Traditional Medicine and culture

In certain countries the rhino horn is used to almost cure everything. It is believed to cure devil possession and keep away all evil spirits, snake poisoning, to remove hallucinations and bewitching nightmares. Continuous administration lightens the body and makes one very robust. For typhoid, headache, and feverish colds. For carbuncles and boils full of pus. For intermittent fevers and expel fear and anxiety, to calm the liver and clear the vision. It is a sedative. If grounded and taken with water it is said to treat violent vomiting, food poisoning, and over dosage of poisonous drugs. For arthritis, melancholia, loss of the voice. Ground up into a paste with water it is given for hematemesis [throat hemorrhage], epistaxis [nosebleeds], rectal bleeding, heavy smallpox, etc.

Because it was believed to provide such a pharmacological bounty, it is perhaps superfluous for rhino horn also to serve as a love potion. :

Organizations have tried to fight for the rhino stating “The rhinoceros is an endangered species. Please use water buffalo horn as a substitute.” Knowing that the buffalo has the same components as the horn.

Taiwanese self-made millionaires are notorious for their conspicuous consumption of rare and exotic wildlife, and the Chinese traditional adage that animals exist primarily for exploitation is nowhere more pronounced than on Taiwan. Most of the rhino horn for sale there comes from South Africa. The demand for Asian horn in particular is increasing and wealthy Taiwanese, aware that prices will rise even higher as rhinoceros numbers decline, are buying it as an investment. In those regions where rhino horn products are dispensed – legally or illegally – the most popular medicines are used for “Curing whatever ails you.”

More specifically in:

Yemen, Middle East: Rhino horn is very sacred and as much part of Yemen’s religious culture today as it was centuries ago. It is a desired commodity amongst young Muslim men. At the age of 12, Yemen boys are presented with a curved dagger called Jambiya, a symbol of a boy’s manhood and devotion to his religion. The dagger’s handle is made from Rhino horn covered with jewels. Despite the 1982 import ban against Rhino horn it still finds its way into Yemen.

China and South East Asia: Rhino horn has a tragic history in the Chinese culture, dating as far back as the 7th century AD. It was made into almost anything, from buttons and hair pins to ceremonial cups. Drinking from these cups was believed to bring good fortune. The most well-known use for Rhino horn is in traditional Chinese Medicine. It is usually ground and boiled or made into a paste, then used as a treatment for gout, rheumatism, fever, hallucinations, vomiting, over dosage of poisonous drugs, snake bite and even devil possession. Contrary to popular notion, it is not so often prescribed as an aphrodisiac or cure for impotency. India, South Korea and Malaysia all share similar beliefs in its medicinal power.

Korea: There are 5 popular oriental medicines made in Korea containing Rhino horn extracts as a key ingredient. These medicines are supposedly a cure for nosebleeds, strokes, comas, high blood pressure and paralysis in one’s face amongst others.