Medicinal animals in ethnoveterinary practices: a world overview
Souto, W.M.S.; Pinto, L.C.; Mendonça, L.E.T.; Mourão, J.S.; Vieira, W.L.S.; Montenegro, P.F.G.P.; Alves, R.R.N. (2012). Medicinal animals in ethnoveterinary practices: a world overview, in: Nóbrega Alves, R.R. et al. (2013). Animals in traditional folk medicine: implications for conservation. pp. 43-66. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-29026-8_4
|
| Authors | | Top |
- Souto, W.M.S.
- Pinto, L.C.
- Mendonça, L.E.T.
- Mourão, J.S.
|
- Vieira, W.L.S.
- Montenegro, P.F.G.P.
- Alves, R.R.N.
|
|
| Abstract |
Medicinal animals are used as a source of medicine in virtually all cultures. Such use is not restricted to humans, but also extends to the treatment of livestock diseases. Nevertheless, animal-based medicines in ethnoveterinary practices have been neglected and poorly described. This work assesses the global use of animals in traditional veterinary medicine, as well as the perspective of this field for future research. Our results indicated that at least 98 animal species, of which 95% are wild, are used in worldwide traditional veterinary medicine. A high diversity of animal parts/products is used as remedies in ethnooveterinary practices, fat being the most used product, followed by meat, skin/leather, bones, and honey. Several zootherapeutic products are prescribed to treat similar or identical diseases in animals and humans, confirming a trend of co-evolution between human Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) and Ethnoveterinary medicine (EVM). |
|
