Medicinal use of secretions (“the frog vaccine”) from the kambô frog (Phyllomedusa bicolor) by non-indigenous peoples in Rondônia, Brazil
Amphibians have pharmaceutically active skin secretions that protect against infections and predation. Some indigenous people in southwestern Amazonia use these secretions from P. bicolor for medicinal purposes. While the use of these secretions by indigenous people is relatively well-known, the use...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina
2009-09-01
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| Series: | Biotemas |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.biotemas.ufsc.br/volumes/pdf/volume223/213a220.pdf |
| _version_ | 1828762066887901184 |
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| author | Paulo Sérgio Bernarde Rosimeyri Aparecida Santos |
| author_facet | Paulo Sérgio Bernarde Rosimeyri Aparecida Santos |
| author_sort | Paulo Sérgio Bernarde |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Amphibians have pharmaceutically active skin secretions that protect against infections and predation. Some indigenous people in southwestern Amazonia use these secretions from P. bicolor for medicinal purposes. While the use of these secretions by indigenous people is relatively well-known, the use by non-indigenous peoples is very poorly studied. Here we describe the use of the “frog vaccine” by non-indigenous populations in the Brazilian state of Rondônia. Thirty-one people who had received this “vaccine” were interviewed. The use of this vaccine is not typical or habitual in this region, and the person who administers the vaccine must travel from another part of Amazonia. Users of the vaccine come from middle and upper social classes with reasonable levels of education (primary, secondary and university). Approximately half the people vaccinated felt that their health had improved after vaccination and if need be, they would take the vaccination again. Most of the people do not know the frog species from which the secretions are taken. While the people who use this treatment believe that it is good for any infirmity, the medicinal properties, if any, of the “frog vaccine” are under study and are still unknown. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T01:38:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-61c53318901642b7aefa1fcd188329f7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0103-1643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T01:38:45Z |
| publishDate | 2009-09-01 |
| publisher | Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biotemas |
| spelling | doaj.art-61c53318901642b7aefa1fcd188329f72022-12-22T01:25:07ZengUniversidade Federal de Santa CatarinaBiotemas0103-16432009-09-01223213220Medicinal use of secretions (“the frog vaccine”) from the kambô frog (Phyllomedusa bicolor) by non-indigenous peoples in Rondônia, BrazilPaulo Sérgio BernardeRosimeyri Aparecida SantosAmphibians have pharmaceutically active skin secretions that protect against infections and predation. Some indigenous people in southwestern Amazonia use these secretions from P. bicolor for medicinal purposes. While the use of these secretions by indigenous people is relatively well-known, the use by non-indigenous peoples is very poorly studied. Here we describe the use of the “frog vaccine” by non-indigenous populations in the Brazilian state of Rondônia. Thirty-one people who had received this “vaccine” were interviewed. The use of this vaccine is not typical or habitual in this region, and the person who administers the vaccine must travel from another part of Amazonia. Users of the vaccine come from middle and upper social classes with reasonable levels of education (primary, secondary and university). Approximately half the people vaccinated felt that their health had improved after vaccination and if need be, they would take the vaccination again. Most of the people do not know the frog species from which the secretions are taken. While the people who use this treatment believe that it is good for any infirmity, the medicinal properties, if any, of the “frog vaccine” are under study and are still unknown.http://www.biotemas.ufsc.br/volumes/pdf/volume223/213a220.pdfethnozoologyethnopharmacologyPhyllomedusa bicolortraditional medicinezootherapy |
| spellingShingle | Paulo Sérgio Bernarde Rosimeyri Aparecida Santos Medicinal use of secretions (“the frog vaccine”) from the kambô frog (Phyllomedusa bicolor) by non-indigenous peoples in Rondônia, Brazil Biotemas ethnozoology ethnopharmacology Phyllomedusa bicolor traditional medicine zootherapy |
| title | Medicinal use of secretions (“the frog vaccine”) from the kambô frog (Phyllomedusa bicolor) by non-indigenous peoples in Rondônia, Brazil |
| title_full | Medicinal use of secretions (“the frog vaccine”) from the kambô frog (Phyllomedusa bicolor) by non-indigenous peoples in Rondônia, Brazil |
| title_fullStr | Medicinal use of secretions (“the frog vaccine”) from the kambô frog (Phyllomedusa bicolor) by non-indigenous peoples in Rondônia, Brazil |
| title_full_unstemmed | Medicinal use of secretions (“the frog vaccine”) from the kambô frog (Phyllomedusa bicolor) by non-indigenous peoples in Rondônia, Brazil |
| title_short | Medicinal use of secretions (“the frog vaccine”) from the kambô frog (Phyllomedusa bicolor) by non-indigenous peoples in Rondônia, Brazil |
| title_sort | medicinal use of secretions the frog vaccine from the kambo frog phyllomedusa bicolor by non indigenous peoples in rondonia brazil |
| topic | ethnozoology ethnopharmacology Phyllomedusa bicolor traditional medicine zootherapy |
| url | http://www.biotemas.ufsc.br/volumes/pdf/volume223/213a220.pdf |
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