ZOOTHERAPY AMONG THE ETHNIC GROUPS OF NORTH EASTERN REGION OF INDIA-A CRITICAL REVIEW

Abstract

The main objective of the study is to review the practices of Zootherapy among the ethnic groups of the northeastern part of India and to prepare an inventory of all the information. The data were collected from 11 published papers on the practices of zootherapy among different ethnic groups from the region. All the papers were published in the years 2002-2016. A total of 181 animals species are used by 19 ethnic groups from the region. Mammals are the most widely used animal groups followed by Arthropods, Aves, Pisces, Reptiles, Annelids, Amphibian and Molluscs. The number of the animal species are-77 species of Mammals (42.5%) followed by 65 species of Arthropods (35.9%), 24 species of Aves (13.25%), 22 species of Pisces (12.15%), 18 species of Reptiles (9.94%), 6 species of Annelids (3.31%), 5 species of Amphibians (2.76%) and 4 species of Molluscs (2.21%). The most commonly treated ailments are-Tuberculosis, Malaria, Diabetes, Asthma, Arthritis, Rheumatic pain, Jaundice, Anaemia, Paralysis, Pertussis, etc. This review on the zoo therapy practices among the ethnic groups of the region will summarise all the information in one place which will be helpful for the scientists and researchers working in the field of ethnomedicine to study and develop new potential drugs.