When a wild orangutan in Sumatra recently suffered a facial injury, apparently after fighting with another male, he did something that caught the attention of scientists watching him.
The animal chewed the leaves of a vine – The to plant not normally eaten by monkeys. For several days, the orangutan carefully applied the juice to the wound and then covered it with a paste of chewed vine. The wound healed with only a slight scar. The tropical plant he selected has antibacterial and antioxidant properties and is known to relieve pain, fever, bleeding and inflammation.
The remarkable story was captured by the media worldwide. In interviews and your research work, scientists stated that this is “the first systematically documented case of active treatment of wounds by a wild animal” with a biologically active plant. The discovery “will provide new insights into the origins of human wound care.”
To me, the orangutan’s behavior seemed familiar. As a historian of ancient science which investigates what the Greeks and Romans knew about plants and animals, I was reminded of similar cases reported by Aristotle, Pliny the Elder, Eliano and other naturalists of antiquity. A notable body of accounts from ancient to medieval times describes self-medication by many different animals. Animals used plants to treat illnesses, repel parasites, neutralize poisons, and heal wounds.
The term zoopharmacognosy – “knowledge of animal medicine” – was invented in 1987. But like the Roman natural historian Plínio highlighted 2,000 years ago, many animals made medical discoveries useful to humans. In fact, a large number of medicinal plants used in modern medicines have been discovered for the first time by indigenous peoples and past cultures who observed animals employing plants and imitated them.
What can you learn by watching animals
Some of the earliest written examples of animal self-medication appear in Aristotle’s book “History of Animals” from the 4th century BC, such as the well-known habit of dogs eating grass when they are sick, probably for purgation and deworming.
Aristotle also noted that after hibernation, bears seek wild garlic as their first food. It’s rich in vitamin C, iron and magnesium, healthy nutrients after a long winter nap. The Latin name reflects this popular belief: Allium ursinum translates as “bear lily,” and the common name in many other languages refers to bears.
Plínio explained how the use of dictate, also known as wild oregano, to treat arrow wounds came about by observing wounded deer grazing on the grass. Aristotle and Dioscorides attributed the discovery to wild goats. Vergil, Cicero, Plutarch, Solinus, Celsus and Galen stated that Dittany has the ability to expel an arrowhead and close the wound. Among Dittany’s many acquaintances phytochemical properties are antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and coagulating effects.
According to Plínio, the deer also knew an antidote for toxic plants: wild plants artichokes. The leaves relieve nausea and stomach cramps and protect the liver. To cure themselves of spider bites, Pliny wrote, deer ate crabs found on the beach and sick goats did the same. Notably, crab shells contain chitosanwhich stimulates the immune system.
When elephants accidentally swallowed chameleons hidden in green foliage, they ate olive leaves, a natural antibiotic to combat salmonella harbored by lizards. Plínio said that crows eat chameleons, but then ingest bay leaves to combat the lizards’ toxicity. Antibacterial Bay Leaves relieve diarrhea and gastrointestinal discomfort. Pliny noted that blackbirds, partridges, jays, and pigeons also eat bay leaves for digestive problems.
Weasels were said to roll in the evergreen rue to combat wounds and snake bites. Fresh road it is toxic. Its medical value is unclear, but the dried plant is included in many traditional folk medicines. Swallows collect another toxic plant, celandine, to make a poultice for the puppies’ eyes. Snakes emerging from hibernation rub their eyes on fennel. Fennel bulbs contain compounds that promote tissue repair and immunity.
According to the naturalist Eliano, who lived in the 3rd century BC, the Egyptians attributed much of their medical knowledge to the wisdom of animals. Aelian described elephants treating spear wounds with olive flowers and olive oil. He also mentioned storks, partridges and doves crushing oregano leaves and applying the paste to the wounds.
The study of animal medicines continued into the Middle Ages. An example from the 12th century English compendium of animal lore, the Aberdeen Bestiarytalks about bears covering wounds with mullein. Folk medicine prescribes this plant to relieve pain and heal burns and wounds, thanks to its anti-inflammatory chemicals.
14th century manuscript of Ibn al-Durayhim “The usefulness of animals” reported that the swallows cured the eyes of their chicks with turmeric, another anti-inflammatory. He also noted that wild goats chew and apply sphagnum moss to wounds, just as the Sumatran orangutan did to the vine. Sphagnum moss dressings neutralize bacteria and fight infections.
Nature’s Pharmacopoeia
Of course, these pre-modern observations were popular knowledge and not formal science. But the stories reveal long-term observation and imitation of diverse animal species that self-medicate with bioactive plants. Just like traditional indigenous people ethnobotany is leading to life-saving medicines todayscientific testing of ancient and medieval claims could lead to the discovery of new therapeutic plants.
Animal self-medication has become a rapidly growing scientific discipline. Observers report observations of animals, from birds and mice to porcupines and chimpanzees, deliberately employing an impressive repertoire of medicinal substances. A surprising observation is that finches and sparrows collect cigarette butts. Nicotine kills dust mites in birds’ nests. Some veterinarians even allow diseases dogs, horses and other domestic animals choose their own recipes by smelling various botanical compounds.
The mysteries remain. No one knows how animals perceive which plants cure disease, heal wounds, repel parasites or promote health. Are they intentionally responding to specific health crises? And how is your knowledge transmitted? What we know is that we humans have been learning healing secrets watching animals self-medicate for millennia.
This article was republished from The conversation, an independent, nonprofit news organization that brings you trusted facts and analysis to help you understand our complex world. It was written by: Adriana Mayor, Stanford University
See more information:
Adrienne Mayor does not work for, consult with, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond her academic appointment.
