I just had to respond to this. Long time reader, infrequent poster. If this turns into a rant, I apologize in advance. I have been in medicine for 30 years as a paramedic, RN, and now physician. I have been in clinical medicine (taking care of sick people) and in research. While there may be a few bad apples, like any industry, folks in medicine by and large devote large parts of there life to helping others have as good and long a life as possible.

We spend millions on research and medicine has had results. Just look at the mortality rate decrease of heart disease and cancers. BUT research shows us avoiding tobacco (in all forms harmful), weight control and daily exercise ALL contribute to less disease, longer and better lives. It just requires the person to do something; I can’t just prescribe a pill. (If I could, you would still have to take it)

Just because it’s natural, don’t mean it’s safe or effective. You can take willow bark for a fever; aspirin is safer and more predictable. Many current meds and therapies have grown out of folk cures.

We do have something to treat certain viral illnesses effectively – vaccines, just look at the fire storm over many of these.

Sorry for the rant, but I hear many of these complaints daily from my overweight smokers who “forget” to take their pills and wonder why they don’t feel well.