Ethnoveterinary medicine as a growing area of research in Estonia
2001
Maegi, E. | Sahk, M. (Estonian Agricultural Univ., Tartu (Estonia). Faculty of Veterinary Medicine)
Ethnoveterinary medicine - a growing area of research - can be defined as dealing with the folk beliefs, knowledge, methods and practices pertaining to the health care of animals. Farmers' knowledge provides a valuable resource for development. But not all of it is useful. Most perspective seems to use folk knowledge about medicinal plants. Nowadays more and more scientists, veterinary practitioners and livestock owners are becoming interested in herbal preparations. There are lost of resources on medicinal plants in the world. Herbal medicine is undoubtedly the oldest form of medicine, with thousands of years of history behind it. Veterinary herbal medicines include herbs from all over the world. Many people believe that plants are less toxic, more natural and safer than manufactured drugs. Herbs have healing powers that are capable of balancing the emotional, mental and physical dimensions of animals. Many doctors believe that prescription of whole plant to a single active constituent provides the following advantages: synergistic action of active components and safety for livestock and environment. Extracts of medicinal plants can be made at home and they are less expensive than synthetic manufactured preparations. Many of the plants used in animal healthcare are also used in human medicine and have been studied in this context. Databases and new technologies can help us, put plant efficacy must be studied with laboratory tests and on farm trials
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