Zoopharmacognosy refers to the process by which non-Human animals self-medicate, by selecting and using plants, soils, and insects to treat and prevent disease. Coined by Dr. Eloy Rodriguez, a biochemist and professor at Cornell University, the word is derived from roots zoo ("animal"), pharma ("drug"), and gnosy ("knowing").[1]
Observers have noticed that some species ingest non-foods, such as toxic plants, clay or charcoal, to ward off parasitic infestation or poisoning.[2] Jane Goodall witnessed chimpanzees eating certain bushes to make themselves sick, and substantial evidence indicates that they swallow whole the leaves of certain rough-leaved plants, such as Aneilema aequinoctiale, in order to remove parasitic worms from their intestines.[3] Some Brazilian parrots eat kaolin (a form of clay).
Illustrating the medicinal knowledge of some species, apes have been observed selecting a particular part of a medicinal plant by taking off leaves, then breaking the stem to suck out the juice.[4] In an interview with Neil Campbell, Rodriguez describes the importance of biodiversity to medicine:
William Astor has observed self-medicative behavior in captive estrildid finches.[5] The finches, of several different species, were observed to correctly target appropriate antibiotics out of a range made available to them, through which they were able to cure themselves of life threatening diseases (as opposed to relatively minor ailments like indigestion). These finches did not learn this self-medicative behavior from their parents or others in the flock through social learning like apes and chimpanzees are suspected of doing. This ability of estrildid finches seems to be innate.
A female capuchin monkey in captivity was observed using tools covered in a sugar-based syrup to groom her wounds and those of her infant.[6][7]
Elephants in Africa will self-medicate by chewing on the leaves of a tree from the Boraginaceae family, which induces labor. Kenyans also use this tree for the same purpose.[8]