Zoopharmacognosy


![A conceptual representation of how pre- and post-ingestive events control the manifestation of self-medicative behavior in mammalian herbivores.[11]](/uploads/202502/22/Parasite140002-fig2_Gastrointestinal_parasites_and_self-medication_in_ruminants4333.jpg)

Zoopharmacognosy is a behaviour in which non-human animals apparently self-medicate by selecting and ingesting or topically applying plants, soils, insects, and psychoactive drugs to prevent or reduce the harmful effects of pathogens and toxins. The term derives from Greek roots zoo ("animal"), pharma ("drug"), and gnosy ("knowing").