Zoopharmacognosy refers to the process by which non-human animals self-medicate by selecting and using plants, soils, and insects to treat and prevent disease...
"[YouTube] clip borrowed from the "Peculiar Potions" episode of BBC's series "Weird Nature" - a jaguar in the Peruvian rain forest eats Yage (Banisteriopsis caapi), a vine containing hallucinogenic chemical harmaline and other beta carbolines, used by natives in a ritualistic ceremony involving Ayahuasca."
Huh, I got: "This video is produced by BBC Worldwide who has blocked it in your country on copyright grounds"
ReplyDeleteIt's strange that the British Broadcasting Corporation has blocked a video from being viewed in Britain!
I shall try to find the clip elsewhere - looks interesting!
- Seventh
Same here (in Canada). I was able to view it here: Same hereI was able to view it here: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=db6_1373989936. Not great quality though.
Deletehttp://www.youtube.com.nyud.net/watch?v=OqGDv0KCJl8 or that one?
DeleteThis brings more questions than answers :)
ReplyDeleteWhat is the jaguar trying to hail by eating these? Is there a risk for animals to get addicted or are only humans weird enough?
@ Anon and Cindy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9NYCRgWHys that one maybe?
The ayahuasca vine (called yage (yah-HAY) in Columbia) is a holistic plant medicine, and is not addictive. it is the main ingredient in the ayahuasca 'tea' that is used for shamanism all across the Amazon. There are medical benefits to the vine, including strong purging and intestinal cleansing, which are useful to humans and other animals. The main chemical ingredients are harmine, harmaline, and tetrahydroharmine. There are also very powerful spiritual dimensions to taking this plant. Humans have been using ayahuasca for thousands of years to enter spirit dimensions directly. Who is to say that the jaguars do not also experience this and seek it out? It may be that humans were originally drawn to ayahuasca by observing this behavior in the jaguars and other animals of the great forest.
ReplyDeleteNo knock raid time! Throw them in prison!
ReplyDelete