Research Article

Trends in Medicinal Uses of Edible Wild Vertebrates in Brazil

Table 2

Medicinal uses of edible fishes and game species in Brazil. Health condition categories follow the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10 Version: 2016). = total number of conditions treated in each category.

ICD 10Indication of use and therapeutic properties

Symptoms, signs, and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified
( species)
Ascites; chest pain; cough; cracks in the sole of the feet; edema (also quoted as edema in the legs); fatigue; fever; headache; hoarseness; inflammation; jaundice; lack of appetite (also quoted as lack of appetite in children); numbness; pain (also quoted as pain in the body; pain in the breast; pain in the legs; to reduce pain); shortness of breath; swelling; assisting children who take longer than usual to start walking; vomit.24
Certain infectious and parasitic diseases
( species)
Abscesses; athlete’s foot; diphtheria; erysipelas; herpes zoster; infection; leishmaniosis; leprosy; mumps; mycosis; schistosomiasis; syphilis; tetanus; tuberculosis; venereal disease; verminosis; warts; whooping cough.18
Injury, poisoning, and certain other consequences of external causes
( species)
Bruises; burns (also quoted as burns in the skin); chilblains; injuries caused by bang; injuries caused by the animal itself; injuries caused by the spines of fishes (also quoted as injuries caused by the spines of rays); intoxication from poisonous animals; pain relief in injuries caused by the species’ sting; pain relief in injuries caused by snake bites; pain relief in injuries caused by sting of insects; scratch; assisting in removing spines or other sharp structures from the skin (also quoted as to suck a splinter out of skin or flesh); wounds.16
Diseases of the digestive system
( species)
Appendicitis; constipation; dental caries; diarrhoea; gastritis; haemorrhoids; hernia (also quoted as umbilical hernia); indigestion; irritation when milk teeth are erupting; liver pain; stomach ache; stomach disorders; toothache.14
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue
( species)
Arthritis; arthrosis; backache; bursitis; luxation; muscle strain; muscular pain; neck strain; osteoporosis; pain in joint; rheumatism; sprains; helping to strengthen bones.13
Diseases of the respiratory system
( species)
Asthma; bronchitis; catarrh; coarse throat; cold; flu; lung disease; pneumonia; respiratory diseases; sinusitis; sore throat; tonsillitis.12
Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue
( species)
Acne; blackhead; boils; calluses; dermatitis; itching; paronychia; skin diseases; skin spots; skin thorns and wounds; wrinkles.11
Diseases of the genitourinary system
( species)
Menstrual cramps; nephritis; prostate problems; renal failure; urinary disorders; urinary incontinence; urinary infection; discharge (also quoted as vaginal discharge); womb disorders.10
Pregnancy, childbirth, and the puerperium
( species)
Disorders after parturition (to accelerate recovery after parturition); haemorrhage after delivery; nausea during pregnancy; pain in gestation; helping to accelerate parturition; helping to avoid swelling of the breast feeding; helping to induce abortion; helping to prevent abortion; wound in the breast caused by suckling.9
Diseases of the eye and adnexa
( species)
Cataracts; conjunctivitis; eye pains; ophthalmological problems (also quoted as eye problems); leucoma; pterygium; stye.8
External causes of morbidity and mortality
( species)
Dog bite; insect sting; scorpions sting; snake bite; helping to stop the sensation of getting thirsty.5
Undefined
( species)
Amulet; amulet used as a protection against snake bite; evil eye; helping to remove wrath.4
Diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs and certain disorders involving the immune mechanism
( species)
Anaemia; bleeding (also quoted as wounds bleeding); haemorrhage.4
Diseases of the circulatory system
( species)
Stroke; thrombosis; varicocele.3
Diseases of the nervous system
( species)
Epilepsy; insomnia; paralysis of arms and legs.3
Mental and behavioural disorders
( species)
Alcoholism; sexual impotence; helping to stay awake.3
Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases
( species)
Diabetes, goitre; helping to control cholesterol level.3
Neoplasms
( species)
Breast cancer; cancer (also quoted as tumour).3
Diseases of the ear and mastoid process
( species)
Deafness; earache.2
Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period
( species)
Healing of umbilical cord of newborn baby.1