MedPlants4Vet: A Step Toward My Dream Vet Career

Joining MedPlants4Vet has guided María Martínez Álvarez toward the veterinary career she has long envisioned and introduced her to the fascinating world of natural remedies for animal health.

Collection of historical Vademecum from the University of Córdoba (Spain). (Photo: María Martínez, University of Córdoba)

Last spring, I attended a lecture on phytotherapy and toxic plants for animals at the University of Córdoba, Spain, delivered by Álvaro Fdez-Blanco. During the talk, he introduced the MEDPLANTS4VET project, its objectives, and its future benefits for veterinarians and the wider public. I was immediately drawn to the topic and approached Álvaro afterward to learn more about medicinal plants.

Some time later, he contacted me with the exciting possibility of contributing to the project. It was an opportunity I could not miss, so I applied for the Virtual Mobility Grant to support the work of Working Groups 2 and 3 from Spain.

My tasks include searching for national legal documents, reviewing historical and current books on medicinal plant preparations, extracting relevant data, and completing a database with detailed information on plants, dosages, preparation methods, target animal species, and pharmaceutical or laboratory processes.

This experience is a significant milestone in building my dream veterinary career. After completing my degree, I hope to integrate medicinal plants into my future practice, and the knowledge gained through the MEDPLANTS4VET project is already shaping the path I want to follow.