What is panacea? History of the origin and meaning of the concept

The word "panacea" often slips on TV screens, in newspaper headlines, in advertisements. People do not always think about what this concept means, where it came from. What is a panacea?

Value

As you know, the use of words without understanding their exact meaning is a bad tone. Therefore it is extremely necessary from time to time to consult an explanatory dictionary, because it's not a shame to not know, it's shameful not to want to know. So, the panacea: what is it, how to correctly use this concept?

In modern Russian this word denotes a universal medicine, a drug for all diseases, a potion of longevity and a remedy for all ills. The term is used in both direct and figurative sense. As for the characteristics of this word, it refers to the feminine gender, the first declension, and the emphasis in it falls on the penultimate syllable. The plural is a panacea.

In a figurative sense, this term can denote the solution of any problems, a universal way out of the situation.

History of the concept

When the meaning of the word "panacea" became clear, it will be interesting to know the history of its occurrence. Originally it was used in Greek as the name of the goddess, who in the late mythological tradition was the daughter of the god-healer Asclepius. Her name sounded a little different - Panakeya - and meant "all-healing", and she herself "answered" for the medicinal treatment. According to the myths, this goddess could rid herself of any illnesses, gradually the word became a household word, and after going into European languages, it began to sound like a "panacea".

What this term meant later is known to those who are interested in the history of alchemy. As you know, the greatest development this occupation - something in between science, art and witchcraft - received in the Middle Ages. One of the main tasks of alchemy, in addition to obtaining the so-called philosophical stone, was the search for an elixir of immortality, a cure for all diseases. It was his name that eventually became known as a panacea. Despite many centuries spent on experiments, and a huge number of scientists who were engaged in the search for such a tool, it was never found. So until now, in its direct meaning, the word "panacea" is a shade of mythology.

Modern panacea

Since the decline of alchemy has passed several centuries. Now we have fine chemistry, pharmacology, gerontology, a large number of laboratories around the world, huge amounts of money that are spent on research, but there is almost no hope that one day a notorious panacea will be found. What does it mean? Medicines from all diseases in general sense does not exist and can not be. The mechanisms of the occurrence of various diseases differ from each other. In some cases, blame for all the bacteria or viruses, in others - the wrong way of life, nutrition, inactivity. Sometimes a problem needs to be looked for in genes, so a universal remedy that could help with absolutely any disease, simply will not work effectively for each of them separately.

Research is carried out on the properties of stem cells and the possibility of their use in medicine, the development of genetic engineering, experiments with cloning continue. But hardly any of these directions can become comprehensive, open the way for mankind to eternal youth and a life without illnesses. So the elixir of immortality will remain just a beautiful fairy tale and dream, but who knows where science will go in a couple of hundred years or even earlier?

Use in Russian and other languages

So, now the etymology and the modern meaning of the word "panacea" are known. What does this concept mean now, how is it used? Most often, you can find it in articles on drug research, new medical technologies, traditional oriental medicine techniques. Sometimes the authors use it in notes on the discharge of excess weight.

Owners of some organizations also like to play this concept in the title. As a rule, the subjects are the same - pharmacies, clinics, sometimes the services of a veterinarian. This word, in fact, sounds beautiful and mysterious, it looks noticeable and intriguing. Seeing it in the title, and want to read the entire article. Perhaps everything is very simple - subconsciously people still believe that a panacea is a remedy that will solve all the problems, cure all the diseases, prolong life and youth - there is.