Humans have used plants for medicine since prehistoric times.↵
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They are still used traditional medicine.↵
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scientists have now found that chimpanzees also seek out plants to heal themselves.↵
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Researchers in the UK conducted a study of chimpanzee behaviour in the Budongo Central Forest in Uganda.↵
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The researchers tracked a male chimp with an injured hand looking for a fern.↵
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The fern may have reduced the swelling in the ape's hand.↵
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Another chimpanzee with an infection ate the bark of a cat-thorn tree.↵
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This may have helped to reduce the animal's sickness.↵
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The researchers say there is a strong correlation between the chimpanzees' ailments and the healing properties in the plants.↵
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The researchers tested plants that chimpasnzees didn't normally eat.↵
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They found that 88 percent of the plants contained anti-bacterial properties, while 33 percent were anti-inflammatory.↵
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A researcher said: "Pharmacological results suggest that Budongo chimpanzees consume several species with potent medicinal properties."↵
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She said the investigations into the primates' may pave the way for a greater use of natural remedies in our lives.