The Medicine Atlas — Human Engineering

Stream 01

Modern Medicine

The pharmacological knowledge of the last two centuries — small molecules, biologics, vaccines, and the increasingly precise tools of molecular medicine.

Pharmaceuticals

Small-molecule drugs — from aspirin to mRNA-LNP.

Antibiotics

Defenses against bacterial pathogens.

Antivirals

Therapies for viral infection and reactivation.

Vaccines

Trained adaptive immunity, by design.

Biologics & Gene Therapy

mRNA, antibodies, CRISPR, cell therapy.

Cancer Therapeutics

Chemo, immunotherapy, targeted, CAR-T.

Cardiovascular

Heart, vessels, blood pressure, lipids.

Mental Health

Antidepressants, anxiolytics, antipsychotics.

Hormones & Endocrine

Insulin, thyroid, sex steroids, fertility.

Cardiovascular — entries

Beta-blockers

β-Adrenergic receptor antagonists · Metoprolol, bisoprolol, carvedilol

~34% mortality ↓ in HFrEF

Statins

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors · Atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, simvastatin

22% MACE ↓ per 1 mmol/L LDL-C

ACE Inhibitors

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors · Enalapril, lisinopril, ramipril

~27% mortality ↓ in HFrEF

Aspirin

COX inhibitor / Antiplatelet · Acetylsalicylic acid, ASA

23% MI reduction (ISIS-2)

Loop Diuretics

NKCC2 inhibitors · Furosemide, bumetanide, torsemide

Cornerstone of heart failure & edema management

ARBs

Angiotensin II receptor blockers · Losartan, valsartan, irbesartan

AT1 receptor blockade; no bradykinin — no ACE-I cough; renoprotective

Calcium Channel Blockers

L-type Ca²⁺ channel blockers · Amlodipine (DHP), verapamil, diltiazem (non-DHP)

L-type Ca²⁺ channel block; amlodipine (DHP) and verapamil/diltiazem (non-DHP)

Antivirals — entries

Oseltamivir

Neuraminidase inhibitor · Tamiflu · Influenza A & B

Neuraminidase inhibitor; influenza treatment within 48h; WHO Essential Medicine

Antimicrobials — entries

Rifampicin

RNA polymerase inhibitor (rpoB) · Rifampin · Mycobacterium tuberculosis

rpoB RNA polymerase inhibitor; TB backbone; sterilizing activity vs dormant bacilli

Amoxicillin

Aminopenicillin / Beta-Lactam · PBP inhibitor · WHO Access antibiotic

World's most prescribed antibiotic; CAP, strep pharyngitis, H. pylori, AOM

Vancomycin

Glycopeptide antibiotic · D-Ala-D-Ala binding / lipid II blockade · MRSA, VRE, C. diff

First-line IV MRSA; AUC/MIC 400–600 monitoring; VanA D-Ala-D-Lac resistance 1000× affinity loss

Respiratory — entries

Corticosteroids

Glucocorticoid receptor agonists · Prednisolone, dexamethasone, budesonide

50–60% asthma exacerbation ↓ (ICS); first-line COPD exacerbation therapy

Metabolic — entries

Metformin

Biguanide · Complex I inhibitor / AMPK activator · Type 2 diabetes

~36% diabetes onset ↓ (DPP); HbA1c ↓ 1–2%; no hypoglycaemia

GI (Gastrointestinal) — entries

Omeprazole

Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) · H⁺/K⁺-ATPase covalent inhibitor · Prilosec, Losec

Covalent H⁺/K⁺-ATPase inactivation; ≥95% acid suppression; GERD, PUD, H. pylori eradication

Hematology — entries

Warfarin

Vitamin K Antagonist (VKA) · VKORC1 inhibitor · Coumadin · Anticoagulant

64% AF stroke ↓ (meta-analysis); INR 2–3; first-line for mechanical valves; CYP2C9/VKORC1 pharmacogenomics

Mental Health — entries

Fluoxetine

SSRI Antidepressant · SERT inhibitor · Prozac · MDD, OCD, bulimia, panic

SERT block → 5-HT1A autoreceptor desensitization → BDNF/TrkB neuroplasticity; norfluoxetine t½ up to 16 days

Biologics & Targeted Immunotherapy — entries

Adalimumab

Anti-TNFα fully human mAb (IgG1) · Humira · RA, Crohn's, psoriasis, AS, UC, JIA

World's best-selling drug 2012–2022; ARMADA ACR50 59%; CHARM 36% remission (CD); mandatory TB screen

Anti-Inflammatory — entries

Dexamethasone

Synthetic Glucocorticoid (25× cortisol) · GR agonist · Zero mineralocorticoid activity

RECOVERY trial: 17% COVID-19 mortality ↓; croup, cerebral edema, chemo antiemesis, bacterial meningitis

Ibuprofen

Non-selective NSAID / COX-1 + COX-2 inhibitor · Advil, Nurofen · Propionic acid

World's most widely used analgesic; reversible COX block; GI risk 3.7×; CV risk ~1.3×; dysmenorrhea first-line

Cancer Therapeutics — entries

Checkpoint Inhibitors

PD-1 / PD-L1 / CTLA-4 / LAG-3 blockade · Pembrolizumab, nivolumab, ipilimumab

MSI-H ORR ~40%; KEYNOTE-024 PFS 10.3m vs 6m

CAR-T Cell Therapy

Chimeric antigen receptor T cells · CD19 / BCMA · Tisagenlecleucel, axicabtagene

81% CR in r/r pediatric ALL (ELIANA)

Targeted Therapy

TKIs, mAbs, ADCs, PARP inhibitors · Imatinib, osimertinib, trastuzumab, olaparib

Imatinib 87% CCyR at 18m (IRIS); T-Dxd HER2-low OS benefit

Cytotoxic Chemotherapy

Alkylators, anthracyclines, taxanes, antimetabolites · FOLFOX, R-CHOP, BEP, ABVD

>95% cure in Stage I–II testicular GCT (BEP)

Stream 02

Traditional & Cultural Medicine

Healing traditions developed and refined over millennia, in every culture on Earth. Catalogued seriously and cross-referenced with what modern evidence supports — or refutes.

Ayurveda

Indian medical system — 3,000+ years of practice.

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Materia medica, acupuncture, qi, balance.

Western Herbalism

European and American botanical medicine.

Indigenous Medicine

Native traditions from every continent.

Traditional — entries

Ashwagandha

Adaptogen · Withanolides · Withania somnifera · Ayurveda

Cortisol ↓ 14–32%; GABA-A modulation

Berberine

Isoquinoline alkaloid · AMPK activator · TCM / Ayurveda

HbA1c ↓ 1.0%; LDL-C ↓ ~23%

Ginkgo Biloba

EGb 761 extract · Ginkgolide B / Bilobalide · PAF antagonist

CYP2C19/3A4 inhibitor; antiplatelet; ~30% cognitive effect in dementia (inconsistent)

Panax Ginseng

Ginsenosides Rb1/Rg1 · eNOS activation · Korean Red Ginseng

FBG ↓ 5.9 mg/dL; caution: warfarin / OCP interaction

St. John's Wort

Hyperforin · TRPC6 / SSRI-like · CYP3A4 inducer (PXR)

Mild-moderate depression ≈ SSRI; cyclosporine/OCP/HIV drug interactions

Milk Thistle

Silymarin / Silybin · Nrf2/Keap1 activator · Silybum marianum

Hepatoprotective; Amanita antidote; ALT ↓ 8–28 U/L in NAFLD

Licorice Root

Glycyrrhizin · 11β-HSD2 inhibitor · Glycyrrhiza glabra

Pseudo-hyperaldosteronism at >100 mg/day; DGL for ulcers

Stream 03

Food & Nutrition Medicine

The medicines we already eat — spices, fermented foods, dietary patterns, micronutrients. Where dietary biology meets pharmacology, often more powerfully than either is given credit for.

Food as Medicine

Dietary patterns, micronutrients, fasting.

Spices & Adaptogens

Turmeric, ginger, ashwagandha, garlic.

Probiotics & Microbiome

Fermented foods, FMT, postbiotics.

Food & Nutrition — entries

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

EPA / DHA · n-3 PUFAs · Fish oil / Icosapentaenoic acid

25% MACE ↓ (REDUCE-IT); TG ↓ 20–50%

Curcumin

Polyphenol · IKKβ / NF-κB inhibitor · Curcuma longa / Turmeric

NF-κB / Nrf2 / eicosanoid modulation; poor bioavailability without piperine

Quercetin

Flavonol · Mast cell stabilizer / NLRP3 inhibitor · Zn²⁺ ionophore

BP ↓ 3.1/2.4 mmHg; antihistamine; anti-inflammatory; antiviral (RdRp)

Resveratrol

Stilbenoid polyphenol · SIRT1 activator · Grapes / Red wine

SIRT1/AMPK/NF-κB modulation; <1% oral bioavailability; xenohormesis

Sulforaphane

Isothiocyanate · Nrf2/KEAP1 activator · Broccoli / Glucoraphanin

Nrf2 → HO-1/NQO1/GSTM1; H. pylori inhibition; HDAC inhibitor

Vitamin D

Cholecalciferol → Calcitriol · VDR nuclear receptor · Secosteroid

>1,000 genes regulated; OR 0.30 for severe-deficiency infections (Martineau 2017)

Dietary Fiber

SCFAs · Butyrate / Propionate / Acetate · Prebiotic / HDAC inhibitor

LDL-C ↓ 5–10% (β-glucan); CRC risk ↓ 10% per 10 g/day; T2DM protection

Zinc (Dietary)

ZIP4 / MT absorption · Thymulin · Zinc finger proteins

Cold duration ↓ 33% (lozenges, Cochrane); AMD protection (AREDS2)

Magnesium (Dietary)

TRPM6/TRPM7 absorption · Mg-ATP cofactor · NMDA voltage block

300+ enzyme cofactor; IV MgSO₄ for eclampsia / torsades / asthma

Help build the encyclopedia.

The Medicine Atlas is being built in the open. Every entry — modern or traditional, well-known or obscure — needs evidence, references, mechanism of action, and cross-references back into the Human and Pathogen atlases. Whether you are a clinician, pharmacologist, ethnobotanist, food scientist, or someone who knows a local medical tradition that has been overlooked — your contribution matters.

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