Ethnopharmacy
Encyclopedia
Ethnopharmacy is the interdisciplinary science that investigates the perception and use of pharmaceuticals (especially traditional medicine
s, but not only), within a given human society.
It deals with the study of the pharmaceutical means considered in relation to the cultural contexts of their use, e.g. the study of the cultural determinants that characterise the uses of these means within a culture.
It involves studies of the:
Ethnopharmacy is often erroneously associated with ethnopharmacology
, which is instead "only" focused on the bio-pharmacological evaluation of traditional medicine
s.
Ethnopharmacy shares instead a common terrain with medical anthropology
and anthropology of pharmaceuticals.
Traditional medicine
Traditional medicine comprises unscientific knowledge systems that developed over generations within various societies before the era of modern medicine...
s, but not only), within a given human society.
It deals with the study of the pharmaceutical means considered in relation to the cultural contexts of their use, e.g. the study of the cultural determinants that characterise the uses of these means within a culture.
It involves studies of the:
- identification and ethnotaxonomy (cognitive categorisation) of the (eventual) natural material, from which the remedy will be produced (medical ethnobiologyEthnobiology]Ethnobiology is the scientific study of dynamic relationships between peoples, biota, and environments, from the distant past to the immediate present....
: ethnobotanyEthnobotanyEthnobotany is the scientific study of the relationships that exist between people and plants....
or ethnomycologyEthnomycologyEthnomycology is the study of the historical uses and sociological impact of fungi , and can be considered a subfield of ethnobotany or ethnobiology...
or ethnozoology); - traditional preparation of the pharmaceutical forms (ethnopharmaceutics);
- bio-evaluation of the pharmacological action of such preparations (ethnopharmacologyEthnopharmacologyEthnopharmacology is the scientific study of ethnic groups and their use of drugs.Ethnopharmacology is distinctly linked to plant use, botany, as this is the main delivery of pharmaceuticals. It is also often associated with ethnopharmacy...
); - their clinical effectiveness (clinical ethnopharmacy);
- socio-medical aspects implied in the uses of these pharmaceuticals (medical anthropologyMedical anthropologyMedical anthropology is an interdisciplinary field which studies "human health and disease, health care systems, and biocultural adaptation". It views humans from multidimensional and ecological perspectives...
/ethnomedicineEthnomedicineEthnomedicine is a sub-field of ethnobotany or medical anthropology that deals with the study of traditional medicines: not only those that have relevant written sources Ethnomedicine is a sub-field of ethnobotany or medical anthropology that deals with the study of traditional medicines: not only...
). - public health and pharmacy practice-related issues concerning the public use and/or the re-evaluation of these drugs.
Ethnopharmacy is often erroneously associated with ethnopharmacology
Ethnopharmacology
Ethnopharmacology is the scientific study of ethnic groups and their use of drugs.Ethnopharmacology is distinctly linked to plant use, botany, as this is the main delivery of pharmaceuticals. It is also often associated with ethnopharmacy...
, which is instead "only" focused on the bio-pharmacological evaluation of traditional medicine
Traditional medicine
Traditional medicine comprises unscientific knowledge systems that developed over generations within various societies before the era of modern medicine...
s.
Ethnopharmacy shares instead a common terrain with medical anthropology
Medical anthropology
Medical anthropology is an interdisciplinary field which studies "human health and disease, health care systems, and biocultural adaptation". It views humans from multidimensional and ecological perspectives...
and anthropology of pharmaceuticals.