The ancient healing power of dogs: fact or fiction?
The ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans all believed in the healing powers of dogs.
At Epidaurus, a 4th Century BC Greek temple and sanctuary dedicated to Asklepios, ancient Greek god of medicine, sacred dogs were said to have licked the wounds of pilgrims who came to be cured.
An inscription at Epidaurus records that a growth on a boy’s neck was healed after one of the temple dogs licked it.
Granting good health
Copper figures of dogs licking dating back to Roman times, have also been found in sites in Gloucester and Wales, and are believed to be connected with medicine and healing. The figures were probably left by the sick as gifts to Asklepios, hoping they would be granted good health and recovery from an illness.
Salivia may aid the healing process
But do dogs really have this healing power? Is there any truth behind these myths? Research does show that a dog’s lick and saliva may aid the healing process:
The mechanical action of gentle licking can help to remove dirt and debris from a wound that may slow healing and cause infection if left in place.
Saliva contains proteins called histatins, which can help ward off infection and prompt cells from the surface of the skin to close over the wound quickly.
When nitrite in saliva comes into contact with skin, it breaks down into nitric oxide which can help to protect wounds against infection.
Licking delivers protease inhibitors and a nerve growth factor, both of which promote healing.
Lactoferrin has natural antibacterial properties and is found in dog saliva.
Opiorphin is a pain reliever and found in dog saliva.
Dog’s mouths are full of bacteria
On the flip side, scientists warn that the myth that dog’s mouths are cleaner than a human’s mouth is simply not true . Dog’s mouths are full of bacteria and any antibacterial properties within their saliva only work against very specific types of bacteria. As such, a dog is more likely to introduce many more bacteria into the wound, like pasteurella, than its saliva will be able to kill.
A further problem is that licking can quickly lead to inflammation and irritation of the wound area and may open up wounds that are healing. Over-licking can lead to a granuloma.
In considering whether there is some truth in the healing power of the ancient temple dogs, it is necessary to consider it within the context of 4th Century BC ancient Greece. At that time, roughly 2500 years ago, levels of sanitation and cleanliness would be significantly below modern-day standards and there would have been a lack of understanding of the importance of keeping wounds clean.
Don’t try this at home!
Within this context, the lick from a sacred temple dog may have indeed helped to remove debris from dirty wounds and aided the healing process on some occasions in ancient times.. However, it is not something that is recommended today by the NHS!
