Volume 146, Issue 1, 7 March 2013, Pages 62–74
Abstract
Ethnopharmacological relevance
While
scorpionism is not a serious public health problem in Spain,
traditional Spanish knowledge has retained a large number of plant-based
and animal-based remedies for scorpion stings. Additionally, this
arthropod plays an important role in the treatment of its own sting and
has become a significant therapeutic resource in the treatment of
several human pathologies. These remedies are distributed across a large
number of references.
Materials and methods
A
thorough review of Spanish literature has been conducted in the fields
of folklore, ethnography, ethnomedicine, ethnobotany, ethnozoology,
social anthropology and medical anthropology from the early twentieth
century to the present. Automated searches in national and international
databases have been performed.
Results
The
results include more than 110 traditional remedies for scorpion stings.
Forty- eight remedies are based on the use of 29 vascular plants in 19
different botanical families. This listing of useful plants is broader
than that provided by other researchers studying neighboring areas.
Seventeen remedies based on the use of nine animal species, including
humans, are also reported. Remedies have also been documented involving
mud and water, while other remedies indicate the use of scorpions
(crushed and applied directly). Many remedies emphasize the topical use
of “scorpion oil” (i.e., oil from fried scorpions). Two remedies are
based on the maceration of scorpions in alcohol. In most cases, topical
remedies are applied locally on the affected area. There is also some
use of magical remedies as well. The scorpion has also been used as a
major component in 22 Spanish remedies and healing rituals associated
with 17 human pathologies.
Conclusions
The
present study demonstrates the importance of the scorpion in Spanish
folk medicine. In general, the remedies evaluated mix magic and
empiricism. The data we obtained may represent relevant background
knowledge for studies aimed at developing and applying new therapeutic
remedies for scorpion stings and other human pathologies. The data also
invites further research to determine the validity of these folk
remedies.
Graphical abstract
Keywords
- Scorpions;
- Ethnozoology;
- Scorpionism;
- Traditional medicine;
- Spain
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