Bile extraction from captive bears

[Wingding]

I've seen lots of distressing stories on Facebook about caged bears being used for bike extraction.Can anyone reassure me that the Ursooxydeolic tablets prescribed fir PBC are not from harvested bear bile?

[Maya535]

Hi that’s the first thing I asked my Specialist and was assured that Urso is synthetic bear bile. Made in a lab not from a poor animal.

Those bears you are seeing are in China I believe . It’s horrific that this is still happening.

[Willowgrove]

it is completely illegal in many parts of the world to use bear bile. every Chinese medical provider I have asked about this has assured me that this has not been part of their practice for decades - at least in Europe/Canada or the US. Urso is synthetic. This is medication that can be trusted thanks to our regulatory systems in place.

However, illegal use through poaching does occur, and bears are hunted and used for parts all over the world. As are many animals. Get involved to stop it! Personally I have begun contributing on a regular basis to some of the bear sanctuaries in Asia, that rescue animals from bile farms.

[Michi1 in reply to Willowgrove]

Glad to know it’s illegal. I didn’t realize that. If I had to take urso that I knew was produced that way I would be living on tart cherry juice and cleansing fasts and hoping for the best.

[Wingding in reply to Willowgrove]

Yes , I too contribute towards stopping this vile practice

[Michi1]

urso is synthetic. That would not be the case if you were getting bear bile from a holistic chinese medicine practitioner in some places. I’m all about the holistic and natural sources but I’m happy for pharma on this one.

[Boysanboys59]

hi, if you wish to know what’s in urso phone the company that manufactures it. I’ve heard it is extracted from slaughtered cattle , I donot know if this is right or wrong, I’d phone ie e mail the maker and ask😊

[Bramleyb]

When I was diagnosed in 2019 I contacted one of the manufacturers as I too was concerned about URSO containing bear bile. I knew the product wasn't vegetarian or vegan as the capsules contain gelatine, but wondered if any of the actual URSO was truly free of animal products and in particular that it didn't contain bear bile - (so that I could transfer the contents to an alternative capsule) this was the response I got.

"All ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is derived from cholic acid and this is animal sourced. There is no synthetic cholic acid so there is no UDCA product on the market (any country, any manufacturer) that is "vegetarian". I believe there are efforts to synthesise cholic acid but it is not available yet and won't be for the foreseeable future, as far as I am aware."

[Wingding in reply to Bramleyb]

Oh! So that begs the question, how is the cholic acid harvested and from what animals?Did your research provide any answers?

Thanks,

Wendy

[Bramleyb in reply to Wingding]

I read somewhere that it's from Bovine sources. I think from a cost perspective that seems quite a likely source as it would be a lot cheaper to access. If I can find where I read that I'll add a link.

[Candy12]

Have a listen to last weeks Q&A session on the PBC Foundation Facebook page. It’s synthetically made in a lab, it never mentioned any animal source.

[gillrich in reply to Candy12]

Indeed also contacted

Pbcfoundation.org.uk for all up to date and accurate information if still concerned

[Ash322]

I believe that current Ursosan is an artificial medicine. It is not resourced from bears. I think it is an Asian practice. to use actual bear bile from Ursine animals. I also would not use Ursosan if I thought it was from actual, captive bears.