| Self-medicating chimps could help research for new treatments 10:05 - Jun 26 with 1668 views | StokieBlue |
Whilst not completely proven, it's now thought that chimps self-medicate with plants when they are ill or injured:
https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2024-06-21-study-shows-wild-chimpanzees-seek-out-medic
"Next, they collected plant extracts from 13 species of trees and herbs in the reserve that they suspected the chimpanzees might be using to self-medicate. These included plants that they observed sick or injured chimpanzees eating, but were not part of their normal diet, and plants that previous research has suggested chimpanzees might consume for their medicinal properties.
The extracts were then tested for their anti-inflammatory and antibiotic properties at Neubrandenburg University of Applied Sciences, led by Dr Fabien Schultz.
The researchers found that 88% of the plant extracts inhibited bacterial growth, while 33% had anti-inflammatory properties."
Further study of these behaviours may highlight plants which could then be used to develop treatments for humans and just adds to the long list of reasons why these ecosystems need to be protected:
"Dr Freymann added: ‘Our study highlights the medicinal knowledge that can be gained from observing other species in the wild and underscores the urgent need to preserve these forest pharmacies for future generations.’"
SB |  | | |  |
| Self-medicating chimps could help research for new treatments on 10:34 - Jun 26 with 1597 views | Ewan_Oozami |
Humans already do the same sort of thing apparently..... |  |
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| Self-medicating chimps could help research for new treatments on 10:44 - Jun 26 with 1592 views | leitrimblue |
Thanks for that link, it's a fascinating read.
You have to wonder when you see examples like chimps using Alstonia Boonei to treat wounds and then humans in east Africa using it the same way whether humans discovered it independently or from observing chimps using it?
Hope the OP is considered a 'happy' enough post not to upset anyone  |  | | |
| Self-medicating chimps could help research for new treatments on 11:13 - Jun 26 with 1550 views | StokieBlue |
| Self-medicating chimps could help research for new treatments on 10:44 - Jun 26 by leitrimblue |
Thanks for that link, it's a fascinating read.
You have to wonder when you see examples like chimps using Alstonia Boonei to treat wounds and then humans in east Africa using it the same way whether humans discovered it independently or from observing chimps using it?
Hope the OP is considered a 'happy' enough post not to upset anyone |
Does make one wonder if more effort should be made to look into some traditional medicines. Obviously a good number won't be of any tangible benefit but some may yield important results.
With regards to the chimps, the interesting research will be looking into the plants they use which humans don't use. Could be real value in that research.
SB | | | |
| Self-medicating chimps could help research for new treatments on 11:18 - Jun 26 with 1541 views | PhilTWTD |
| Self-medicating chimps could help research for new treatments on 10:44 - Jun 26 by leitrimblue |
Thanks for that link, it's a fascinating read.
You have to wonder when you see examples like chimps using Alstonia Boonei to treat wounds and then humans in east Africa using it the same way whether humans discovered it independently or from observing chimps using it?
Hope the OP is considered a 'happy' enough post not to upset anyone |
And how do chimps 'know' which plants to use for what ailment? Is there a social aspect to that, which would be really interesting.
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| Self-medicating chimps could help research for new treatments on 11:22 - Jun 26 with 1503 views | belgablue |
| Self-medicating chimps could help research for new treatments on 11:18 - Jun 26 by PhilTWTD |
And how do chimps 'know' which plants to use for what ailment? Is there a social aspect to that, which would be really interesting.
This post has been edited by an administrator |
I visited some habituated chimps once in Uganda. My main take away from the guides was that socially they're very nasty b*ggers indeed. |  |
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| Self-medicating chimps could help research for new treatments on 11:22 - Jun 26 with 1499 views | J2BLUE |
| Self-medicating chimps could help research for new treatments on 11:13 - Jun 26 by StokieBlue |
Does make one wonder if more effort should be made to look into some traditional medicines. Obviously a good number won't be of any tangible benefit but some may yield important results.
With regards to the chimps, the interesting research will be looking into the plants they use which humans don't use. Could be real value in that research.
SB |
I love watching survival programmes and they have all pointed out various plants which can help with different things.
It's fascinating to see. Everything from a makeshift plaster in the middle of the Amazon to curing foot fungus in a couple of days to treating infected bites. |  |
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| Self-medicating chimps could help research for new treatments on 11:29 - Jun 26 with 1455 views | PhilTWTD |
| Self-medicating chimps could help research for new treatments on 11:22 - Jun 26 by belgablue |
I visited some habituated chimps once in Uganda. My main take away from the guides was that socially they're very nasty b*ggers indeed. |
So you don't think they'd be up for running a health and medication co-operative then? | | | |
| Self-medicating chimps could help research for new treatments on 11:36 - Jun 26 with 1384 views | factual_blue |
| Self-medicating chimps could help research for new treatments on 11:18 - Jun 26 by PhilTWTD |
And how do chimps 'know' which plants to use for what ailment? Is there a social aspect to that, which would be really interesting.
This post has been edited by an administrator |
Like the rest of us, they just look stuff up on Wikipedia. |  |
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| Self-medicating chimps could help research for new treatments on 11:47 - Jun 26 with 1345 views | belgablue |
| Self-medicating chimps could help research for new treatments on 11:29 - Jun 26 by PhilTWTD |
So you don't think they'd be up for running a health and medication co-operative then? |
I think they would, then they'd lynch the manager of the co-op for no apparent reason. | |
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| Self-medicating chimps could help research for new treatments on 11:54 - Jun 26 with 1324 views | leitrimblue |
| Self-medicating chimps could help research for new treatments on 11:13 - Jun 26 by StokieBlue |
Does make one wonder if more effort should be made to look into some traditional medicines. Obviously a good number won't be of any tangible benefit but some may yield important results.
With regards to the chimps, the interesting research will be looking into the plants they use which humans don't use. Could be real value in that research.
SB |
Think yer spot on in both paragraphs.
They may end up having very few medicinal properties but it would seem crazy not to be investigating the possibility of them being beneficial to humans.
Especially when you see the crossover highlighted in the article | | | |
| Self-medicating chimps could help research for new treatments on 12:02 - Jun 26 with 1305 views | leitrimblue |
| Self-medicating chimps could help research for new treatments on 11:18 - Jun 26 by PhilTWTD |
And how do chimps 'know' which plants to use for what ailment? Is there a social aspect to that, which would be really interesting.
This post has been edited by an administrator |
Exactly, I'm guessing they learn how to use it by watching or being instructed by other chimps.
Further investigation/ observation of the social mechanisms around their use of medicines may well through out some interesting issues.
I wonder if all these chimps have a similar knowledge of these medicines or if some amongst them are aware of more medicines then others | | | |
| Self-medicating chimps could help research for new treatments on 12:23 - Jun 26 with 1258 views | BloomBlue |
| Self-medicating chimps could help research for new treatments on 11:18 - Jun 26 by PhilTWTD |
And how do chimps 'know' which plants to use for what ailment? Is there a social aspect to that, which would be really interesting.
This post has been edited by an administrator |
Maybe they ask the Chimpharmacist ?
You would assume like humans by accident at some stage. Ie chimp has a sore bottom, sat down on certain leaves and thought oh my bottom's not sore now, and then told other chimps.
You often see on TV wildlife shows how chimps train younger chimps to do a specific task. One springs to mind around cracking nuts using stones. The adult chimp placed the nut between two stones to hold it in place and then a 3rd stone to crack it. Young chimp was trying to crack it by simply resting in on a single stone and everytime he hit it with another stone it just shot away unbroken. Adult chimp eventually got the young one to put his nut between 2 stones and use the 3rd stone to crush it. Success the youngster had a crushed nut. |  | | |
| Self-medicating chimps could help research for new treatments on 12:32 - Jun 26 with 1224 views | eireblue |
| Self-medicating chimps could help research for new treatments on 10:44 - Jun 26 by leitrimblue |
Thanks for that link, it's a fascinating read.
You have to wonder when you see examples like chimps using Alstonia Boonei to treat wounds and then humans in east Africa using it the same way whether humans discovered it independently or from observing chimps using it?
Hope the OP is considered a 'happy' enough post not to upset anyone |
Or the common ancestor for humans and chimps used it, and one of the lineages from that point mostly still does. |  | | |
| Self-medicating chimps could help research for new treatments on 12:37 - Jun 26 with 1189 views | PhilTWTD |
| Self-medicating chimps could help research for new treatments on 12:23 - Jun 26 by BloomBlue |
Maybe they ask the Chimpharmacist ?
You would assume like humans by accident at some stage. Ie chimp has a sore bottom, sat down on certain leaves and thought oh my bottom's not sore now, and then told other chimps.
You often see on TV wildlife shows how chimps train younger chimps to do a specific task. One springs to mind around cracking nuts using stones. The adult chimp placed the nut between two stones to hold it in place and then a 3rd stone to crack it. Young chimp was trying to crack it by simply resting in on a single stone and everytime he hit it with another stone it just shot away unbroken. Adult chimp eventually got the young one to put his nut between 2 stones and use the 3rd stone to crush it. Success the youngster had a crushed nut. |
Or speak to a bonobotanist, of course. That's what I was thinking, whether the information is passed on in that manner and how it's done.
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| Self-medicating chimps could help research for new treatments on 12:40 - Jun 26 with 1170 views | leitrimblue |
| Self-medicating chimps could help research for new treatments on 12:32 - Jun 26 by eireblue |
Or the common ancestor for humans and chimps used it, and one of the lineages from that point mostly still does. |
Would be incredible if that was the case. Not sure how you would go about trying to prove it though | | | |
| Self-medicating chimps could help research for new treatments on 13:07 - Jun 26 with 1139 views | eireblue |
| Self-medicating chimps could help research for new treatments on 12:40 - Jun 26 by leitrimblue |
Would be incredible if that was the case. Not sure how you would go about trying to prove it though |
Hmmm, of course, having FutureJackSted on the board is useful, but VariousTimesThroughOutTheEvolutionaryLifeOfThePlanetJackSted would be much more useful. | | | |
| Self-medicating chimps could help research for new treatments on 13:22 - Jun 26 with 1117 views | giant_stow |
You rang? |  |
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| Self-medicating chimps could help research for new treatments on 14:10 - Jun 26 with 1048 views | factual_blue |
| Self-medicating chimps could help research for new treatments on 11:47 - Jun 26 by belgablue |
I think they would, then they'd lynch the manager of the co-op for no apparent reason. |
Very much like TWTD then. | |
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