Animal healer for refractory diseases: Myth or reality?

Area of Science:

• Zoology
• Integrative Medicine
• Biomedical Sciences

Background:

• Humans have historically used animals for healing, leveraging natural remedies.
• A lack of systematic review exists for these traditional animal-based therapies.
• This study defines and categorizes 'animal healers' for therapeutic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and define the concept of 'animal healers'.
• To highlight the therapeutic potential of animal-derived treatments for refractory diseases.
• To advocate for further research and clinical integration of animal healer therapies.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a comprehensive literature review across major scientific databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Scopus, CNKI, WanFang DATA).
• Defined and categorized six common types of animal healers: fish, pet, worm, leech, maggot, and bee therapy.
• Analyzed treatment methods including bite, parasitism, contact, and communication.

Main Results:

• Identified six distinct categories of animal healers with diverse therapeutic applications.
• Documented treatment modalities involving direct interaction or biological products from animals.
• Recognized the 'green' and effective nature of these therapies for various ailments.

Conclusions:

• Animal healers present a promising, natural therapeutic strategy for refractory diseases.
• Further research is crucial in areas such as species cultivation, mechanism elucidation, and safety evaluation.
• Promoting animal healers could lead to novel clinical strategies and solutions in medicine.