Zoopharmacognosy

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. Coined by Dr. Eloy Rodriguez, a biochemist and professor at Cornell University, the word is derived from roots zoo ("animal"), pharma ("drug"), and gnosy ("knowing"). The term gained familiarity in the public thanks to press attention to Cindy Engel, Wild Health: How Animals Keep Themselves Well and What We Can Learn from Them (New York: Harcourt Mifflin Harcourt, 2002).