Exploring the medicinal heritage: traditional applications of vertebrates and their by-products in human and veterinary remedies in India

Abstract

Indigenous peoples are the custodians of traditional knowledge, encompassing their ideas, innovations, and methods. Throughout history, both plants and animals have served as valuable sources for medicinal remedies, capable of treating or preventing illnesses. This article aims to offer a concise overview of the traditional medical uses of vertebrates and the derived products in both human and veterinary medicine. Animal species are utilized as raw materials, and the resulting products are employed to cure a wide array of ailments. In different regions of India, indigenous peoples have diverse traditional applications for vertebrates and their by-products, which are utilized to treat human and animal illnesses. In various parts of India, medical practices involve the use of forty percent mammals, seven percent birds, eleven percent reptiles, eight percent fish, and two percent amphibians. Kerala employs around 69 different animal species and their by-products for the treatment of human and veterinary ailments. Similarly, the Theni district of Tamil Nadu utilizes 69 animals, the state of Madhya Pradesh employs 18 animals, the state of Tripura utilizes 25 animals, and the state of Assam employs 44 animals for the treatment of human and veterinary illnesses. Consequently, the main objective of this review is to provide a summary of the traditional therapeutic applications of animals and the resulting products.