A mother chimpanzee and her young one are seen at Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania. Chimps were among the first creatures identified by Western scientists in the 1980s as engaging in self-medication. This discovery highlighted a fascinating behavior shared by various animals.

Humans commonly seek medications and treatments when sick, a behavior long thought to be exclusive to our species. However, research has shown that animals also engage in self-medication. This area of study has captured the interest of researchers since the late 1980s. Researchers aim to better understand animal self-medication to possibly enhance human medical knowledge.

Freelance science journalist Mandy Nguyen delves into these findings. During discussions, she reveals how studying animals’ natural remedies can offer valuable insights into potential new treatments for humans.

If you’re fascinated by animal stories and want to learn more, feel free to send your ideas and questions to [email protected]. Your contributions might inspire future content!

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This episode was produced by Hannah Chinn and edited by Hannah and Rebecca Ramirez. Tyler Jones conducted fact-checking. Jimmy Keeley handled the audio engineering.