In Greek mythology, Panacea was the God of healing, and was said to possess an elixir that could cure all ailments. While Panacea herself is mere myth, there have been several substances throughout the ages that have claimed to be a panacea in medicine, or a substance that could serve as a cure for all diseases. When penicillin was discovered, it was often hailed as a panacea, though viruses and bacteria have started to become more resistant to it.
One new field in medicine, stem cell research, has started to produce results that suggest adult stem cells might be the panacea for all disease and illness. In most cases of severe disease an illness, the cause is a reduction in the body’s natural beneficial cells. While some cells are used to attack harmful and foreign cells, others perform essential bodily functions. When these cells diminish, people become vulnerable. However, stem cells can restore these cells, and thus serve as a means to ward off disease. While stem cells might not be the panacea, in the future, there is no doubt they will become an integral part of medicine and health