Quinn Gerry A, Harris Drake
Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK.
Center for Environmental Research and Earth Sciences (CERES), Salem, MA, 01970, USA.
J Relig Health. 2025 Apr 19. doi: 10.1007/s10943-025-02311-9.
In 2016, a group of scientists isolated Streptomyces sp. myrophorea, an antibiotic producing microorganism, from the "Blessed Clay" of Fr. McGirr, an old Irish folk cure found in Boho, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. In this essay, the authors examine the common elements between this spiritual healing site and others around the world and compare these motifs with characteristics commonly associated with the discovery of antibiotic producing microorganisms. The authors also contemplate whether this discovery adds any credence to spiritual healing practices and if sites like these have the potential to guide researchers toward new pharmaceutical discoveries. Taking into account local sensitivities and cultural traditions, the authors propose that similar spiritual healing sites should be carefully studied for evidence of microorganisms that might produce useful pharmaceuticals.
2016年，一组科学家从北爱尔兰弗马纳郡博霍发现的一种古老的爱尔兰民间疗法——“神父麦吉尔圣土”中分离出了产抗生素微生物肉孢链霉菌。在本文中，作者研究了这个精神疗愈场所与世界其他地方的共同元素，并将这些主题与产抗生素微生物发现中常见的特征进行了比较。作者还思考了这一发现是否为精神疗愈实践增添了可信度，以及这样的场所是否有可能引导研究人员发现新的药物。考虑到当地的敏感性和文化传统，作者建议应仔细研究类似的精神疗愈场所，寻找可能产生有用药物的微生物证据。
