Table 2.

Categories of diseases treated with animal-based medicines that are sold in public markets in Aracaju-SE, Fortaleza-CE, Maceió-AL, Recife-PE, and Salvador-BA, according to the “Centro Brasileiro de Classificação de Doenças” (1993).

Categories	Diseases cited “by the vendors”	Total
A	“Attract money,” “attract partner,” “simpatias,” “evil eyes,” itch, bruise, pain, skin disease, edema, weakness, swelling, inflammations, infections, circulation problems, and lung problems	15
B	Asthma, bronchitis, nasal congestion, sore throat, flu, pneumonia, sinusitis, and cough	8
C	Arthritis, arthrosis, healing, backache, toothache, joint pain, osteoporosis, and rheumatism	8
D	Earache and deafness	2
E	Alcoholism, injuries, muscular pain, strain, snake bites, and burns	6
F	Stomach ache and gastritis	2
G	Acne, boils, eczema, and cracks in the feet	4
H	Sexual impotence	1
I	Stroke, thrombosis, and hemorrhoids	3
J	Urinary infection and menstrual cramps	2
K	Headache and epilepsy	2
L	Diarrhea, erysipelas, and tuberculosis	3
M	Cancer	1
N	Fever	1
Total		58

A: undefined illnesses; B: diseases of the respiratory system; C: diseases of the osteomuscular system and conjunctive tissue; D: diseases of the ear; E: lesions caused by poisoning and other external causes; F: diseases of the digestive system; G: diseases of the skin and the subcutaneous tissue; H: mental and behavioural perturbations; I: diseases of the circulatory system; J: diseases of the urogenital system; K: diseases of the nervous system; L: diseases caused by parasites; M: neoplasias (tumours); N: symptoms not categorized in other part or section.