In Greek mythology, Panaceia, or Πανακεια (Latin Panacea), was the goddess of healing. She was the daughter of Asclepius, god of healing and medicine, and the Granddaughter of Apollo, god of healing. She had three sisters, Iaso, Aceso, and Aglæa/Ægle (the goddess of splendor). Through her father she bore a daughter (and step-sister) named Hygeia. Together, Panacea, Iaso, and Hygeia helped the sick and diseased to health, as Panacea was the goddess of healing and cures (see etymology), Iaso was the goddess of recovery, and Hygeia was the goddess of welfare and prevention of disease.

Asklepios, Panacea, Iaso, Akeso, Epione and Ianiskos. Fragment of a votive relief. Pentelic marble.

Panacea had four brothers — Podaleirus, one of the two kings of Tricca, who had a flare for diagnostics, and Machaon, the other king of Tricca, who was a master surgeon (these two took part in the Trojan War until Machaon was killed by Penthesilea, queen of the Amazons); Telesphoros, who devoted his life to serving Asclepius; and Aratus, her step-brother, who was a Greek hero and the patron/liberator of Sicyon.

Panacea was said to have a poultice or potion with which she healed the sick. This brought about the concept of the panacea.

Genealogy

Ophion + Chaos (The primordeal serpent Ophion sets alight the edges of Chaos, out of which is born Eurynome)

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Ophion + Eurynome (Ophion coils around Eurynome, the moon, and she flies away as a white bird, laying six silver eggs)

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Gaea (Miraculously concieves a child without fertilization)

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Uranus + Gaea

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Cronus + Rhea

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Zeus + Leto

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Apollo + Coronis, princess of Epidavrus (or Arsinoe, princess of Messenia)

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Asclepius' + Epione (or Salus)

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Panacea

Etymology

Panacea is from Greek Panakeia, from panakés, "all healing"; pas (neuter pan), "all" (from Indo-European kua-nt-, a zero-grade extension of keu-, "large space; vault; hole") + akos, "cure" (perhaps from Indo-European yék-, "to heal").

Hygeia is from Greek hugeia, "health", from Indo-European su-gwiyes-ya, "living in good condition"; su-, "well" + gwei-, "to live".

Iaso is from Greek iasthai, "to cure; to heal".

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A panacea is a cure-all, either physical medication or a solution to a problem. The term is mostly used in the negative sense of an illusory solution to all problems.

The Panacea Society is Christian-based sect based in Bedford, England which sends out cure-alls and which wishes to promote the work of Joanna Southcott.

The Medische Faculteitsvereniging Panacea is a student organisation for medical students in Groningen, the Netherlands.

Panacea is the stage name of German drum & bass/hardcore producer Mathis Mootz.