Fossil medicines from “snake eggs” to “Saint’s bones”; an overview
2008
Alexandra van der Geer | Michael Dermitzakis
During the centuries, fossil remains ofinvertebrate and vertebrate animals havebeen widely used as medicines to cure adisease or relieve a symptom, or asamulet to prevent a disease or symptom.The most common medicinal fossils arethe invertebrate remains (sea urchins,ammonites, belemnites, trilobites),followed by shark teeth and palatal teethof bony fishes. More rare, but survivingon a large scale till the present day, is theuse of fossil mammals, known as“dragons”. Knowledge of the use of fossilmedicines broadens the view ofespecially medical practitioners in remoteor tribal regions. These people holdstrong beliefs in the working principles ofthe fossils and this should not bedismissed too easily. The working area offossil medicines have a wide rangeincluding poisoning, sore throats, internalpains and cramps, infertility andobstetrical problems, bladder and kidneydiseases, eye infections and diftheria.
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