Go Ad-Free
logoThe People's Perspective on Medicine

Do Animals Self-Medicate?

When we think about self-medication, we usually visualize humans taking over-the-counter drugs like antihistamines for allergies or Pepto-Bismol for diarrhea.

A new paper in the journal Science suggests we should take a broader view. Many different types of animals have been found to select foods or nest materials that help to reduce parasites. This includes such unlikely behaviors as house sparrows adding cigarette butts to their nests to limit the numbers of mites infesting their young.

Creatures as close to humans as baboons and chimpanzees and as far as butterflies and honeybees appear to be selecting certain foods to reduce parasites and improve health. These examples demonstrate that an animal does not need a complex learning strategy to be able to self-medicate.

[Science, online April 11, 2013]

Rate this article
star-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-empty
0- 0 ratings
About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
Tired of the ads on our website?

Now you can browse our website completely ad-free for just $5 / month. Stay up to date on breaking health news and support our work without the distraction of advertisements.

Browse our website ad-free
Join over 150,000 Subscribers at The People's Pharmacy

We're empowering you to make wise decisions about your own health, by providing you with essential health information about both medical and alternative treatment options.