The perception of animals as “insects” and their use as medicinal resources in the city of Feira de Santana, state of Bahia, Brazil - DOI: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v26i2.1612

Authors

  • Eraldo Medeiros Costa Neto UEFS Author
  • Janete Jane Resende UEFS Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4025/actascibiolsci.v26i2.1612

Keywords:

etnobiologia, etnoentomologia, medicina popular, Bahia

Abstract

The present article deals with the medicinal use of animals, referred to as “insects” by men and women actuating in Centro de Abastecimento, located in the city of Feira de Santana, state of Bahia. Data were obtained through open interviews, conducted with ten marketers. Eighteen animals categorized as “insects” were recorded. They were, actually, insects, reptiles, amphibians, and arachnids. The extracted raw materials are used in the elaboration of folk remedies, which are prescribed for the treatment of different illnesses. It was observed that animalbased medicines are administered usually as teas. The very disseminated and recurrent use of animal-based medicines allows the supposition that medicinally useful chemicals, yet unknown to the Western science, may be present in their bodies. The zootherapeutic potential of these resources is significant for public health programs that may be suitable to the local culture, and opens perspectives for the economic and cultural valorization of animals regarded as useless or harmful

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Author Biography

  • Eraldo Medeiros Costa Neto, UEFS
    Possui graduação pela Universidade Federal de Alagoas (1994), mestrado em Desenvolvimento e Meio Ambiente pela Universidade Federal de Alagoas (1998) e doutorado em Ecologia e Recursos Naturais pela Universidade Federal de São Carlos (2003). Pós-doutorado na UNAM pelo Instituito de Biología (2005), onde trabalhou em etnoentomologia junto com a Dra. Julieta Ramos-Elorduy. Professor Adjunto B lotado no Departamento de Ciências Biológicas da Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, onde desde 1995 atua na disciplina Etnobiologia. Tem experiência na área de Ecologia, com ênfase em Ecologia Aplicada, atuando principalmente nos seguintes temas: etnoentomologia, etnozoologia, conhecimentos tradicionais, zooterapia e medicina tradicional Currículo Lattes

Published

2008-04-01

Issue

Section

Biology Sciences

How to Cite

The perception of animals as “insects” and their use as medicinal resources in the city of Feira de Santana, state of Bahia, Brazil - DOI: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v26i2.1612. (2008). Acta Scientiarum. Biological Sciences, 26(2), 143-149. https://doi.org/10.4025/actascibiolsci.v26i2.1612

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