Animals treat themselves with plants – a behavior that humans have observed and imitated for 1000’s of years

When a wild orangutan in Sumatra recently sustained a facial injury – apparently after a fight with one other male – he did something that caught the eye of the scientists who were watching him.

The animal chewed the leaves of a liana vine – A Attachment will not be normally eaten by monkeys. Over several days, the orangutan rigorously spread the juice on his wound after which covered it with a paste constructed from chewed lianas. The wound healed, leaving only a faint scar. The tropical plant he selected has antibacterial and antioxidant properties and is thought to alleviate pain, fever, bleeding and inflammation.

The remarkable story was picked up by the media worldwide. In interviews and in their research workThe scientists said it was “the first systematically documented case of active wound treatment by a wild animal” using a biologically lively plant. The discovery will “provide new insights into the origins of human wound treatment.”

The orangutan’s behavior seemed familiar to me. Historians of ancient sciences which examines what Greeks and Romans knew about plants and animals, I used to be reminded of comparable cases reported by Aristotle, Pliny the Elder, Aelian and other naturalists from antiquity. A remarkable Invoice body From precedent days to the Middle Ages, self-medication has been described in many alternative animals. Animals used plants to treat illnesses, ward off parasites, neutralize poisons and heal wounds.

The term zoopharmacognosy – “veterinary medicine knowledge” – was invented in 1987. But because the Roman natural historian Pliny identified 2,000 years ago, many animals made medical discoveries that were useful to humans. In fact, many medicinal plants utilized in modern medicines were first discovered by indigenous peoples and earlier cultures who observed and imitated how animals used plants.

What you may learn from animal remark

Some of the earliest written examples of animal self-medication might be present in Aristotle's “History of animals“ from the fourth century BC, akin to the well-known habit of dogs eating grass once they are sick, probably for laxative and deworming purposes.

Aristotle also noted that bears after hibernation wild garlic as the primary food. It is wealthy in vitamin C, iron and magnesium, healthy nutrients after an extended hibernation. The Latin name reflects this popular belief: Garlic Ursinum means “bear lily” and the common name in lots of other languages ​​refers to bears.

Pliny explained how using Dittanyalso often called wild oregano, was first used to treat arrow wounds when wounded deer were observed grazing on the herb. Aristotle and Dioscorides attributed the invention to wild goats. Virgil, Cicero, Plutarch, Solinus, Celsus and Galen claimed that dittany had the flexibility to expel an arrowhead and shut the wound. Among the various known properties of dittany Phytochemical properties have antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and coagulant effects.

According to Pliny, deer also knew an antidote to poisonous plants: wild artichokes. The leaves relieve nausea and stomach cramps and protect the liver. To cure themselves of spider bites, Pliny wrote, deer ate crabs washed up on the beach, and sick goats did the identical. Remarkably, Crab shells contain chitosanthat strengthens the immune system.

When elephants by chance swallowed chameleons hiding on green foliage, they ate olive leaves, a natural antibiotic to combat Salmonella hosted by lizardsPliny said that ravens eat chameleons but then take bay leaves to counteract the lizards' toxicity. Antibacterial bay leaves Relieves diarrhea and gastrointestinal complaints. Pliny noted that blackbirds, partridges, jays and pigeons also eat bay leaves to combat digestive problems.

Weasels are said to have rolled within the evergreen rue to appease wounds and snake bites. regret is poisonous. Its medicinal value is unclear, however the dried plant is included in lots of traditional folk remedies. Swallows collect one other poisonous plant, Greater celandineto make a poultice for the eyes of their chicks. Snakes awaking from hibernation rub their eyes with fennel. Fennel bulbs contain compounds that promote tissue repair and immunity.

According to the naturalist Aelianwho lived within the third century B.C., the Egyptians attributed much of their medical knowledge to the wisdom of animals. Aelian described how elephants healed spear wounds with Olive blossoms and oilHe also mentioned storks, partridges and turtle doves, which Oregano leaves and apply the paste to wounds.

The study of veterinary medicine continued within the Middle Ages. An example from the twelfth century English compendium of animal science, the Aberdeen Bestiarytells of bears who treat wounds with Mullein. Folk medicine prescribes this flowering plant to alleviate pain and heal burns and wounds because of its anti-inflammatory chemical ingredients.

Ibn al-Durayhim’s 14th century manuscript “The usefulness of animals” reported that swallows healed the eyes of nestlings with turmericone other anti-inflammatory agent. He also found that wild goats chew peat moss and apply it to wounds, just because the Sumatran orangutan did with lianas. Sphagnum moss dressings Neutralize bacteria and fight infections.

Pharmacopoeia of Nature

Of course, these pre-modern observations were folk knowledge and never formal science. But the stories show that various animal species were observed and imitated over an extended time frame and treated themselves with bioactive plants. Just as traditional indigenous ethnobotany results in life-saving medicines today, scientific verification of ancient and medieval claims may lead to the invention of latest medicinal plants.

Self-medication in animals has grow to be a rapidly growing scientific discipline. Observers report on observations of animals, from birds and rats to porcupines and chimpanzeesAn impressive repertoire of medicinal substances is deliberately used. A surprising remark is that finches and sparrows Collect cigarette butts. The nicotine kills mites in bird nests. Some Veterinarians even allow sickly Dogs, horses and other pets can select their very own recipes by sniffing various plant compounds.

Mysteries remain. Nobody knows how animals sense, which plants cure diseases, heal wounds, ward off parasites or otherwise promote health. Do they respond intentionally to certain health crises? And how is their knowledge passed on? What we do know is that we humans Learn healing secrets by observing how animals treat themselves over 1000’s of years.