Zoopharmacognosy

My yesterday's blip about Wincarnis garnered some fascinating responses. I especially enjoyed Talpa's link to a wonderful reminiscence about another fortified drink that was a Huddersfield speciality.

However... from human self-medication to animals'. The awkward portemanteau word zoopharmocognosy essentially means 'animals knowing what's good for them' - small pharma as oppsed to Big Pharma you could say.
I was taking some pictures of the amber trunks of this myrtle bush when Casey started chewing grass (couch grass, also known as dog grass). It's a classic example of self-medication despite the fact that no one seems to know exactly why dogs do it (as explained by a vet).
But there are many other cases of animals eating or using plants, soil, sap, salt, saliva and so on to protect themselves against, or dispel parasites, remedy mineral or vitamin deficiencies and in some instances treat infections or disease. Birds let ants run through their plumage, fish allow smaller fish to clean their scales and mouths, and my recent blip about a medical support dog explained how dogs can smell the subtle chemical changes in odour that accompany abnormal physical functioning. You can find many such examples here or in a fascinating book called Wild Health: How Animals Keep Themselves Well and What We Can Learn from Them by Cindy Engel (2002). When I read it 10 years ago there was very little else to be found on the subject but now the internet has reams.

Sad to say, although Casey may find chewing grass helpful, he will not be able to treat himself for what ails him. A couple of months ago he was diagnosed with a heart condition which has slowed him right down and he'll have to take prescribed medication for the rest of his life.

(Oh this seems to be some sort of milestone. I hadn't realised!)
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