When a wild orangutan in Sumatra recently suffered a facial wound, apparently after the fight against another man, he did what attracted the attention of scientists who watched him.
The animal chewed the Liana Vine sheets, a plant that does not usually eat monkeys. Within a few days, the orangutan carefully placed the juice on the wound, then covered the chewing liana paste. The wound healed only with a weak scar. The tropical plant he has chosen has antibacterial and antioxidant properties and, as known, relieves pain, fever, bleeding and inflammation.
The stunning story has been chosen by the media around the world. In an interview and their research document, scientists said it was the “first systematically documented case of a wild animal active wound” with a biologically active plant. This discovery “will give new insights on the origins of human wound care”.
For me, orangutan’s behavior seemed familiar. As an ancient science historian investigating what the Greeks and Romans know of plants and animals, I was reminded of similar cases reported by Aristotle, Pliny, Senior, Aelian and other naturalists from ancient times. The excellent number of accounts from ancient to medieval times describes many different animals independently. Animals used plants to treat diseases, repel parasites, neutralize poison and treat wounds.
The term “zoopharmacognosy” – “Animal Medical News” – was invented in 1987. However, as Pliny, a Roman natural historian Pliny, 2000 years ago, many animals made medical discoveries beneficial to humans. In fact, many medicinal plants used in modern drugs were first discovered by the local nations and former cultures that observed animals that recruit and mimic them.
What can you learn by observing animals
Some of the earliest examples of written animal independent drugs are given in Aristotle’s “Animal History” from the fourth century BC, for example, a well -known habit of dogs to eat grass when ill, probably cleaned and sinking.
Aristotle also noted that after wintering, the wild garlic bears are looking for their first food. It is rich in vitamin C, iron and magnesium, healthy nutrients after a long hibernation. The Latin name reflects the following folk belief: Garlic Ursinum Business is a “bear lily” and the common name in many other languages means bears.
Pliny explained how the use of Dittany, also known as a wild oregano, to treat arrow wounds, arose as the injured in the herb grazing. Aristotle and Dioscorides presented the wild goats with the discovery. Vergilis, Cicero, Plutarch, Solin, Celsus and Galen said Ditany has the ability to displace the arrow head and close the wound. Among the many known dittany phytochemical properties are antiseptic, anti -inflammatory and coagulation effects.
According to Pliny, deer also knew an antidote to toxic plants: wild artichokes. Leaves facilitate nausea and stomach cramps and protect the liver. To cure spider bites, Pliny wrote, deer ate crabs washed on the beach, and the hospital goats did the same. It is noteworthy that crab shells contain a chitosan that increases the immune system.
When elephants accidentally swallowed the chameleons hidden on green greens, they ate olive leaves – a natural antibiotic to fight the lizard -fertilized Salmonella. Pliny said that crows eat chameleons, but then swallow the bay leaves to repel the toxicity of the lizards. The leaves of the antibacterial bay alleviate diarrhea and gastrointestinal suffering. Pliny noted that black birds, porridge, Jays and pigeons also eat bay leaves for digestive problems.
It was said that the jaws were rolling in the evergreen -green plant Rue to fight wounds and snakes. Fresh Rue is toxic. Its medical value is unclear, but the dried plant is included in many traditional folk drugs. Cregens collect another toxic plant, celandine to make their chicks. Snakes arising from wintering rub the eyes to fennel. Fennel bulbs contain compounds that promote tissue restoration and immunity.
According to the naturalist Aeliano, who lived in the third century BC, the Egyptians traced most of their medical knowledge with the wisdom of animals. Aelian described elephants treating spear wounds with olive flowers and oil. He also mentioned storks, porridge and tracks, crushing oregano leaves, and applying paste to wounds.
The investigation of animal remedies continued in the Middle Ages. The 12th century livestock ethnographic, Aberdeen Bestiary, tells the story of bear-coating ulcers with mullein. The folk medicine prescribes this flowering plant to soothe pain and heal burns and wounds for its anti -inflammatory chemicals.
Ibn al-Durayhim 14th-century manuscript “Animal Usefulness” reported that swallows healed nest eyes with turmeric, another anti-inflammatory. He also noted that the wild goats chew and lubricate the sphagnum moss for wounds, like Sumatran orangutan with liana. Sfagnum moss bandages neutralize bacteria and fight infection.
Nature pharmacopoeias
Of course, these privileged observations were folk knowledge, not official science. However, stories reveal long -term observation and imitation of various animal species by self -teaching bioactive plants. As traditional local ethnobotanics today causes rescue drugs, ancient and medieval statements research can lead to discoveries of new therapeutic plants.
Animal self -treatment has become a rapidly growing scientific discipline. Observers report the observations of animals, from birds and rats to pigs and chimpanzees, deliberately using an impressive repertoire of medicinal substances. The wonderful observation is that fins and sparrows collect cigarette butt. Nicotine kills ticks in bird nests. Some veterinarians even allow tedious dogs, horses and other pets to choose their own recipes by sniffing various botanical compounds.
Secrets remain. No one knows how animals feel that plants heal disease, heals wounds, repels parasites or otherwise promotes health. Do they intentionally respond to certain health crises? And how are their knowledge transmitted? What we know is that we humans learn the healing secrets, observing how animals self -heal for millennia.
This article has been published from a conversation, non -profit, independent news organizations that provide you with facts and reliable analysis to help you give meaning to our complex world. It was written by: Adrienne Mayor, Stanford University
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The Adrienne mayor is not working, consulting, having any company or organization funds, or receiving funding that is beneficial from this article, and has not disclosed any important dependent on their academic appointment.