Patterns of Zootherapy Use in Cross River State, Nigeria and Implications for Human and Ecological Health
Open Access
- Author:
- Lemke, Grace
- Area of Honors:
- Anthropology
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Sagan Friant, Thesis Supervisor
Douglas Bird, Thesis Honors Advisor - Keywords:
- zootherapy
traditional medicine
Nigeria
biodiversity
conservation
human health - Abstract:
- Introduction and Objectives: Traditional medicine continues to be a critical part of healthcare systems globally, and especially in developing countries that lack access to allopathic medical centers. Zootherapy - the use of wild animals to prevent, treat, and cure physical, psychological, spiritual, and social ailments - is an understudied aspect of traditional medicine but one that has critical human and ecological health consequences as a major pathway for human-environment interaction. In the present study, we analyze data on zootherapies from Cross River, Nigeria to assess (1) what animals are most used and what zootherapeutic animals are at high conservation risk, (2) what illness categories and diseases or symptoms are most treated with zootherapy, and (3) what theories of healing drive the zootherapies of Cross River. Results: We report the use of 41 types of animals in 214 distinct zootherapies to treat 68 diseases or symptoms across 18 categories of illness. The conservation status of 12 of these animal species are threatened, and therefore should be prioritized in conservation interventions to replace their zootherapeutic use with non-threatened wild, or domestic, species. Participants reported the use of zootherapy most often for health promotion, musculoskeletal, unknown, parasites, toxins, and infectious agents, and respiratory or nervous system related ailments, shedding light on the health needs of this community that are not met by allopathic care. Finally, 66 of the zootherapies are founded on a theory of healing in African traditional medicine including “like cures like”, mythological or cultural conceptions, and sympathetic healing. Conclusions: We conclude that while zootherapy, and traditional medicine generally, is a critical force for achieving universal healthcare coverage in Nigeria, certain zootherapies may pose significant human or ecological health risks and should therefore be targeted for replacement with culturally sensitive, viable options. These replacement options can be better informed by the analysis we provide of the theories behind zootherapies in Cross River, Nigeria to produce successful public health and conservation outcomes.