Ages before the dawn of modern medicine, wild animals were harnessing the power of nature’s pharmacy to heal themselves. Doctors by Nature reveals what researchers are now learning about the medical wonders of the animal world. In this visionary book, Jaap de Roode argues that we have underestimated the healing potential of nature for too long and shows how the study of self-medicating animals could impact the practice of human medicine.
Drawing on illuminating interviews with leading scientists from around the globe as well as his own pioneering research on monarch butterflies, de Roode demonstrates how animals of all kinds—from ants to apes, from bees to bears, and from cats to caterpillars—use various forms of medicine to treat their own ailments and those of their relatives. We meet apes that swallow leaves to dislodge worms, sparrows that use cigarette butts to repel parasites, and bees that incorporate sticky resin into their hives to combat pathogens. De Roode asks whether these astonishing behaviors are learned or innate and explains why, now more than ever, we need to apply the lessons from medicating animals—it can pave the way for healthier livestock, more sustainable habitats for wild pollinators, and a host of other benefits.
Doctors by Nature takes readers into a realm often thought to be the exclusive domain of humans, exploring how scientists are turning to the medical knowledge of the animal kingdom to improve agriculture, create better lives for our pets, and develop new pharmaceutical drugs.
Jaap de Roode is Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of Biology at Emory University, where he is director of the Infectious Diseases across Scales Training Program, which trains graduate students in interdisciplinary science to study and control infectious disease.
“Doctors by Nature brings a new WOW on every page! This fascinating book will blow your mind with the chemical complexity of plants, the insight, ingenuity, and instincts of animals, and the healing powers within the reach of a thrilling array of creatures.”—Sy Montgomery, author of The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness
“From ants to apes, bees to bears, and caterpillars to capuchins, animals use nature’s pharmacy to recover from injury and treat and prevent disease. But how do animals know what plants and substances their bodies need? De Roode dives into the expanding, fascinating research surrounding the world of zoopharmacognosy—animal self-medication—illuminating the interwoven intricacies and innate brilliance of the animal and plant kingdoms, and our crucial role in protecting both.”—Karen Shaw Becker, coauthor of the New York Times bestseller The Forever Dog Life
“In Doctors by Nature, biologist Jaap de Roode tells a witty tale of how animals use drugs to fight infections and stay alive. The book teaches us to see animals as capable creatures that look after their own health, proposing that animals’ medicinal knowledge can inspire new approaches to animal welfare, agriculture, and even human medicine.”—Beth Shapiro, author of How to Clone a Mammoth
“Outstanding! Jaap de Roode’s engrossing investigation of the remarkable relationship between the animal and plant kingdoms reveals fascinating secrets of self-healing behavior by insects, birds, reptiles, and mammals. Doctors by Nature is replete with new and surprising biological discoveries, recounted with charm and enthusiasm.”—Adrienne Mayor, author of Gods and Robots: Myths, Machines, and Ancient Dreams of Technology
“From chimpanzees treating parasites with bitter plants to monarch butterflies protecting their offspring with toxic milkweed, Doctors by Nature uncovers how animals instinctively use nature’s pharmacy to heal themselves and their communities. Jaap de Roode weaves together cutting-edge research, engaging stories, and his own scientific journey to show how animal medication behaviors can inspire new approaches to human and veterinary medicine. This eye-opening book will forever change how you view the intelligence and ingenuity of our fellow creatures, while offering hope for new discoveries that could revolutionize health care for all species.”—Neil Shubin, author of Your Inner Fish
“Doctors by Nature presents a scientifically grounded account of the fascinating strategies animals use to treat and prevent wounds and illnesses. Through masterful scientific storytelling, de Roode shares many remarkable examples of evolved behavioral adaptations that reveal our species to be only one of many that can heal themselves.”—Barbara Natterson-Horowitz, MD, coauthor of Zoobiquity and Wildhood
