Ebook: Animals in Traditional Folk Medicine: Implications for Conservation

People have relied on medicinal products derived from natural sources for millennia, and animals have long been an important part of that repertoire; nearly all cultures, from ancient times to the present, have used animals as a source of medicine. Ingredients derived from wild animals are not only widely used in traditional remedies, but are also increasingly valued as raw materials in the preparation of modern medicines. Regrettably, the unsustainable use of plants and animals in traditional medicine is recognized as a threat to wildlife conservation, as a result of which discussions concerning the links between traditional medicine and biodiversity are becoming increasingly imperative, particularly in view of the fact that folk medicine is the primary source of health care for 80% of the world’s population. This book discusses the role of animals in traditional folk medicine and its meaning for wildlife conservation. We hope to further stimulate further discussions about the use of biodiversity and its implications for wildlife conservation strategies.

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People have relied on medicinal products derived from natural sources for millennia, and animals have long been an important part of that repertoire; nearly all cultures, from ancient times to the present, have used animals as a source of medicine. Ingredients derived from wild animals are not only widely used in traditional remedies, but are also increasingly valued as raw materials in the preparation of modern medicines. Regrettably, the unsustainable use of plants and animals in traditional medicine is recognized as a threat to wildlife conservation, as a result of which discussions concerning the links between traditional medicine and biodiversity are becoming increasingly imperative, particularly in view of the fact that folk medicine is the primary source of health care for 80% of the world’s population. This book discusses the role of animals in traditional folk medicine and its meaning for wildlife conservation. We hope to further stimulate further discussions about the use of biodiversity and its implications for wildlife conservation strategies.

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People have relied on medicinal products derived from natural sources for millennia, and animals have long been an important part of that repertoire; nearly all cultures, from ancient times to the present, have used animals as a source of medicine. Ingredients derived from wild animals are not only widely used in traditional remedies, but are also increasingly valued as raw materials in the preparation of modern medicines. Regrettably, the unsustainable use of plants and animals in traditional medicine is recognized as a threat to wildlife conservation, as a result of which discussions concerning the links between traditional medicine and biodiversity are becoming increasingly imperative, particularly in view of the fact that folk medicine is the primary source of health care for 80% of the world’s population. This book discusses the role of animals in traditional folk medicine and its meaning for wildlife conservation. We hope to further stimulate further discussions about the use of biodiversity and its implications for wildlife conservation strategies.

Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xv
Introduction: Toward a Plural Approach to the Study of Medicinal Animals....Pages 1-9
From Past to Present: Medicinal Animals in a Historical Perspective....Pages 11-23
Medicine from the Wild: An Overview of the Use and Trade of Animal Products in Traditional Medicines....Pages 25-42
Medicinal Animals in Ethnoveterinary Practices: A World Overview....Pages 43-66
Animals as a Source of Drugs: Bioprospecting and Biodiversity Conservation....Pages 67-89
Fish Folk Medicine of Caicara (Atlantic Coastal Forest) and Caboclo (Amazon Forest) Communities....Pages 91-108
Herpetofauna Used in Traditional Folk Medicine: Conservation Implications....Pages 109-133
Primates in Traditional Folk Medicine: World Overview....Pages 135-170
A Global Overview of Carnivores Used in Traditional Medicines....Pages 171-206
Seahorses in Traditional Medicines: A Global Overview....Pages 207-240
Aquatic Mammals Used in Traditional Folk Medicine: A Global Analysis....Pages 241-261
Marine Invertebrates in Traditional Medicines....Pages 263-287
The Role of Animal-Derived Remedies as Complementary Medicine in Brazil....Pages 289-301
Mediterranean Zootherapy: A Historical to Modern Perspective....Pages 303-316
A Review of Fauna Used in Zootherapeutic Remedies in Portugal: Historical Origins, Current Uses, and Implications for Conservation....Pages 317-345
Zootherapy and Biodiversity Conservation in Nigeria....Pages 347-365
Wild Mammals Trade for Zootherapeutic and Mythic Purposes in Benin (West Africa): Capitalizing Species Involved, Provision Sources, and Implications for Conservation....Pages 367-381
Birds of a Feather: Quantitative Assessments of the Diversity and Levels of Threat to Birds Used in African Traditional Medicine....Pages 383-420
Animals Traded for Traditional Medicine at the Faraday Market in South Africa: Species Diversity and Conservation Implications....Pages 421-473
Finely Ground?Hornbill: The Sale of Bucorvus Cafer in a Traditional Medicine Market in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe....Pages 475-486
Back Matter....Pages 487-491

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People have relied on medicinal products derived from natural sources for millennia, and animals have long been an important part of that repertoire; nearly all cultures, from ancient times to the present, have used animals as a source of medicine. Ingredients derived from wild animals are not only widely used in traditional remedies, but are also increasingly valued as raw materials in the preparation of modern medicines. Regrettably, the unsustainable use of plants and animals in traditional medicine is recognized as a threat to wildlife conservation, as a result of which discussions concerning the links between traditional medicine and biodiversity are becoming increasingly imperative, particularly in view of the fact that folk medicine is the primary source of health care for 80% of the world’s population. This book discusses the role of animals in traditional folk medicine and its meaning for wildlife conservation. We hope to further stimulate further discussions about the use of biodiversity and its implications for wildlife conservation strategies.

Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xv
Introduction: Toward a Plural Approach to the Study of Medicinal Animals....Pages 1-9
From Past to Present: Medicinal Animals in a Historical Perspective....Pages 11-23
Medicine from the Wild: An Overview of the Use and Trade of Animal Products in Traditional Medicines....Pages 25-42
Medicinal Animals in Ethnoveterinary Practices: A World Overview....Pages 43-66
Animals as a Source of Drugs: Bioprospecting and Biodiversity Conservation....Pages 67-89
Fish Folk Medicine of Caicara (Atlantic Coastal Forest) and Caboclo (Amazon Forest) Communities....Pages 91-108
Herpetofauna Used in Traditional Folk Medicine: Conservation Implications....Pages 109-133
Primates in Traditional Folk Medicine: World Overview....Pages 135-170
A Global Overview of Carnivores Used in Traditional Medicines....Pages 171-206
Seahorses in Traditional Medicines: A Global Overview....Pages 207-240
Aquatic Mammals Used in Traditional Folk Medicine: A Global Analysis....Pages 241-261
Marine Invertebrates in Traditional Medicines....Pages 263-287
The Role of Animal-Derived Remedies as Complementary Medicine in Brazil....Pages 289-301
Mediterranean Zootherapy: A Historical to Modern Perspective....Pages 303-316
A Review of Fauna Used in Zootherapeutic Remedies in Portugal: Historical Origins, Current Uses, and Implications for Conservation....Pages 317-345
Zootherapy and Biodiversity Conservation in Nigeria....Pages 347-365
Wild Mammals Trade for Zootherapeutic and Mythic Purposes in Benin (West Africa): Capitalizing Species Involved, Provision Sources, and Implications for Conservation....Pages 367-381
Birds of a Feather: Quantitative Assessments of the Diversity and Levels of Threat to Birds Used in African Traditional Medicine....Pages 383-420
Animals Traded for Traditional Medicine at the Faraday Market in South Africa: Species Diversity and Conservation Implications....Pages 421-473
Finely Ground?Hornbill: The Sale of Bucorvus Cafer in a Traditional Medicine Market in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe....Pages 475-486
Back Matter....Pages 487-491
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