Abstract
The use of medicines was long considered by Western schools of thought to be a a domain
unique to humans; however, folklore/Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) from around
the world suggests that animals have also long provided inspiration for the discovery
of some medicinal plants used to treat humans and their livestock. Searching for medicinal
knowledge from animals depends on the recognition of their ability to select and effectively
use medicinal plants to prevent or actively ameliorate disease and other homeostatic
imbalances. The interdisciplinary field of animal self-medication is providing scientific
evidence for this ability in species across the animal kingdom and lends support to
animal-origin medicinal plant folklore and recent ethnomedicinal information. Here,
14 case studies of purported animal-inspired plant medicines used by cultures around
the world are presented together with ethnomedicinal and pharmacological evidence.
Based on this evidence, the
diversity and potential mode of self-medicative behaviors are considered. Over
20 animal species, including llama, sloth and jaguar in South America, reindeer and
yak in Eurasia, langur and macaque in Asia, and chimpanzee, wild boar, porcupine and
elephant in Africa, are linked to these case studies, representing a variety of potential
preventative or therapeutic self-medicative behaviors. These examples provide an important
perspective on what is likely to have been a much wider practice in the development
of human traditional medicine. A role for animal self-medication research in the rejuvenation
of old therapies and possible new discoveries of phytotherapies for human and livestock
health is encouraged.
Key words
phytotherapy - traditional medicine - animal behavior - folklore - traditional ecological
knowledge - zoopharmacognosy
