When I first heard about the field of astrobiology and its implications, I had to wonder about the future of medicine and the diseases we will encounter.

Not only do we have to worry about super bugs on Earth, evolving and developing resistance to synthetic antibiotics, but becoming more and more impervious to what we rely on as modern healing methods. 

If you recall the work of Dr. Wilburn H. Ferguson, the well-known phytopharmacologist whose work inspired the movie “Medicine Man,” portrayed by Sean Connery. His work involved reducing the formula of the cure for cancer from the 35 herbs of the Jivaro Indians, down to biochemicals responsible for inhibiting or reversing cancer. But his work was never funded and after 20 years in the jungle, the resulting formula has remained off limits to the general public for fear of reprisal from the regulatory agencies.

The whole story with drug companies and the scientists that strive to provide the populace with natural medicines is as old as the relationship with oil companies and the proponents of wind and solar energy. Anything that threatens to reduce the flow of oil production or the prescription for pills will be paid off, discredited or lost in the oblivion of natural medicine that rivals the pharmaceutical industry, made up of the Orthodox Eight, (naturopaths, homeopaths, chiropractors, traditional Chinese medicine, herbal, massage/bodywork, acupuncture and stress management/meditation).  

Anyway, back to astrobiology. On Earth, we have evolved with our plants and our plants have evolved to counter our diseases. All we have to do is locate them. Natural medicine relies heavily on the doctrine of signatures to identify them. This doctrine states that what imitates disease can be used to treat it. As with sangra de drago (blood of the dragon) comes from a tree in the jungle, and when cut, it bleeds. When applied to the skin, it seals a wound, inhibits infection and ultimately produces a scarless wound. But what about diseases that comes to us from outer space? Where are we going to find these plants that evolved with these space diseases?

A little history. The Great 1911 Epidemic broke out in numerous parts of the world. Initially it was blamed on chemical warfare from World War I, i.e. mustard gas. Medicine was relatively naive to alien disease. Thus, it went unnoticed. But once the clinical case histories were reviewed and it was revealed that the symptoms were unique and exact, it warranted further investigation.  

 Today, NASA has taken an interest in astrobiology almost to the point of obsession.  Think for a moment, back during the days of the Indian Wars, when delivering a wool blanket infected with small pox to a starving enemy tribe could wipe out a tribe without firing a shot. The same view is taken of astrobiology. One day, a rock could be seemingly hurling through space, with ice and debris filling the cracks and crevices, holding what was frozen, for thousands of years, just to thaw at the right moment in time during its re-entry into our atmosphere. Some of it will survive, and it will atomize like the mist in an asthmatics inhaler.

Now, what can we do about it? The universe holds wonders for us, and not all of them come to us via the Hubble telescope. Some of them hold endless challenges for us, medically speaking, through what just flies through the air. 

Part of understanding what lies ahead of us is what lies behind us. Now looking back, at the same time an asteroid/meteor passed through our atmosphere in 1911, outbreaks erupted over the globe. Since air travel at that time could be ruled out, it would also be impossible for disease to travel via boat that fast. Starting in India, then to Europe, then Boston, and ultimately the next day in Alaska. All at the same exact date and time through review of historical records. Once we matched the records of asteroids entering our atmosphere it would appear that it entered above India, traveled northwest across Europe, over Boston and North To Alaska.  But, until we realized the nature and possibility of bacterial and viral infection from outer space, only warfare seemed to be the cause. 

But, as it goes, bacteria and viruses have been passing through our atmosphere for millions of years. It would then be reasonable to believe that, for what waits in outer space, currently resides on Earth as well, hosted by the plants we live with. And if it’s not here, its surly not far behind, at least for anything we may encounter in the next thousand years. Part of reaping the benefits is through consuming them, using them when we get sick and devoting research as if our lives depend on them. It combines the research capacity of modern drug labs to join with natural medical practitioners, with a common goal.

As for astrobiology, outer space may hold the pharmacy for what is to come. There are only two things certain in life, death and taxes. Neither can be avoided, but effects of both can be lessened. Just so one doesn’t lead to the other.  

 
Dr. Thomas Coffman is the medical director of the British Clinic Health System, host of Integrative Medicine Radio, and author of various books on homeopathic psychology, ancient Egyptian medicine, and “Managing the Spectrum.” Coffman lectures for the British Institute of Homeopathy in the United States and England.