ZOOPHARMACOGNOSY

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Zoopharamacognosy is the study of how animals self-medicate on medicinal compounds - such as plants, clays and algae – in the wild. This innate ability allows animals to seek out and recognise which compounds they need to help them regain their health.

WHERE DID IT ALL BEGIN?

In the 1980s self-medication was first being explored by Dr. Michael Huffman, when he was studying a group of wild chimpanzees in Tanzania. He noticed a chimp, who was exhibiting signs of ill health, seek out and consume a toxic plant - with no ill effects, in fact quite the opposite - the next day the chimp was back to full health. Further investigations found that the plant contained parasite-killing chemicals and the chimps were using this usually-toxic plant to rid themselves of parasites. (Huffman & Seifu, 1989) Since then, many animal species have been studied self-medicating in the wild. Scientists are even now considering the possibility that many medicinal plants used today in herbal medicine, were originally discovered by observing wild animals self-medicate (Huffman, 2022.)

SO WHAT'S APPLIED ZOOPHARMACOGNOSY?

Also in the 1980's, Caroline Ingraham was also discovering how companion animals self-medicate using aromatic plant extracts, in particular essential oils. She spent the next 38 years researching and observing how animals - wild and domesticated - heal themselves naturally, and established the term Applied Zoopharmacognosy.

Applied Zoopharmacognosy involves bringing medicinal plant extracts, including essential oils, herbs and clays, to domestic & captive animals, as they are rarely free to forage for themselves. The practice allows animals to select the plant extracts they require to support their condition, both physically and behaviourally.

HOW CAN IT HELP MY PET?

PHYSICAL ISSUES

BEHAVIOURAL ISSUES

Digestive issues
Bacterial/Fungal/Viral infections
Cystitis
Allergies
Skin conditions
Pain & inflammation
Respiratory issues
Tumours, growths, sarcoid’s
Hormonal & metabolic disorders

Anxiety
Noise sensitivity
Separation
Trust issues
Past abuse
Loss
Trauma