Before Aspirin:
Animals

The honeybee.

Plants weren't the only pain relievers found in nature. Animals and animal products were also drafted in the war against pain. Egg whites were often used in salves to treat burns. In one bizarre Russian folk remedy, arthritis was treated by putting a loose bag over the affected arm or leg, filling the bag with the dirt and ants from an ant bed, then tying the bag shut so the ants couldn't escape. The arm or leg was left in the bag for two or three hours while the ants bit the patient.

Another strange remedy for arthritis involved daily bee stings. This sounds downright loony, but in fact elderly beekeepers sometimes claim their sore arthritic joints feel better after being stung. For this reason it is suspected that some compound in bee venom actually can relieve arthritis symptoms. Some have revived bee stinging as an alternative remedy for arthritis, but this has proven dangerous. Fatal allergic reactions sometimes occur when patients are treated with bee stings, even among people with no history of being allergic to bee stings. If there is any healing value in bee venom, it is up to scientists to not only isolate the compound that relieves arthritis symtoms, but also to ensure that it can be administered safely.

The electric southern stargazer.

Did we mention the electric fish? Several kinds of fish that swim in our oceans have the ability to give off electric shocks. This can be for defense or to stun prey. Ancient Mesopotamians, Greeks, and Romans figured out that getting shocked by one of these fish could ease foot and leg pain. Mild electric shocks are still used today to treat pain, but these days a battery-powered gizmo called a TENS unit is usually used instead of an electric eel.

There is another way in which animals helped people in their battles with pain and other illness. For centuries people have watched animals to see what plants they eat when they are sick. In this way animals can lead us to plants with medicinal properties. Using animals to lead us to medicines is called zoopharmacognasy. Animals that are biologically similar to humans, like gorillas and chimpanzees, are currently being studied by modern scientists in the hope that they will show us new sources for medicines.