In the early 2010s, sparrows and finches in Mexico City began using cigarette butts to line their nests, which reduced parasite infestations likely due to nicotine's repelling properties, although chick health suffered from blood cell abnormalities. This behavior reflects a deeper relationship between animals and natural medicine, as animals have utilized natural substances for self-medication throughout history. Studies show insects also practice medication by ingesting unusual substances to combat infection and illness, further illustrating this behavior's prevalence in the animal kingdom.
The more cigarette filter fibers the nests had, the fewer parasites they harbored, probably because nicotine repels bugs.
Animals are considered to medicate when they eat or apply an external substance that they normally wouldn't and it helps them by preventing or clearing infection or reducing disease symptoms.
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