Zoopharmacognosy is defined as "a behaviour in which non-human animals apparently self-medicate by selecting and ingesting or topically applying plants, soils, insects, and psychoactive drugs to prevent or reduce the harmful effects of pathogens and toxins. The term derives from Greek roots zoo ("animal"), pharmacon ("drug, medicine"), and gnosy ("knowing")."
Warning - Rant Alert - Some could be triggered...
Quaint when a 1980's modern man makes up a word, in ancient Greek, hedging his bets with the word APPARENTLY. This egocentric attitude negates 500,000,000+ years of Evolution where animals have APPARENTLY self-medicated by selecting... plants, etc in their environments.to prevent or reduce harm... ibid
How arrogant. How disrespectful. How scary is human ego? I'll leave you to ponder. For once, I am speechless. Think I will go chew on some Dandelion to cheer myself up! Wonder if my ancestors knew this trick. Where else could I have learned it? Ohhhh - that's right - on the internet.
OK, rant aside, I am back after several days of research with my own new word:
ZOO-PHARMA-COGNITION: Animals do recognize (and utilize) medicines and remedies in their 'natural' habitats.
Now, I need your help = Could you tell me the most interesting thing you have observed // read about // researched where animals intelligently self-medicate.
NOT TALKING ABOUT PHARMACEUTICS because pharmaceutics, by definition, is: the art and science of preparing and dispensing drugs and medicines. I am talking about Dogs eating grass in the yard for their health, Horses eating flowers in the spring. Primates chewing on fresh leaves to treat, prevent worms and fungal infections. Mountain Goats in the Alps after a fall, rolling in and eating Arnica growing nearby. Bears eating Balsam root to increase circulation after hibernation.
What do you know?? Please share. I am doing a series of magazine articles on ZooPharmaCognition and want to know what you know!! Send me your thoughts, ideas, links, and authors. Thank you in advance!!
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