Original Article

Animal-Based Remedies as Complementary Medicines in the Semi-Arid Region of Northeastern Brazil

Table 1

Categories of diseases treated with zootherapeutic remedies in surveyed area (Queimadas, Paraiba State), according to the Brazilian Centre for the Classification of Diseases.

CategoriesDiseases and illnesses mentioned by respondentsTotal

1Teething, inflammation, hoarseness, cracks in the sole of the feet, general pain, to assist children who take longer than usual to start walking, children that speak with lateness, itching, problems of navel, “hard nerve” and healing of umbilical cord of newborn baby11
2Erysipelas, oral mycosis, athlete's foot, measles, rubella, chickenpox, tuberculosis, warts, whooping cough and mumps, moniliasis11
3Asthma, bronchitis, effusion, catarrh, cough, flu, sore throat, sinusitis and tonsillitis9
4Poor digestion1
5Burns, wounds, muscle strain, luxation, distension and sprains6
6Arthritis, arthrosis, backache, osteoporosis and rheumatism5
7Hemorrhage, cardiac problems, thrombosis and cerebral hemorrhage4
8Menstrual problems and urinary infection2
9Alcoholism, snakes bite, insect bite, to suck a splinter out of skin or flesh, swelling and bleeding6
10Boils, skin spots and acne,3
11Problems in nerves1
12Tumors1
13Deafness, earache2
14Diabetes, weakness and malnutrition3
15Sexual impotence1
16Conjunctivitis and pterygium2

Total68

(1) undefined diseases; (2) some infections and parasitic diseases; (3) respiratory system; (4) digestive system; (5) injuries, poisoning and other consequences of external causes; (6) osteomuscular system and conjunctive tissue; (7) circulatory system; (8) urinogenital system; (9) external causes of morbidity and mortality; (10) skin and subcutaneous tissue; (11) nervous system; (12) Symptoms, signs and abnormal findings from medical and laboratorial examination, not categorized in other part or section; (13) ear (middle and inner ear) and mastoid apophysis; (14) diseases of the endocrine glands, metabolism and nutrition; (15) mental and behavioral perturbations; (16) ophthalmological diseases.