Although modern medicine is based on advanced technology and synthetic drugs, traditional medical practices remain alive in many communities around the world. An article by Biru and colleagues (2022) shows how, in Ethiopia – a country with enormous biodiversity and rich cultural traditions – animals and animal products are used to treat various diseases.

Research conducted among the Awi, Gamo, and Konta communities showed that as many as 20 animal species (including mammals, birds, and a reptile) are used in therapy. Meat, skin, and blood are used most often, and the ailments treated in this way include asthma, bone fractures, and protection against the “evil eye.” It is worth emphasizing that knowledge of such practices varies – older residents and people from the Amhara region possess more of it than younger people or those from the south of the country.

Although zootherapy in Ethiopia is deeply rooted in culture and in the practice of everyday life, these studies also highlight the need to protect endangered species such as the leopard and the African elephant. The authors call for combining ethnozoological research with nature conservation efforts in order to preserve both traditional knowledge and the natural resources themselves.

This study is an example of how nature-based therapies – including those less well known in the Western world – are the subject of rigorous scientific research. Documenting and analyzing such practices enriches our understanding of the relationship between humans and nature and points to possibilities for combining tradition with a modern approach to health and environmental protection.

Source:Biru, Y., Gibru, A., Temesgen, Z., Hunde, K., & Fekensa, T. (2022). Zootherapeutic animals used by Awi, Gamo, and Konta communities in Amhara and Southern Regions of Ethiopia. Asian Journal of Ethnobiology, 5(2), 84–91. https://doi.org/10.13057/asianjethnobiol/y050202