Traditional livestock healers

Mathias, Evelyn; McCorkle, Constance M.

doi:10.20506/rst.23.1.1474

Cited by 24 publications

(20 citation statements)

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“…However, there are many constraints and difficulties facing the conservation of ethnoveterinary knowledge. Traditional medicine knowledge is difficult to learn and transfer accurately [33,34], and because the practice of traditional medicine is not considered respectable in some rural areas, many are abandoning it [35]. The traditional medicinal knowledge and culture of many ethnic groups is in danger of being lost with the disappearance of biodiversity and negative effects of mainstream culture, processes that are not reversible [7,30,36-39].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ethnoveterinary plant remedies used by Nu people in NW Yunnan of China

Shen¹,

Jie

Ren

2010

J Ethnobiology Ethnomedicine

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BackgroundNu people are the least populous ethnic group in Yunnan Province of China and most are distributed in Gongshan County, NW Yunnan. Animal production plays an important role in Nu livelihoods and the Nu people have abundant traditional knowledge of animal management and ethnoveterinary practices. This study documents the animal diseases, ethnoveterinary plant remedies and related traditional knowledge in three Nu villages of Gongshan County.MethodsThis study was carried out in three Nu villages of Gongshan County between July 2009 and February 2010. Data was obtained through the use of semi-structured questionnaires, field observation and PRA tools. A total of 60 Nu respondents (34 men and 26 women) provided information on animal ailments and ethnoveterinary plant medicines used for Nu livestock production. Information on traditional ethnoveterinary medicine knowledge and choice of treatment providers was also obtained.ResultsThirty-five animal conditions were identified in the surveyed area. The major and most common animal diseases among livestock were skin conditions, diarrhea, heat, fevers, colds, and parasites. Most ailments occurred between June and August. The ethnoveterinary medicinal use of 45 plant species was documented. Most medicinal species (86.7%) were collected from the wild. The most frequently used plant parts were whole plants (35.6%), followed by roots (22.2%). The most important medicinal plant species were Saussurea costus (Falc.) Lipech. (UV = 0.67), Senecio scandens Buch.-Ham.ex D.Don (UV = 0.67), Plantago depressa Willd. (UV = 0.63), Rubus corchorifolius L. f. (UV = 0.62), Bupleurum yunnanense Franch. (UV = 0.60), and Polygonum paleaceum Wall. (UV = 0.60). Animal diseases treated with the highest number of ethnoveterinary plant remedies were diarrhea (16 plant species), heat, fever, colds (11 plant species), retained afterbirth (11 plant species), and skin conditions and sores (11 plant species). Many Nu villagers (52%) considered traditional remedies their first choice of animal disease treatment. Traditional ethnoveterinary knowledge was related to the local social-cultural characteristics of Nu people and communities.ConclusionAnimal production plays an important role in Nu culture and livelihoods, and the Nu ethnic group has abundant traditional knowledge about animal production and ethnoveterinary plant remedies. This traditional knowledge faces the risk of disappearing due to increasing modern veterinary medicine extension, livelihood changes and environment degradation. Animal diseases are a major constraint in livestock production in Nu villages. Thus, some strategies and measures should be adopted in the future, such as further researches on Nu culture and livelihoods, community-based validation of ethnoveterinary medicine and broad network building and knowledge sharing.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ethnoveterinary plant remedies used by Nu people in NW Yunnan of China

Shen¹,

Jie

Ren

2010

J Ethnobiology Ethnomedicine

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“…Further research will also be required to assay the bioactive compounds in animal parts that have already been identified as having medicinal properties. Public policies and legislation will also be needed to address the sustainability of local floras, faunas, and other relevant natural resources to protect them from overexploitation while still promoting the use of proven traditional medicines (Mathias and McCorkle 2004).…”

Section: Future Perspectivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These treatments stem from human beliefs and experiences and, above all, from an insatiable curiosity that has allowed cultures to accumulate rich traditional knowledge bases over many centuries that have been passed from generation to generation through word of mouth and in songs, poems, drawings, paintings, stories, legends, dreams, visions, and initiation ceremonies (Backes 1998;Mathias-Mundy and McCorkle 1989). This rich body of knowledge, skills, methods, practices, and beliefs about animal care has given rise to a field of study known as ethnoveterinary medicine (EVM) (Mathias and McCorkle 2004;McCorkle 1986).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Medicinal Animals in Ethnoveterinary Practices: A World Overview

Souto

Pinto

Mendonça

et al. 2012

Animals in Traditional Folk Medicine

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Medicinal animals are used as a source of medicine in virtually all cultures. Such use is not restricted to humans, but also extends to the treatment of livestock diseases. Nevertheless, animal-based medicines in ethnoveterinary practices have been neglected and poorly described. This work assesses the global use of animals in traditional veterinary medicine, as well as the perspective of this field for future research. Our results indicated that at least 98 animal species, of which 95% are wild, are used in worldwide traditional veterinary medicine. A high diversity of animal parts/products is used as remedies in ethnooveterinary practices, fat being the most used product, followed by meat, skin/leather, bones, and honey. Several zootherapeutic products are prescribed to treat similar or identical diseases in animals and humans, confirming a trend of co-evolution between

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“…Traditional veterinary medicine knowledge like all other traditional knowledge systems is handed down orally from generation to generation and it may disappear because of rapid socioeconomic, environmental, technological changes and as a result of the loss of cultural heritage under the guise of civilization [3][4][5]. Only solution is that it must be documented and conserved through systematic studies before it is lost forever.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Documentation of Ethnoveterinary Knowledge among the Somali Pastoral Community in Eastern Part of Ethiopia: with Special Emphasis on Herbal Medicine for Livestock Health

Serda¹

2018

J Vet Sci Technol

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Ethnoveterinary knowledge, like all other traditional knowledge systems, is handed down orally from generation to generation and it may disappear because of rapid socioeconomic, environmental, technological changes and as a result of the loss of cultural heritage under the guise of civilization. Thus, the aim of the study was to document ethnoveterinary knowledge of pastoralists on use of herbal remedies on livestock health in Somali region in eastern Ethiopia. Semi-structured questionnaire was developed to collect data. Medicinal plants were collected and identified in Haramaya University Herbarium and visually compared with authenticated plant specimens kept at national herbarium. One hundred thirty six (136) plant species under forty three families were recorded with veterinary importance. Majority of plant species used as livestock remedy fall in Burseraceae, Mimosaceae, Amaranthaceae and Euphorbiaceae plant families among others. Major livestock diseases in the area include skin problems because of tick infestation, lice infestation, mange, ringworm, bite wounds due to predators, sores on work animals and general wounds. Infertility, Joint diseases and "Shimber" were also commonly mentioned by informants. Various plant parts (leaves, fruit, seeds, bark, roots, juice and latex) were used in the preparation of medicines depending on the remedy in question. The medicines were administered orally, topically or in the case of uterine problems, as washes. Certain plants were also used during branding or cautery, notably for joint diseases, and some species were used as amulets or charms. There is no standardized dosing and treatment duration. The major threats of medicinal plants were invasive plants, drought, over grazing, agricultural activity and firewood collection. Endogenous knowledge on ethno-veterinary medicinal plants was accepted orally from healer's forefathers and transmitted similarly. Relevance and efficacy of ethnoveterinary medicine should be tested and integrated in to livestock extension delivery systems for the need to exploit the possibility of discovering more medicinally viable plants and as immediate solution to the current scenario of development of drug resistance to antimicrobials. There is also a need to conduct trials to check the efficacy and veterinary properties of such plant products and livestock disease treatments.

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Traditional livestock healers

Cited by 24 publications

References 10 publications

Ethnoveterinary plant remedies used by Nu people in NW Yunnan of China

Ethnoveterinary plant remedies used by Nu people in NW Yunnan of China

Medicinal Animals in Ethnoveterinary Practices: A World Overview

Documentation of Ethnoveterinary Knowledge among the Somali Pastoral Community in Eastern Part of Ethiopia: with Special Emphasis on Herbal Medicine for Livestock Health

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