Ethnozoological study of animals based medicine used by traditional healers and indigenous inhabitants in the adjoining areas of Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam, India
| Autor: | Surya Bali Prasad, Manash Pratim Borah |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2017 |
| Předmět: |
0106 biological sciences
Cultural Studies Adult Male Health Knowledge Attitudes Practice Health (social science) Ethnic group Wildlife Biodiversity India 01 natural sciences Indigenous Zootherapy lcsh:Botany Cultural diversity Health care Animals Humans Traditional knowledge Socioeconomics Traditional healers Aged Aged 80 and over business.industry Research lcsh:Other systems of medicine Middle Aged Fidelity level lcsh:RZ201-999 lcsh:QK1-989 0104 chemical sciences Medicine Ayurvedic 010404 medicinal & biomolecular chemistry Ethnozoology Geography Complementary and alternative medicine Female General Agricultural and Biological Sciences business Zoology 010606 plant biology & botany |
| Zdroj: | Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, Vol 13, Iss 1, Pp 1-13 (2017) |
| ISSN: | 1746-4269 |
| Popis: | Background India has an immense faunal, floral, as well as cultural diversity with many ethnic communities who are primarily dependent on the traditional medicinal system for their primary health care. Documentation and evaluation of this indigenous remedial knowledge may be helpful to establish new drugs for human health. The present study is intended to look into different zootherapeutic medicinal uses in the traditional health care system among the native inhabitants adjacent to the Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam, India. Methods Field survey was carried out from March 2015 to August 2015 by personal interviews through semi-structured questionnaires. In some cases where participants were uncomfortable with the questionnaires, informal interviews and open group discussions were conducted with a total of 62 indigenous respondents (43 male and 19 female) who provided the information regarding various medicinal uses of animals and their products (local name of animal, mode of preparation, application etc). Results The study recorded a total of 44 different species, 44 genera and 36 families of animals which are used for the treatment of 40 different ailments. Insects occupied the highest uses (30.9%), followed by mammals (23.8%), fishes (16.7%), reptiles (11.9%), amphibians (7.1%), annelids (4.8%) and gastropods (4.8%). Further, some zootherapeutic animals i.e. cockroach (Periplaneta americana), praying mantis (Mantis religiosa) and earthworms (Metaphire houletti, Pheretima posthum) are used for the treatment of asthma, otorrhoea and cancer respectively. Conclusion The findings suggest that the traditional zootherapeutic remedial measures followed by the native people adjacent to Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary plays an important role in their primary health care. The documentation of this indigenous knowledge on animal based medicines should be very helpful in the formulation of strategies for sustainable management and conservation of bio-resources as well as providing potential for the novel drugs discovery. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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