The book Doctors by Nature was launched at the beginning of March. In this book, scientist Jaap de Roode shows how animals use elements of nature to treat themselves when they are sick. 

By observing animals and consulting various studies, Roode learned, for example, that certain species of monkey eat plants to extract worms from their bodies and that several animals have similar ideas. He also believes in the notion that humans might have developed medicine after observing animal behavior and learning from it. 

“In Western society, we love being unique,” he said in an interview to The Guardian. “We come up with all sorts of characteristics – it’s tools, it’s walking upright, it’s big brains, it’s language, it’s culture, it’s medicine. And all of those things we debunk, one after another – and discover that we’re just another animal,” he added, explaining that animals are also intelligent and complex beings. 

The book was published by Princeton University in the United States and has yet to be released in Brazil. 

Animal medicine 

Check out what some species do to take care of themselves. 

Sparrows

In some places, they pick up cigarette butts off the ground to place them in their nests and decrease the number of mites in them. 

Chimpanzees

To treat stomach problems, they chew on Vernonia amygdalina leaves. In Brazil, this plant is known as boldo or alumã, among other names.

Rhinoceros

They roll in the mud when they have skin problems and to alleviate irritation from sunburn or insect bites. 

Koalas

They eat eucalyptus to improve their digestion.

Cows

When sick, they go searching for willow bark or buds. These contain a substance that is the basis of aspirin, a medicine that humans use when they are in pain.

Butterflies

When they are infected by parasites, they lay their eggs on medicinal plants, which help them look after their young. 

Capuchin monkey

When there are a lot of mosquitoes around, capuchin monkeys look for millipedes. They crush them and rub them on their fur. The smell acts as a repellent. 

Bees 

When hives are infested with fungi, bees produce a lot more propolis, which is used to treat their environment. 

Sources: Doctor by Nature, The Guardian, National Geographic, and the San Diego Zoo

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