With the Chinese government already under pressure to maintain its 14-year ban on tiger trade (September 2007 Acupuncture Today), it has come under even further scrutiny for yet another practice of farming endangered animals for traditional Chinese medicine products - specifically, Asiatic bears for their bile, gallbladders and other parts.

In an effort to show that the acupuncture and Oriental medicine (AOM) profession is mindful of the global environment that provides the ingredients for so many herbal treatments, leaders in the AOM community have come out strongly against a recent proposal that would allow China to lift its 14-year ban on trade in tiger parts and products.

Given the recent anthrax scares, it is important for psychiatrists to be on the alert. However, this should be balanced with the realization that life must continue as normal as possible. With the recent terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C., it appears as though the nation is on edge for further occurrences, including the use of biological weapons. While it is necessary to be vigilant for future attacks, according to Carol North, M.D., professor of psychiat