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Posts Tagged ‘Natures’

Zoopharmacognosy: Nature’s Pharmacy used by animals

Author’s name: Prof. Pradeep Mishra, Bhupesh C Semwal, Sonia SIngh*  

Introduction: Self-medicating behavior is a topic of rapidly growing interest to behaviorists, parasitologists, ethnobotanists, chemical ecologists, conservationists, and physicians.  Scientists from various disciplines are currently exploring the possibility that many species use plants, soils, insects, and fungi as ‘medicines’ in ways that guard against future illness (preventive medicine) and/or relieve unpleasant symptoms (curative or therapeutic medicine).  It is important to note that the scientific study of animal self-medication is not based on an assumption that animals possess an innate ‘wisdom’ by which they flawlessly know what is good for them.  Self-medication strategies are survival skills honed by natural selection.  In most cases self-medication could be motivated by a desire to immediately reduce unpleasant sensations.  Some species, particularly great apes, show an intention of purpose in their medication and in these cases the term ‘zoopharmacognosy’ was coined to describe the process by which wild animals select and use specific plants with medicinal properties for the treatment and prevention of disease1.

                  In other words we can say that, “Zoopharmacognosy” refers to the process by which animal self-medicate, by selecting and utilizing plants and soils and insects to treat and prevent disease. Coined by Dr.Eloy Rodriguez a biochemist and professor at Cornell University,  the word is derived from roots zoo (”animal”), pharma (”drug”), and gnosy (”knowing”)2. Since ancient times people have recorded observations of animals apparently healing themselves with natural medicines.  Many herbs still retain a common name that infers this use: dog-grass (Agropyron repens), catnip (Nepeta cataria), and horny goat weed (Epimedium sp.), to name a few.  However, these observations remain largely unexplored by science.  Many stories of animal self-medication are clearly designed to inform and communicate herbal lore rather than fact.  Others are simply misinterpretations of animal behaviour.   Read more...