Zootherapy: The Use of Dog Meat for Traditional African Medicine in Kanke Local Government Area, Plateau State, Nigeria

This  study  centers  on  fragrant  meat  consumption  which  is  a  cultural  phenomenon associated  with  some  communities  in  Nigeria.  The  healing  of  human  ailments  using therapeutics  based  on  medicines  obtained  from  animals  or  animal  parts  is  known  as  zootherapy.  The  utilization  of  animals  and  animal  parts  in  the  preparation  of  several  products employed  in  diverse  ways  for  health  care  delivery  via  traditional  medical  practices  enjoys very  wide  acceptance  across  Nigeria.  Thus,  this  research  is  aimed  at  documenting  the tradition  practice  of  the  use  of  dog  meat  for  therapeutic  purposes  in  Kanke  communities. This  study  made  use  of  a  purely  exploratory  research  design,  with  qualitative  instruments as  the  method  of  data  collection.  Consequently,  the  study  revealed  that  Kanke  people  uses fragrant  meat  to  repel  witches  and  wizards,  neutralize  poison,  boost  body  immunity  and libido  and  make  love  charms.  The  study  also  provides  the  basis  for  further  scientific validation  of  the  efficacy  of  various  traditional  zoo-therapeutic  measures  in  the  area. Furthermore,  the  researchers  call  for  more  studies  on  this  subject  particularly  by  health institutions  so  as  to  boost  this  spectrum  of  knowledge  and  professionally  advance  it  for  the treatment  of  the  associated  diseases.

Keywords: Dog Meat,  Zoo-therapy,  Beliefs,  Kanke  People,  Plateau  State. 

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APA

Nomishan, T., Dongnaan, B , Akanle, O & Yikwabs, Y (2020). Zootherapy: The Use of Dog Meat for Traditional African Medicine in Kanke Local Government Area, Plateau State, Nigeria. Afribary. Retrieved from https://afribary.com/works/jths-vol-9-no-2

MLA 8th

Nomishan, Terngu S, et. al. "Zootherapy: The Use of Dog Meat for Traditional African Medicine in Kanke Local Government Area, Plateau State, Nigeria" Afribary. Afribary, 05 Dec. 2020, https://afribary.com/works/jths-vol-9-no-2. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

MLA7

Nomishan, Terngu S, Belinda Dongnaan , Olayinka Akanle and Yikwab Yikwabs . "Zootherapy: The Use of Dog Meat for Traditional African Medicine in Kanke Local Government Area, Plateau State, Nigeria". Afribary, Afribary, 05 Dec. 2020. Web. 21 Dec. 2024. < https://afribary.com/works/jths-vol-9-no-2 >.

Chicago

Nomishan, Terngu S, Belinda Dongnaan , Olayinka Akanle and Yikwab Yikwabs . "Zootherapy: The Use of Dog Meat for Traditional African Medicine in Kanke Local Government Area, Plateau State, Nigeria" Afribary (2020). Accessed December 21, 2024. https://afribary.com/works/jths-vol-9-no-2