zoopharmacognosy 

zoopharmacognosy

DRUG DISCOVERY, PHARMACOLOGY

The formal study of plants consumed by animals in their native habitats, based on the largely unproven hypothesis that animals intuitively know which plants, insects, soils or other agents to ingest or place on their hide surface to treat or prevent their own illnesses.

Synonym Animal self medication 

Reference en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoopharmacognosy