biotherapies in the biophilia clinic

Maggot calculator for wound size

The development of the biophilia clinic follows a gradual awareness, acceptance and resurgence of biotherapies into contemporary medicine. For instance, maggot debridement therapy is finding its way back into hospital surgeries, even becoming available on the NHS as a cheaper and more effective wound treatment method. Whatsmore the maggot therapy helps minimise the risk of MRSA- super-bug infection due to the maggots disinfection production. They also eat only the decaying flesh, whereas a human surgeon will cut away healthy tissue as well and, if used widely, would save the NHS £30million .

Despite all these advantages, in general, there is still a yuk factor connected with the idea of this alternative medical practice and others like it. People can’t stomach the thought of another animal eating from there body. The biggest challenge for the biophilia clinic is the change of perception in what we find desirable and repulsive.

Issues I have been considering include: How can the future of the biophilia clinic readdress our relationship with other organisms? How will the symbiotic partnership evolve? Why have we developed these reactions of repulsion in the first place?

Here’s the International Biotherapy Society’s mission:

In an era when many folk remedies are being rediscovered and the use of natural drugs is increasingly popular, we also witness a revival of the use of bacteria, protozoa, invertebrate animals such as fly larvae, bees and leeches in medical practice. The International Biotherapy Society (IBS) aims to support the use and understanding of living organisms in the treatment of human and animal diseases. The Society organizes international conferences for the exchange of information and ideas on subjects such as maggot debridement therapy, hirudotherapy, apitherapy and ichthiotherapy.

international biotherapy society

Also here’s a link to the transcript from the House of Commons Debate on the subject and it’s application in hospitals. House of Commons

You can buy medical sterile maggots from ZooBiotic Ltd