Zootherapy (Jantav Avsheshon Se Chikitsa): Traditional Healing Practices among the Tharu Tribe of Uttar Pradesh, India

The present anthropological study was conducted to document the traditional knowledge of using animals and animal-derived products as medicines by the Tharu people. The study was conducted in 2022. Data were collected through interviews with 100 informants who provided information regarding the therapeutic uses of animals. The people from whom the data were collected include elderly community members and traditional health practitioners. The names of the animals and other ethnomedicinal information were documented. Pictures and discussions were also recorded with the help of a camera and voice recorder. A total of 20 animals and their products were recorded, used for diverse ethnomedical purposes such as asthma, paralysis, skin problems, snake poisoning, tuberculosis, jaundice, etc. The present study indicates the very rich ethnomedical knowledge of these people in relation to traditional medicine. The authors suggest that this kind of neglected traditional knowledge should be included in the conservation and management strategies of faunistic resources. Further research is necessary to experimentally validate the presence of bioactive compounds in these traditional remedies and promote more sustainable utilization of these resources.