Final answer:
Powdered rhinoceros horn is traditionally used in Chinese medicine for treating fevers and convulsions, not as an aphrodisiac. The international trade and demand for rhino horn have caused significant harm to rhino populations, necessitating protection through CITES.
Step-by-step explanation:
In traditional Chinese medicine, powdered rhinoceros horn (Cornu Rhinoceri Asiatici) is primarily prescribed for the treatment of fevers and convulsions. It is a common misconception that rhinoceros horn is used as an aphrodisiac; however, traditionally it has been utilized for its supposed fever-reducing and detoxifying properties. Despite this, the demand for rhino horn has led to severe negative effects internationally, including the push to the brink of extinction for these majestic animals. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) had to step in to protect rhinoceroses with an international agreement due to the cross-border nature of wildlife trade and poaching pressures, which cannot be combated effectively by any single country alone.