A survey of the Traditional Medical and Non-medical Uses of Animals Species and Parts of the Indigenous people of Ogbomoso, Oyo State

Abstract

The rising cost as well as the negative associated adverse effects of orthodox medicines has ultimately resulted in wide acceptance of traditional based medications. The study reports the uses of animal species and parts practised by the people of Ogbomoso, Oyo State. An ethno-zoological survey of the Ogbomoso people of Oyo state (Nigeria) was conducted using an open structured questionnaire. Eighteen Traditional Medical Practitioners (tmps) and twenty trado-herbal sellers were interviewed. From the survey, 43 animal species were identified as been sold in trado-herbal market serving as a major source of income to the traders with Chamaeleo senegalensis, Bufo regularis, Felis silvestris and Eidolon helvum as the most common. Zoo-therapeutic practices of the indigenous people include the use in the treatments of epilepsy, rheumatism, fever, wound healing and non-medicinal uses include protection, command of authority and favour. Further studies are required concerning the conservational status of the animals resources used.