Ethnozoological assessment of animals used by Mon traditional medicine vendors at Kyaiktiyo, Myanmar

Journal of Ethnopharmacology
Vincent Nijman, Chris R Shepherd

Abstract

Wild animals are widely used in traditional Asian medicine but information from Myanmar is lacking. We show that a wide range of animals are used at a pilgrimage site, mostly for their rendered fats and oils to be used in mixed concoctions. The majority of species were sold to be used to treat aching joints, muscle ache and skin diseases. To assess wildlife for sale for medicinal purposes, and document their medicinal use at Kyaiktiyo, a pilgrimage site at a 1100m tall mountain, with many of the pilgrims climbing to the top. In addition we address legal issues relating to the production and sale of traditional medicine that contain legally protected animals. Four visits were made to Kyaiktiyo, Myanmar, between 2000 and 2017 to quantify animal parts on display and through discussions with vendors to obtain information on medicinal use of these parts. Twenty-three species, mostly mammals, were recorded to be used for traditional medicine. The most common were Chinese serow Capricornis milneedwardsii, Asian elephant Elephas maximus, and Asiatic black bear Ursus thibetanus. Over 600 bodies or body parts were present. Combined, these parts purportedly provided cures or relief for at least 15 ailments or diseases. The most commonly m...Continue Reading

References

Jan 20, 2012·Nature·Vincent NijmanDavid P Bickford
Jan 13, 2015·Journal of Ethnopharmacology·S VijayakumarR Damodaran

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Citations

Apr 25, 2020·Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI·Elizabeth Oneita Davis, Jenny Anne Glikman
Oct 31, 2020·PloS One·Jagan Nath AdhikariTej Bahadur Thapa
Nov 27, 2020·Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine·Yu ZhangPyae Phyo Hein
Apr 8, 2021·International Journal of Legal Medicine·Abhishek SinghMukesh Thakur

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