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From Past to Present: Medicinal Animals in a Historical Perspective

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Animals in Traditional Folk Medicine

Abstract

Interactions with animals constitute one of the oldest forms of connection between mankind and nature. In general, connections that people establish with nature can be driven by different aspects of their lives, either material (e.g., food), or spiritual (e.g., myths). In this sense, the use of animals in medical practices by various human societies can be perceived as a persisting ancient relationship, either through mainstream medicine (e.g., use of animal toxins) or via complementary, and alternative medical systems. This chapter presents an overview of medical systems used by different peoples, and emphasizes the role played by historical ethnozoology as a discipline focusing on the relationships between animals and culture over time.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ethnozoology, Conservation and Biodiversity Research Group, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande-PB, 58109-753, Brazil

    Rômulo Romeu Nóbrega Alves

  2. Applied Ethnobotany Laboratory, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Dois Irmãos, Pernambuco, 52171-900, Brazil

    Maria Franco Trindade Medeiros & Ulysses Paulino Albuquerque

  3. Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa-PB, 58059-970, Brazil

    Ierecê Lucena Rosa

Authors
  1. Rômulo Romeu Nóbrega Alves
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  2. Maria Franco Trindade Medeiros
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  3. Ulysses Paulino Albuquerque
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  4. Ierecê Lucena Rosa
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Correspondence to Rômulo Romeu Nóbrega Alves .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , CCBS - Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual da Paraiba, Av. Baraúnas 351, Campina Grande, 58-109753, Paraíba, Brazil

    Rômulo Romeu Nóbrega Alves

  2. , CCEN / Depto. de Sistemático, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, PB, 58059-900, Paraíba, Brazil

    Ierecê Lucena Rosa

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Alves, R.R.N., Medeiros, M.F.T., Albuquerque, U.P., Rosa, I.L. (2013). From Past to Present: Medicinal Animals in a Historical Perspective. In: Alves, R., Rosa, I. (eds) Animals in Traditional Folk Medicine. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-29026-8_2

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