair Gray, Sidney

    Google Scholar 

  • Gunther RT (1959) The Greek Herbal of Dioscorides. Hafner, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Hirschhorn HH (1982) Natural substances in currently available Chinese herbal and patent medicines. J Ethnopharmacol 6(1):109–119

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ho CCK, Tan HM (2011) Rise of herbal and traditional medicine in erectile dysfunction management. Curr Urol Rep:1–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Hopkins J (2006) Asian aphrodisiacs. Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd., Singapore

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoover C (2003) Response to ‘Sex, drugs and animal parts: will Viagra save threatened species?’. Environ Conserv 30(04):317–318

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huxtable RJ (1992) The pharmacology of extinction. J Ethnopharmacol 37(1):1–11

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • IUCN (2011) Red list of threatened species. Version 2011.2. www.iucnredlist.org. Accessed 26 Oct 2011

  • Jacobs F (1832) Aeliani de natura animalium: libri XVII. Impensis Friderici Frommanni, Jena

    Google Scholar 

  • James R (1747) Pharmacopoeia universalis: or, A new universal English dispensatory. J. Hodges and J. Wood, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Kang S, Phipps M (2003) A question of attitude: South Korea’s traditional medicine practitioners and wildlife conservation, 1st edn. TRAFFIC East Asia, Hong Kong

    Google Scholar 

  • Koldewey HJ, Martin-Smith KM (2010) A global review of seahorse aquaculture. Aquaculture 302(3–4):131–152

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lages-Filho J (1934) A Medicina popular em Alagoas. Liv. Scientifica, Salvador

    Google Scholar 

  • LaFrance P, Vincent ACJ (2011) Seahorse trade in the USA and Canada. In: Vincent ACJ, Giles BG, Czembor CA, Foster SJ (eds) Trade in seahorses and other syngnathids in countries outside Asia (1998–2001). Fisheries Centre Research Reports 19(1). Fisheries Centre, University of British Columbia, pp 39–56

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee SKH (1999) Trade in traditional medicine using endangered species: an international context. In: Proceedings of the second Australian symposium on traditional medicine and wildlife conservation, Melbourne, 1999. Environment Australia, Canberra, pp 15–19

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee J (2000a) TCM use of marine medicinals: content and context. In: Moreau M-A, Hall HJ, Vincent ACJ (eds) Proceedings of the first international workshop on the management and culture of marine species used in traditional medicines, Cebu City, 1998. Project Seahorse, Montreal pp 81–83

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee Y-J (2000b) The state of seahorses as herbs in Korean oriental medicine. In: Moreau M-A, Hall HJ, Vincent ACJ (eds) Proceedings of the first international workshop on the management and culture of marine species used in traditional medicines, Cebu City, 1998. Project Seahorse, Montreal pp 92–94

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee SK, Mills J (2000) How conservationists can work with traditional medicine communities. In: Moreau M-A, Hall HJ, Vincent ACJ (eds) Proceedings of the first international workshop on the management and culture of marine species used in traditional medicines, Cebu City, 1998. Project Seahorse, Montreal pp 87–89

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee S, Hoover C, Gaski A, Mills J (1998) A world apart? Attitudes toward traditional Chinese medicine and endangered species in Hong Kong and the United States. TRAFFIC East Asia, TRAFFIC North America, and World Wildlife Fund-US, Washington D.C

    Google Scholar 

  • Lei L, Yangbo Y, Shuyun L, Hongjun L (1996) Preparations and uses of Chinese medicated spirits and wine. Shandong Friendship Press, Jinan

    Google Scholar 

  • Lev E (2003) Traditional healing with animals (zootherapy): medieval to present-day levantine practice. J Ethnopharmacol 85(1):107–118

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lipton AP (2000) Fishery for marine medicinal species in India: problems and responses. In: Moreau M-A, Hall HJ, Vincent ACJ (eds) Proceedings of the first international workshop on the management and culture of marine species used in traditional medicines, Cebu City, 1998. Project Seahorse, Montreal pp 75–77

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu C, Tseng A, Yang S (2005) Chinese herbal medicine: modern applications of traditional formulas. Alternative medicine, CRC Press, Boca Raton

    Google Scholar 

  • Lockyear J (2000) South African seahorses: consumption, threats and research problems In: Moreau M-A, Hall HJ, Vincent ACJ (eds) Proceedings of the First International Workshop on the Management and Culture of Marine Species Used in Traditional Medicines, Cebu City, 1998. Project Seahorse, Montreal pp 99-101

    Google Scholar 

  • Lourie SA, Vincent ACJ, Hall HJ (1999) Seahorses: an identification guide to the world’s species and their conservation. Project Seahorse, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Lourie SA, Vincent ACJ, Hall HJ (2004) A guide to the identification of seahorses. project seahorse and TRAFFIC North America. University of British Columbia and World Wildlife Fund, Washington D.C

    Google Scholar 

  • Low WY, Tan HM (2007) Asian traditional medicine for erectile dysfunction. J Men’s Health Gend 4(3):245–250

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mainka SA, Mills JA (1995) Wildlife and traditional Chinese medicine: supply and demand for wildlife species. J Zoo Wildl Med:193–200

    Google Scholar 

  • Marichamy R, Lipton AP, Ganapathy A, Ramalingam JR (1993) Large scale exploitation of sea horse (Hippocampus kuda) along the palk bay coast of Tamil Nadu. Marine Fish Inform Serv Tech Ext Ser 119:17–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Marques JGW (1997) Fauna medicinal: recurso do ambiente ou ameaça à biodiversidade? Mutum 1(4):4

    Google Scholar 

  • Marshall NT (1998) Searching for a cure: conservation of medicinal wildlife resources in East and Southern Africa. TRAFFIC International, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin-Smith KM, Vincent ACJ (2006) Exploitation and trade of Australian seahorses, pipehorses, sea dragons and pipefishes (family Syngnathidae). Oryx 40(02):141–151

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin-Smith KM, Vincent ACJ (2011a) Syngnathid trade in Australia. In: Vincent ACJ, Giles BG, Czembor CA, Foster SJ (eds) Trade in seahorses and other syngnathids in countries outside Asia (1998–2001). Fisheries Centre Research Reports 19(1). Fisheries Centre, University of British Columbia, pp 138–165

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin-Smith KM, Vincent ACJ (2011b) Syngnathid trade in New Zealand. In: Vincent ACJ, Giles BG, Czembor CA, Foster SJ (eds) Trade in seahorses and other syngnathids in countries outside Asia (1998–2001). Fisheries Centre Research Reports 19(1). Fisheries Centre, University of British Columbia, pp 166–175

    Google Scholar 

  • May B, Tomoda T (2002) Seahorses in the Ben cao gang mu and in contemporary Chinese medicine. J Australian Chinese Med Education Res Council 7(1):2–13

    Google Scholar 

  • McPherson JM, Vincent ACJ (2004) Assessing East African trade in seahorse species as a basis for conservation under international controls. Aquatic Conserv Marine Freshw Ecosyst 14(5):521–538

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McPherson JM, Vincent ACJ (2011) Trade in seahorses and other syngnathids in Africa. In: Vincent ACJ, Giles BG, Czembor CA, Foster SJ (eds) Trade in seahorses and other syngnathids in countries outside Asia (1998−2001). Fisheries Centre Research Reports 19(1). Fisheries Centre, University of British Columbia, pp 7–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Meenakarn S, Leepayakoon P (2005) National report—Thailand. In: Bruckner AW, Field JD, Daves NK (eds) The proceedings of the international workshop on CITES implementation for seahorse conservation and trade. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-OPR-35, vol 1. Silver Spring, pp 89–92

    Google Scholar 

  • Mills J, Servheen C (1994) The Asian trade in bears and bear parts: impacts and conservation recommendations. Bears: Their Biology and Management, pp 161–167

    Google Scholar 

  • Moreau M-A, Hall HJ, Vincent ACJ (2000) Proceedings of the first international workshop on the management and culture of marine species used in traditional medicines. Project Seahorse, Montreal

    Google Scholar 

  • Morgan SK, Panes HM (2008) Threatened fishes of the world: Hippocampus spinosissimus Weber 1913 (Syngnathidae). Environ Biol Fishes 82(1):21–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nogueira AJ, Vargas A, Brayner F, Campos M (2005) Medicina popular. Prefeitura Municipal, Rio de Janeiro

    Google Scholar 

  • Oliveira ES, Torres DF, Brooks SE, Alves RRN (2010) The medicinal animal markets in the metropolitan region of Natal City, Northeastern Brazil. J Ethnopharmacol 130(1):54–60

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Osório FM (2005) Análise do comércio de cavalos-marinhos no Ceará. Universidade Federal do Ceará, BSc monograph

    Google Scholar 

  • Pajaro MG (2000) The importance of trade in marine medicinals to local communities In: Moreau M-A, Hall HJ, Vincent ACJ (eds) Proceedings of the first international workshop on the management and culture of marine species used in traditional medicines, Cebu City, 1998. Project Seahorse, Montreal, pp 68–71

    Google Scholar 

  • Pajaro MG, Vincent ACJ, Buhat DY, Perante NC (1997) The role of seahorse fishers in conservation and management. In: Lunn KE, Boehm JR, Hall HJ, Vincent ACJ (eds) Proceedings of the first international symposium in marine conservation, 1997. Hong Kong Marine Conservation Society, Hong Kong, pp 118–126

    Google Scholar 

  • Perry A (2000) Global survey of marine medicinals. In: Moreau M-A, Hall HJ, Vincent ACJ (eds) Proceedings of the first international workshop on the management and culture of marine species used in traditional medicines. Project Seahorse, Montreal, pp 35–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Perry AL, Lunn KE, Vincent ACJ (2010) Fisheries, large-scale trade, and conservation of seahorses in Malaysia and Thailand. Aquatic Conserv Marine Freshw Ecosyst 20(4):464–475

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parry-Jones R, Vincent A (1998) Can we tame wild medicine? New Scientist 157(2115):26–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Pitrè G (1896) Medicina popolare siciliana. Carlo Clausen, Torino-Palermo

    Google Scholar 

  • Project Seahorse (2002a) Hippocampus barbouri. In: 2011 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. Accessed 28 Oct 2011

    Google Scholar 

  • Project Seahorse (2002b) Hippocampus comes. In: 2011 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. Accessed 28 Oct 2011

    Google Scholar 

  • Project Seahorse (2002c) Hippocampus histrix. In: 2011 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. Accessed 28 Oct 2011

    Google Scholar 

  • Project Seahorse (2002d) Hippocampus kelloggi. In: 2011 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. Accessed 28 Oct 2011

    Google Scholar 

  • Project Seahorse (2003a) Hippocampus borboniensis. In: 2011 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. Accessed 28 Oct 2011

    Google Scholar 

  • Project Seahorse (2003b) Hippocampus camelopardalis. In: 2011 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. Accessed 28 Oct 2011

    Google Scholar 

  • Project Seahorse (2003c) Hippocampus erectus. In: 2011 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. Accessed 28 Oct 2011

    Google Scholar 

  • Project Seahorse (2003d) Hippocampus fuscus. In: 2011 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. Accessed 28 Oct 2011

    Google Scholar 

  • Project Seahorse (2003e) Hippocampus ingens. In: 2011 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. Accessed 28 Oct 2011

    Google Scholar 

  • Project Seahorse (2003f) Hippocampus kuda. In: 2011 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. Accessed 28 Oct 2011

    Google Scholar 

  • Project Seahorse (2003g) Hippocampus reidi. In: 2011 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. Accessed 28 Oct 2011

    Google Scholar 

  • Project Seahorse (2003h) Hippocampus spinosissimus. In: 2011 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. Accessed 28 Oct 2011

    Google Scholar 

  • Project Seahorse (2003i) Hippocampus trimaculatus. In: 2011 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. Accessed 28 Oct 2011

    Google Scholar 

  • Project Seahorse (2011) Why seahorses? Essential facts about seahorses. http://seahorse.fisheries.ubc.ca/why-seahorses/essential-facts. Accessed 28 Oct 2011

  • Qian ZJ, Ryu BM, Kim MM, Kim SK (2008) Free radical and reactive oxygen species scavenging activities of the extracts from seahorse, Hippocampus kuda Bleeler. Biotechnol Bioprocess Eng 13(6):705–715

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Quijano SB (2000) Role of women in the production, trade and use of marine species as medicine. In: Moreau M-A, Hall HJ, Vincent ACJ (eds) Proceedings of the first international workshop on the management and culture of marine species used in traditional medicines, Cebu City, 1998. Project Seahorse, Montreal, pp 72–74

    Google Scholar 

  • Rasteiro A (2003) Religião, medicação e informação/desinformação na época de Amato Lusitano. In: Sallvado A (ed) Medicina na Beira do Interior da Pré-História ao Século XXI. Cadernos de Cultura, n.17– Século XVI. Quarteto Editora, Coimbra

    Google Scholar 

  • Rocha LA (1960) História da Medicina em Pernambuco: Séculos XVI, XVII e XVIII. Arquivo Público Estadual, Recife

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson MM, Zhang X (2011) Traditional medicines: global situation, issues and challenges. World health organization. http://www.who.int/medicines/areas/policy/world_medicines_situation/WMS_ch18_wTraditionalMed.pdf

  • Rosa IL (2005) National report—Brazil. In: Bruckner AW, Field JD, Daves NK (eds) The proceedings of the international workshop on CITES implementation for seahorse conservation and trade. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-OPR-35, vol 1. Silver Spring, pp 46–53

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosa IML, Alves R, Bonifácio KM, Mourão JS, Osório FM, Oliveira TPR, Nottingham MC (2005) Fishers’ knowledge and seahorse conservation in Brazil. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 1(1):12

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rosa IL, Oliveira TPR, Alves RRN (2010) Entre o corpo e o espírito: uso medicinal de cavalos-marinhos no Brasil. In: Alves RRN, Souto WMS, Mourão JS (eds) A Etnozoologia no Brasil: importância, status atual e perspectivas. NUPEEA, Recife, pp 323–346

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosa IL, Oliveira TPR, Osório FM, Moraes LE, Castro ALC, Barros GML, Alves RRN (2011) Fisheries and trade of seahorses in Brazil: historical perspective, current trends, and future directions. Biodivers Conserv 20(9):1951–1971

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salin KR, Mohanakumaran NC (2006) Resources and biodiversity of seahorses and the need for their conservation in India. Aquac Asia 11(3):3

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanders JG, Cribbs JE, Fienberg HG, Hulburd GC, Katz LS, Palumbi SR (2008) The tip of the tail: molecular identification of seahorses for sale in apothecary shops and curio stores in California. Conserv Genet 9(1):65–71

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scales H (2009) Poseidon’s steed: the story of seahorses, from myth to reality. Gotham, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Scarborough J (1996) Drugs and medicines in the Roman world. Expedition Philadelphia 38:38–51

    Google Scholar 

  • Seixas C, Begossi A (2001) Ethnozoology of caiçaras from Aventureiro, Ilha Grande. J Ethnobiol 21(1):107–135

    Google Scholar 

  • Servheen C (1999) The trade in bears and bear parts. In: Servheen C, Herrero S, Peyton B (eds) Bears: status survey and conservation action plan. IUCN, Gland/Cambridge, pp 33–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharlip ID (1981) Penile revascularization in the treatment of impotence. West J Med 134(3):206

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shukla C (2008) The quintessence of homeopathic remedies—provings & cases of Hawthorn, Mango, Oxygen, Sea Horse, Python & Crow. Homeolinks Publishers, Haren

    Google Scholar 

  • Silva MLV, Alves ÂGC, Almeida AV (2004) A zooterapia no Recife (Pernambuco): uma articulação entre as práticas e a história. Biotemas 17(1):95–116

    Google Scholar 

  • Sodeinde OA, Soewu DA (1999) Pilot study of the traditional medicine trade in Nigeria. Traffic Bulletin 18(1):35–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Solavan A, Paulmurugan R, Wilsanand V, Ranjith Sing AJA (2004) Traditional therapeutic uses of animals among tribal population of Tamil Nadu. Indian J Tradit Knowl 3(2):206–207

    Google Scholar 

  • Sonz S, Stewart R, Kushner S (2003) Hippocampus kuda, a proving of seahorse. Am Homeopath 9:100–123

    Google Scholar 

  • Sreepada RA, Desai UM, Naik S (2002) The plight of Indian sea horses: need for conservation and management. Curr Sci 82(4):377–378

    Google Scholar 

  • Tan BKH, Ong VYC, Lim PHC (2010) Clinical applications of modern and traditional pharmacopoeias for sexual health in Singapore and Asia. In: Park NC, Okuyama A, Xin Z-C, Park JH, Earle C, Adaikan PG (eds) Modern oriental phytotherapy in sexual medicine. Koonja Publishing Inc., Seoul

    Google Scholar 

  • Trowell S (2003) Drugs from Bugs: The promise of pharmaceutical entomology. Futurist 37(1):17–19

    Google Scholar 

  • Urban S (1753) The Gentleman’s magazine and historical chronicle, vol 23. Edward Cave, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Van NDN, Tap N (2008) An overview of the use of plants and animals in traditional medicine systems in Viet Nam, 1st edn. Greater Mekong Programme, Ha Noi, Viet Nam, TRAFFIC Southeast Asia

    Google Scholar 

  • Vasconcelos JL (1985) Etnografia portuguesa, vol IX. Imprensa Nacional Casa da Moeda, Lisboa

    Google Scholar 

  • Vincent ACJ (1995a) Seahorse conservation and traditional Chinese medicine. Abstr Chin Med 6(2):272–281

    Google Scholar 

  • Vincent ACJ (1995b) Trade in seahorses for traditional Chinese medicines, aquarium fishes and curios. Traffic Bulletin 15(3):125–128

    Google Scholar 

  • Vincent ACJ (1995c) Exploitation of seahorses and pipefishes. Naga Iclarm Quartely 18(1):18–19

    Google Scholar 

  • Vincent ACJ (1996) The international trade in seahorses. TRAFFIC International, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Vincent ACJ (1997) Sustainability of seahorse fishing. In: Lessios HA, Macintyre IG (eds) Eighth international coral reef symposium, Panama, 1997. Proceedings of the eighth international coral reef symposium. smithsonian tropical research institute, pp 2045–2050

    Google Scholar 

  • Vincent ACJ (2000) Setting the scene for marine medicinal species. In: Moreau M-A, Hall HJ, Vincent ACJ (eds) Proceedings of the first international workshop on the management and culture of marine species used in traditional medicines, Cebu City, 1998. Project Seahorse, Montreal, pp 61–65

    Google Scholar 

  • Vincent ACJ (2006) Live food and non-food fisheries on coral reefs, and their potential management. In: Côté IM, Reynolds JD (eds) Coral Reef Conservation. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 183–236

    Google Scholar 

  • Vincent ACJ, Marsden AD, Sumaila UR (2007a) Possible contributions of globalization in creating and addressing sea horse conservation problems. In: Taylor WW, Schechter MG, Wolfson LG (eds) Globalization: Effects on Fisheries Resources. Cambridge University Press, New York, pp 185–214

    Google Scholar 

  • Vincent ACJ, Meeuwig JJ, Pajaro MG, Perante NC (2007b) Characterizing a small-scale, data-poor, artisanal fishery: seahorses in the central Philippines. Fish Res 86(2–3):207–215

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vincent ACJ, Foster SJ, Koldewey HJ (2011a) Conservation and management of seahorses and other Syngnathidae. J Fish Biol 78(6):1681–1724

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vincent ACJ, Giles BG, Czembor CA, Foster SF (2011b) Trade in seahorses and other syngnathids in countries outside Asia. Fisheries Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver

    Google Scholar 

  • Wemmer C (1998) Deer: status survey and conservation action plan, vol 43. IUCN, Gland/Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Wong K, Dahlen M (1999) Streetwise guide: Chinese herbal medicine. Red Mansions, San Francisco

    Google Scholar 

  • Woods CMC, Morgan SK, Martin-Smith K, Pogonoski JJ, Paxton JR, Pollard DA, Morgan AJ (2006) Hippocampus abdominalis. In: 2011 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. Accessed 28 Oct 2011

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu S, Liu NF, Zhang YM, Ma GZ (2004) Assessment of threatened status of Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla). Chin J Appl Environ Biol 10(4):456–461

    Google Scholar 

  • Xie H, Preast V (2010) Xie’s Chinese veterinary herbology. Wiley-Blackwell, Ames

    Google Scholar 

  • Yao DM, Chang CP (1995) A colored atlas of the Chinese materia medica specified in pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China. Guangdong Science and Technology Press, Guangdong

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang E (2000) Preliminary report on seahorse trade in Shanghai and Tianjin. In: Moreau M-A, Hall HJ, Vincent ACJ (eds) Proceedings of the first international workshop on the management and culture of marine species used in traditional medicines, Cebu City, 1998. Project Seahorse, Montreal, pp 84–86

    Google Scholar 

  • Zheng H (2000) Marine species in traditional Chinese medicines. In: Moreau M-A, Hall HJ, Vincent ACJ (eds) Proceedings of the first international workshop on the management and culture of marine species used in traditional medicines, Cebu City, 1998. Project Seahorse, Montreal, pp 90–91

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu CH (1989) Clinical handbook of Chinese prepared medicines, Paradigm Title Series. Paradigm Publications, Brookline

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa-PB, 58059-970, Brazil

    Ierecê Lucena Rosa, Gabriela Rocha Defavari & Tacyana Pereira Ribeiro Oliveira

  2. Departamento de Biologia, Ethnozoology, Conservation and Biodiversity Research Group, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande-PB, 58109-753, Brazil

    Rômulo Romeu Nóbrega Alves

Authors
  1. Ierecê Lucena Rosa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gabriela Rocha Defavari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Rômulo Romeu Nóbrega Alves
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Tacyana Pereira Ribeiro Oliveira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ierecê Lucena Rosa .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , CCBS - Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual da Paraiba, Av. Baraúnas 351, Campina Grande, 58-109753, Paraíba, Brazil

    Rômulo Romeu Nóbrega Alves

  2. , CCEN / Depto. de Sistemático, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, PB, 58059-900, Paraíba, Brazil

    Ierecê Lucena Rosa

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Rosa, I.L., Defavari, G.R., Alves, R.R.N., Oliveira, T.P.R. (2013). Seahorses in Traditional Medicines: A Global Overview. In: Alves, R., Rosa, I. (eds) Animals in Traditional Folk Medicine. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-29026-8_10

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation