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Review
. 2025 Apr 11;21(1):24.
doi: 10.1186/s13002-025-00767-3.

A comprehensive review on animals and their products used in traditional folk medicine in Ethiopia

Alembrhan Assefa  1 , Kalayu Mesfin  1 , Teklay Girmay  2
Affiliations
Review

A comprehensive review on animals and their products used in traditional folk medicine in Ethiopia

Alembrhan Assefa et al. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. .

Abstract

Background: Zootherapy is the treatment of human and livestock ailments using medicines derived from animals and their products. The objective of this review paper was to compile and document ethnozoological knowledge on traditional medicinal animals used to treat various human and livestock ailments, along with the associated indigenous knowledge from different parts of Ethiopia.

Methods: Scientific databases were employed to conduct an exhaustive systematic search of published articles in the English language. A collection of 21 articles focused on animals and their by-products utilized in Ethiopian traditional medicine was compiled from accessible international online databases like Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, PubMed, Research Gate, and various journal Web sites.

Results: According to the sources, a total 112 animal species used to treat 167 different ailments were identified. Among these, mammals are the most frequently used, followed by birds, arthropods, and reptiles. Most remedies are sourced from wild animals, with treatments for serious diseases, including HIV/AIDS and cancer, being reported. The most commonly used animal parts for medicine preparation are meat and fat, followed by internal organs, with cooking being the predominant preparation method.

Conclusion: The medicinal use of animals is under threat due to illegal hunting and deforestation. The Ethiopian people possess rich indigenous knowledge of animal-based traditional medicine. To ensure the sustainable use of medicinal animals and support the development of modern medicine, further comprehensive ethnozoological research is urgently needed.

Keywords: Ailment; Ethiopia; Ethnozoology; Medicinal animal; Traditional practice; Zootherapy.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Number of animal species used as remedies and number of ailments treated per animal group in Ethiopia
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Animal body parts or products used for medicine
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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