The Animal Pharmacy: A Journey into the World of Self-Medication in Nature
We often perceive medicine and healing as uniquely human endeavors. The image of a trip to the doctor or reaching for an over-the-counter remedy when feeling unwell is deeply ingrained in our understanding of healthcare. After all, who has ever witnessed a pigeon with a broken wing sporting a makeshift cast? However, this anthropocentric view is slowly being challenged by a growing body of scientific research that reveals a far more widespread phenomenon: the remarkable ability of animals to self-medicate.
In his forthcoming book, "Doctors by Nature: How Ants, Apes, and Other Animals Heal Themselves," Emory University biologist Jaap de Roode embarks on a captivating exploration of this often-overlooked aspect of the natural world. De Roode guides the reader through a lively and engaging journey, demonstrating that the foundations of medicine—the act of taking measures to alleviate or prevent illness—extend far beyond the realm of human ingenuity.
The book commences with a detailed account of de Roode’s own groundbreaking research on monarch butterflies. His work highlights how these delicate creatures protect their offspring from debilitating parasites by strategically laying their eggs on milkweed plants with higher concentrations of specific toxins. This seemingly simple act of oviposition turns out to be a sophisticated form of preventative medicine, showcasing the innate knowledge possessed by these insects.
From this starting point, de Roode skillfully weaves together the research of numerous other scientists, painting a rich tapestry of animal self-medication strategies. He delves into the fascinating behaviors of chimpanzees, ants, bees, and even our domesticated pet cats, revealing the diverse and ingenious ways in which they utilize the resources around them to combat illness and maintain their health.
In a recent interview, de Roode discussed his inspiration for writing the book, emphasizing the underestimation of animal self-medication and the profound value of rediscovering ancient wisdom about the natural world. He hopes to challenge the notion that advanced intelligence is a prerequisite for medicinal behavior and to highlight the crucial lessons we can learn from observing the healing practices of other species.
"It’s just such a cool topic, and I’ve always loved animals," de Roode explained. "But I met a lot of resistance when I first studied the monarch butterflies and came up with the idea that they can use medication. And that resistance really stemmed from this idea that animals have to be super clever and have super big brains and to be as much as humans can be [to use medicine]. So in some ways, I just wanted to demonstrate that this is not the case." He emphasizes the importance of recognizing that many animals possess remarkable abilities to medicate themselves, their offspring, and their kin.
The book presents a compelling array of specific examples of animal medication, yet it also suggests that these documented cases represent only the tip of the iceberg. De Roode believes that future research will uncover a wealth of additional examples, further expanding our understanding of the prevalence and complexity of this phenomenon.
"Really, this field scientifically has only been going on since the 1980s, when Mike Hoffman and others began looking at chimpanzees, and now we’re looking at all sorts of insects," he notes. "We’re also seeing that people are starting to think about this more now. A lot of the examples that I described in the book really stemmed from serendipity—people weren’t looking for it, but they found it. And so that’s another thing that I hope to do with the book: to show people that there is something real out there and rather than find it accidentally, we should start looking for it purposefully."
De Roode envisions a shift from accidental discoveries to intentional investigations, encouraging researchers to actively seek out evidence of self-medication in diverse animal species. He points to mosquitoes as a potential area of future research, suggesting that the plant chemicals found in nectar, a primary food source for both male and female mosquitoes outside of breeding season, might play a role in their self-medication.
A recurring theme throughout the book is the rediscovery of knowledge that was once readily available to our ancestors, who possessed a deeper understanding of the natural world and its inhabitants. De Roode laments the loss of this traditional wisdom, particularly in Western societies that often view humans as separate from and superior to nature.
"For me, the most surprising thing in writing this book was just discovering how much we used to know and how we then got rid of those ideas," he says. "And it’s especially true for Western society, where we like to believe that humans are not part of nature and we need to be unique. And so we’re always looking for ways that make us better or cleverer than other species. It’s been this realization that we are just rediscovering things that people had known thousands of years ago."
He highlights the historical reliance of traditional healers and shamans on animal behavior for identifying potential medical treatments, citing the example of aspirin’s likely origin in observations of bears consuming willow bark after hibernation. He asserts that learning from animal self-medication strategies can benefit both human drug discovery and animal welfare.
De Roode discusses livestock experiments where animals are allowed to self-select their diets from a range of nutritional and medicinal plants. These studies have shown that animals are remarkably adept at meeting their individual needs and treating their own ailments, reducing the need for antibiotics and anthelmintics and thereby mitigating the development of drug resistance.
"And that means we don’t have to use antibiotics and anthelmintics as much, which then means we’re not going to create the drug resistance that we’re really suffering from right now. So you give animals a better life and it’s better for their welfare," he explains.
He extends this principle to honey bees, arguing that the current honey bee crisis is partly due to the assumption that bees are incapable of self-care. He believes that allowing bees to medicate themselves would improve their health, leading to better pollination and ultimately benefiting human food production.
"If we make happier animals, it’ll make for happier people," de Roode concludes.
When asked about his favorite example of animal medication outside of his own work with monarch butterflies, de Roode enthusiastically describes the finches and sparrows that use cigarette butts to combat parasitic infestations in their nests. He finds this behavior particularly fascinating due to the birds’ adaptability and resourcefulness in urban environments.
"My favorite story is the finches and sparrows that use cigarette butts [to prevent parasitic infestations of their nests]," he says. "And it’s partly because I had known about the research before, but going to Mexico and meeting the researchers there, seeing the nests, and seeing the birds, it was so fascinating. But it also really showed how adaptable animals can be and especially these birds that nest in cities and really adapt to them. And it’s kind of opportunistic because if there are no cigarette butts, they will use other things such as nicotine plants or other plants that have chemicals that also work against these parasites. Just seeing how inventive these animals are, it was just such a beautiful story and I really loved it."
"Doctors by Nature: How Ants, Apes, and Other Animals Heal Themselves" promises to be a thought-provoking and enlightening read, offering a fresh perspective on the capabilities of the animal kingdom and the lessons we can learn from observing their innate healing abilities. The book encourages us to reconsider our anthropocentric biases and to appreciate the complex and interconnected web of life on Earth, reminding us that we are all part of nature and that the solutions to many of our challenges may lie in the wisdom of the natural world. The book is a testament to the enduring power of observation and the importance of rediscovering the knowledge that has been passed down through generations, reminding us that the answers to our questions may already be present, hidden in plain sight, within the intricate tapestry of the natural world.
