Animals have a fascinating ability to use natural materials to combat or treat injuries or illnesses. People often think animal behavior in treating an injury, infection, or disease is an accident. A familiar example is a dog eating grass because of an upset stomach. The grass treats diarrhea or vomiting and can lower the pH level to soothe pain and symptoms of illness. You may see ads from dog food companies saying they have no vegetable matter in their product, but a dog needs some fiber. To meet these needs, foxes, and wolves will eat blueberries, wild carrots, or wild spinach. These are examples of animal medicine.
Researchers watched an injured Sumatran orangutan extract juice from a plant known for antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties in humans. He applied it to a wound under his eye, and the wound did not become infected. In five days, the wound closed, and in a month, it completely healed. Chimpanzees fold and swallow rough leaves to purge parasites. Great apes, elephants, bears, and porcupines are among the animals with an innate ability to find and use certain plants for medicine. Emory University biologist Jaap De Roode said, “You have to have inherited the gene that gives you the general ability to detect the right taste or smell in a plant for your needs.”
It sounds fantastic, but we also see animal medicine in the insect world. European honey bees use tree resin to prevent mites and other infections. Monarch butterflies with an infection will lay 68% of their eggs on milkweed with high cardenolide compounds, which have anti-parasitic powers. When their caterpillars hatch and start eating the milkweed leaves, they ingest the compounds that ward off parasites.
The study of animal medicine shows that insects and animals are programmed to deal with the health problems they encounter. When God addressed Job with questions in chapters 38 to 40, Job realized how much he didn’t know. As we read those chapters, we recognize how much we don’t know and are still learning from the lives of God’s creatures. Proverbs 6:6 advises us to “go to the ant… consider her ways and be wise.”
— John N. Clayton © 2025
Reference: National Wildlife magazine for Winter 2025, pages 16-17
