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Table 1 Zootherapeutic remedies

From: Johan Turi’s animal, mineral, vegetable cures and healing practices: an in-depth analysis of Sami (Saami) folk healing one hundred years ago

Species

Source

Use(s)

Method

References

Canis lupus (wolf)

T1 p. 107

gout, body aches, blisters, wounds

rub fat directly on affected area

B: [8, 9]

C: [10]

T1 p. 107

wounds, wolf bite

pour gall on wound, wrap with adipose tissue

A: [11, 12]

C: [11]

Canis lupus familiaris (dog)

T1 p. 127

dog bite

rub blood of dog on wound*

 

T2 XXXVII

pregnancy cravings

pass partially chewed food to a female dog*

A: [12, 13]

B: [14]

C: [15, 16]

T2 II

recovering from various diseases

the presence of a dog will draw away illness*

B: [14]

Delichon urbicum (house martin)

T1 p. 125

hemorrhage during childbrith

drink house martin nest litter boiled in milk**

A: [12, 17, 18]

C: [1923]

Dytiscus sp. (diving beetle)

T1 p. 123

causes fatal illness if swallowed

use a straw made from reindeer antler or bird bone to drink water from streams, if swallowed induce vomiting with rotten fish entrails, or a reindeer tendon

 

Homo sapiens (human)

T1 p. 121

sore throat

drink a spoonful of urine and stretch and rub neck in every direction

A: [12, 13]

C: [24]

T1 p. 128

difficult labor

have the mother drink the urine of the father and say his name**

A: [12, 13]

C: [24]

T2 XVI

unreciprocated love

have the person consume some of your sweat*

C: [2528]

T2 XVI

unreciprocated love

have the person consume a couple drops of your blood*

 

T2 XVI

unreciprocated love

have the person consume a few scales from your foot*

 

Ovis aries (sheep)

T1 p. 121

sore throat

rub turpentine on neck and then wrap in a woolen kerchief overnight

A: [12, 29]

B: [30, 31]

C: [32, 33]

T1 p. 125

strained tendon

wrap affected limb in unwashed woolen yarn**

A: [12, 13, 29]

T1 p. 129

inability to pass afterbirth

place a hot compress of sand and ash wrapped in woolen fabric just below mother’s chest

A: [12, 13, 29]

C: [20]

Pediculus humanus (lice)

T1 p. 126

jaundice

secretly feed the affected person nine lice in buttered frybread or gruel*

A: [12, 13, 34, 35]

Rana temporaria (frog)

T1 p. 122

sore throat

find a frog with white markings, dry in a saltbin, cut into pieces, cook in milk, and then drink

A: [12, 36]

C: [3745]

T1 p. 122

skin eruptions

rub a frog with white markings directly on the affected area**

"

T1 p. 122

healing hand

catch a frog and have it urinate on your hand, the hand can be used to relieve pain*

"

T1 p. 123

thrush

press a frog with white markings on the tongue

"

T1 p. 123

stomach ailments

cook a frog with white markings in milk and drink

"

T1 p. 123

eggs cause fatal illness if swallowed

if eggs are swallowed induce vomiting with rotten fish entrails, or a reindeer tendon

 

Rangifer tarandus (reindeer)

T1 p. 22

healthy drink

add reindeer milk and sorrel (Rumex acetosa) to hot water

A: [12, 46]

T1 p. 24

nutrition for baby when no milk is available

give baby reindeer fat to suck on

 

T1 p. 55

stomach ailments

boil reindeer brains with pine bark and fat and then ingest

A: [12]

C: [47]

T1 p. 123

induces vomiting

force a tendon from a reindeer’s leg down the throat

 

T1 p. 124

swelling

rub reindeer fat (sometimes mixed with flecks of copper) onto swelling

A: [12]

B: [8, 48]

C: [49, 50]

T1 p. 125

chills

drink reindeer blood

 

T1 p. 126

sore tooth or gland

press a heated reindeer jawbone on the affected area*

B: [14]

T1 p. 127

wounds

rub reindeer cheese on the affected area

A: [12]

T1 p. 128

inability to pass afterbirth

give woman reindeer butter to eat

 

T1 p. 129

inability to pass afterbirth

grind up downy birch buds (Betulina pubescens), mix with hot reindeer milk, sorrel, and water, and give to mother to drink

A: [12]

C: [20, 51]

T1 p. 169

burns

apply reindeer bone marrow to affected area

A: [12]

C: [52]

T2 XXXVI

sprained tendon

wrap a reindeer tendon around the affected limb

A: [12]

Ursus arctos (brown bear)

T1 p. 98

heart problems and internal ailments

drink bear gall

A: [11, 12]

C: [11, 5355]

T1 p. 98

wounds

pour bear gall on affected area

"

T1 p. 98

throat rash

pour milk through a bear trachea three times and then drink the milk*

A: [12]

B: [14]

T1 p. 98

gout, body aches, blisters, wounds

cover affected area in bear fat

A: [12]

B: [9, 11]

C: [10]

T1 p. 126

sore tooth or gland

press a bear tooth on the affected area

A: [12, 13, 56]

B: [14]

Miscellaneous

 

Rotten fish entrails

T1 p. 123

swallowed frog eggs or diving beetle

give rotten fish entrails to a person for ingestion, which will induce vomiting

 

Animals and birds for divination

T1,T2 p. 111–112, XI

prediction of weath, luck, impending death

examining patterns in bird and animal behavior*

A: [13, 29, 56]

Snakestone

T1 p. 115

maintaining good luck in legal matters

steal a snakestone*

A: [12, 29, 56]

  1. *magical treatment.
  2. **accompanying incantation.
  3. A: mentions of similar remedies used in other cultures.
  4. B: historical commentaries on a particular remedy or technique.
  5. C: research that evaluates the possible efficacy of compounds or techniques described in the remedy.