How many times have you heard or seen on TV the glowing reports of some miracle drug that is supposed to cure what ails you? And, along with the report/advertisement is a long list of side effects and possible conflicts with other meds or conditions. “Side effects include… [long list of sometimes life-threatening side effects]…” An example of serious side effects are those found with usage of anticonvulsant medications that may be associated with increased risk of suicide*.
The reason we can’t just “make a pill for that” is because we don’t yet understand enough about the physical body to interact with it in unnatural ways – like medication – without disturbing a functioning system (even when that system is mal-functioning).
I am SO grateful that we have medications for so many things that used to kill folks young (well, younger than me, anyway!). Without “miracle” drugs, those with a ruptured appendix would have died instead of recovered. The flu would have killed millions each year. Smallpox, polio, dengue and other deadly diseases would run rampant and decimate humanity. We owe much to the pharmaceutical industry.
On the “flip side” we have holistic medicine that for the most part has no side effects at all. Of course, in some cases, it offers little real benefit, too. Unfortunately, those of us with little education into holistic practices are at the mercy of marketing – just as we are with pharmaceuticals. The difference is that in the West, big pharma markets its products through a network of trusted providers – the medical establishment. We in the West don’t view holistic practitioners as trusted resources like do our medical physicians.
When I go to the hospital for an operation, I don’t want a fellow waving a willow branch over me pronouncing me “cured”. I want results in the way I have come to believe – according to my cultural training. Never mind the effectiveness of the willow branch waving. I’m unlikely to even give it a go if my medical doctor says it’s hokum.
Basically, I’d rather die being right than live being wrong.
I’d rather kill myself with side effects and hope my medication does what I expect it to (man, that headache went right away when I took my aspirin for it) – than to try out voodoo or mysticism or a Wicca spell or any other form of alternative [to drug] therapy my doctor (who works for the “industry”) says is not worthwhile. My physician is biased by the system s/he works for – but I’m okay with that… apparently.
Years ago, I worked with a rather unorthodox physician who referred some of his patients to me for hypnotherapy and Rapid Eye Technology. He almost lost his license to practice medicine because of his interest in offering his patients alternatives to pharmaceuticals. Instead of losing his license, however, he was forced to take “classes” in remedial note taking – along with the installation of a computerized medical record-keeping program monitored by the State. He was brought “in line” with State regulations… and I received far fewer referrals.
Next time you visit your pharmacy for one of those “miracle” drugs, look over the contraindications and other warnings – usually in extremely small print so as to fit onto one LONG page. Feel grateful that science has given you such amazing products. Then look into alternatives – perhaps something holistic that might prevent you from having to use the “miracle” drug in the first place.
Holistic and allopathic medicine have their places and complement each other nicely. In a world awash in information, however, I still find it difficult to sort through the detritus to know which and when to use for what ails me…
*Source: Journal of the American Medical Association