The Tim Ferriss Show

#537: The Hidden Knowledge of Animals — Mark Plotkin on Nature’s Medicine Cabinet

7 snips
Oct 13, 2021
In this intriguing discussion, Mark Plotkin, an ethnobotanist and president of the Amazon Conservation Team, reveals the fascinating ways animals use medicinal plants for healing. He shares remarkable stories of cows, penguins, and chimps, highlighting their unique behaviors and deep connections to nature. The conversation explores zoopharmacognosy, the destructive impact of deforestation on traditional knowledge, and the potential for discovering new remedies from the animal kingdom. Tune in for an eye-opening look at nature's pharmacy!
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ANECDOTE

Monkey Medicine

  • Moroqui monkeys in Brazil eat a diet high in tannins, similar to an anti-dysentery drug.
  • They also consume fruits rich in a progesterone precursor, possibly for birth control.
ANECDOTE

Clover and Coumadin

  • Cows eating spoiled sweet clover led to the discovery of dicoumerol, an anticoagulant.
  • A suicide attempt using warfarin, derived from dicoumerol, furthered its medical use.
INSIGHT

Stored Toxins

  • Animals often store toxins not for medicinal purposes, but for defense or attack.
  • Pufferfish and blue-ringed octopuses both utilize tetrodotoxin, produced by bacteria they ingest.
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