Fish-based remedies in Spanish ethnomedicine: a review from a historical perspective

Abstract

BackgroundFish-based therapeutics is fundamentally based on a dietary use, but these vertebrates have also been employed in the treatment of infectious and parasitic diseases, during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum and to deal with diseases of the different systems.MethodsAn overview of the ethnomedical and historical Spanish literature has been carried out. Automated searches in the most important national and international databases have been performed. All related works have been thorough examined.ResultsWe examine the historical use of 54 medicinal fish species, 48 marine and six from inland waters. As useful, in Ancient times 39 species have been recorded (of which only 21 have been collected in subsequent periods), seven in the Middle Ages, 18 in Modern times and 17 in the contemporary period. Anguilla anguilla, Engraulis encrasicolus or Scyliorhinus canicula are species that have survived over time as an ingredient in Spanish folk remedies. Most remedies used in the last century and currently are empirical remedies based on the humorism theory and the principle of contraria contrariis curantur (74%), and the rest (26%) are magical type remedies that complete the popular therapeutic arsenal.ConclusionsIn the last century we find a progressive decrease in the number of fish species used in ethnomedicine. Only seven taxa have been documented as surviving therapeutic resources since centuries ago. The existence of a dynamic Spanish ethnomedicine has also been detected which has managed to generate new therapeutic resources in recent times. It is important to validate the remedies by ethnopharmacology and evidence-based medicine. In order to recover as much data as possible, it will be necessary to draw up an inventory of ethnoichthyological uses.

The use of fish and herptiles in traditional folk therapies in three districts of Chenab riverine area in Punjab, Pakistan

“…Our findings revealed that Cyprinus carpio and Cirrhinus mrigala were effective against weak eyesight, night blindness, fever, cold, and joint pain. In previous studies [48,60], C. carpio has been reported as used for CNS, erysipelas, lumbago, to enhance memory, enhance energy, sexual power, to reduce overweight, and against cold and has depicted similarity index = 0.20. Likewise, C. mrigala was reported to reduce weight, to treat joint pain, to enhance memory and sexual power, to provide energy, and to treat against cold [48,59].…”

Ethnoichthyology of freshwater fish in Europe: a review of vanishing traditional fisheries and their cultural significance in changing landscapes from the later medieval period with a focus on northern Europe

“…A brown trout tail held in an infant’s mouth promotes language skills. The wels catfish has variety of uses; its head, flesh and liver are treatments for a range of disorders of the skin, intestines and throat [ 153 ]. It is interesting that carp (introduced in the seventeenth century to Spain) and particularly wels and perch, both introductions of the 1970s, all play an important role in fish-based ethnomedicine despite their relatively recent introduction to Iberia [ 154 ].…”

Fish consumption during menarche, menstruation, pregnancy and postpartum in Sikuani women from Meta, Colombia

“…In a similar way, other indigenous communities believe animals can transfer their characteristics to people who eat them. As referred by Sikuani people from Wacoyo Reservation, the shakerfish ( Electrophorus electricus ) has been also used to facilitate deliveries in Spanish ethnomedicine [40]. Some communities from Ghana circumvent the intake of snakes during pregnancy, as it is associated through similarities with dry scaly skin in the newborn [41].…”