Animal-Based Remedies in Brazilian Traditional Medicine
Alves RR. Fauna used in popular medicine in Northeast Brazil. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2009 Jan 7;5(1):1. PMID: 19128461
A biologist at Universidade Estadual da Paraíba has undertaken an encyclopedic review of 250 animal species used in Brazilian traditional medicine.
From the conclusion:
"In a country like Brazil, where the majority of the population has no access modern allopathic medicines, local medicinal animals and plant knowledge systems is of significance. The population uses traditional medicine due to the relatively low cost of traditional medicine and difficult access to modern health facilities. Nevertheless, the interest in and intrinsic value of zootherapy not be only be attributed to the lack of access to modern medicinal services. Even in cities where modern health services are more accessible and specialized; many people continue to go to traditional healers showing the cultural acceptability of such practices. Besides the biological aspects, the economical and sociocultural factors influence the relationship of the local gathered people and the zootherapic resources usage. The need of new studies is evidenced which approach the medicinal fauna of Brazil, seeking for a better understanding of this therapy form, not only in its ecological aspects, but also cultural and pharmacological."
An appendix details the animal taxa recorded as having medicinal properties.
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technorati tags: complementary and alternative medicine integrative medicine zootherapy
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