This is my third blog of a series of blogs on flawed perspectives on health. Another flaw in our healthcare is as a society is people’s reliance on modern medicine. In this blog I will cover the problems with this addressing functional integrative medicine vs modern medicine.
Medication often addresses symptoms only covering up the problem instead of addressing the root cause. It causes all sorts of side effects and often leads to more medications to deal with those side effects. It doesn’t offer any real guidance into preventative health and doesn’t help chronic pain sufferers. Additionally, modern/conventional medicine is lacking many useful tests. Functional integrative medicine testing has many great tests that help to get down to the root cause of an illness and therefore can provide treatments to better heal patients.
Functional Medicine is a systems biology–based approach that focuses on identifying and addressing the root cause of disease (The Institute for Functional Medicine). It focuses on the person as a whole and integrates the best conventional therapies and alternative therapies.
Another big issue is we have become conditioned to expect a quick fix for most of our health problems. There seems to be a pill or surgical option for most things, even though with many health issues a pill is not a viable solution, and sometimes surgery isn’t necessary (but sometimes it is).
I Expected a Quick Fix
When I got sick after having the horrible stomach flu and still had stomach pains afterward, I thought maybe the virus didn’t fully leave my system. I actually believed I would go to the doctor they would give me some pills that I would take for maybe a week or two. The problem would be fixed and my life would go back to normal. I was completely oblivious to what I was dealing with. I thought if I don’t have some cancer diagnosis or something else serious like that, there has to be a quick fix.
They did, however, give me some medicine to take for my problems without actually understanding what I was dealing with. I took it for about a month before I realized it was doing nothing, and I immediately stopped taking it. I didn’t search for a new medication because I knew they didn’t know the root cause of what was making me sick. They were treating my symptoms as they always do in modern medicine.
I actually chose to feel the pain so I would know when it was fixed vs just covering it up and becoming reliant on medicine. I also did countless tests with the confidence that they would find something, and they didn’t. Sadly, my situation of searching and not being able to find any real answers from modern medicine is quite common today.
BOOK TO READ: The Great American Health Hoax: The Surprising Truth About How Modern Medicine Keeps You Sick―How to Choose a Healthier, Happier, and Disease-Free Life
This is a great book to read on how healthcare is failing us, how we are tricked into believing we can’t do anything to prevent illness, and ideas on how we can better maintain our health. View Book.
When a Quick Fix ISN’T Possible
Modern Medicine Fails to Provide Many Necessary Tests
Modern medicine is also failing us because many of the tests they have are not adequate. For example, my liver was not working efficiently among other things. My natural, functional medicine doctor was able to diagnose that within a month of seeing me. The only reason it even took that long is I had too much chlorine in my body, and that had to be addressed first. He also found I had food sensitivities. I went through countless tests by the conventional medical doctors for approximately six months and they didn’t find any of that.
The medical system doesn’t get down to what is happening at the cellular level.
Another example, is many people have all the symptoms of thyroid issues, but yet their blood work comes back normal. Yet a good natural holistic doctor may find inflammation affecting the functioning of the cells and will actually address the root problems causing it.
There are no modern/conventional medicine tests to adequately address organs not functioning properly, nutrient deficiencies, toxins building up in the body, many chemical imbalances, and so much more! Where functional/alternative medicine has the tests and will address these things. The medical system doesn’t get down to what is happening at the cellular level.
Mental health issues like anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and ADHD are covered up with medication. Many of the medications don’t work causing people to struggle to work, take care of their families, and can even lead to suicide. Although, functional medicine has many treatments that can help without putting a bandage on the problem. There are many tools and treatments that may address the root causes of these health issues. And often therapy alone is not the solution. Sadly though, many people don’t know about all the treatments out there, and many have been caught up in the lies that alternative medicine is just a bunch of quackery.
From a functional practitioner: Why Treating your Symptoms is a Recipe for Disaster
Relying TOO Much on Modern Medicine
Why Chronic Pain Sufferers Become Dependent on Medication
I know many people through my marketing work to help chronic pain sufferers who have become dependent on medication. Now let me be clear, I honestly don’t blame them for this, although many people do. Some chronic pain sufferers have searched for different solutions and have gone to multiple doctors with no solutions before turning to medication. Many don’t know what treatments can actually help and make a difference. Others have been in too much pain to turn away the drugs. Some can’t afford anything but the drugs. Whatever the circumstance is, it is likely not their fault for becoming dependent on it. The medical system and the health system have failed them.
Then we have this whole ordeal with opioids being taken away from people who need it, but it’s not their fault they need it. Although, there are some who will turn away from everything good for them, ignoring advice on eating healthy, choosing to become bitter, and addicted. Of course, people have to take some responsibility for their choices. But, the bigger problem is we have a chronic pain crisis from not having an effective medical system.
Health economists have reported the annual cost of chronic pain in the United States is as high as $635 billion a year, which is more than the yearly costs for cancer, heart disease, and diabetes (ScienceDaily). That’s just from 2012, those are not even the current costs.
Why I Didn’t Become Dependent on Medication
I was fortunate enough to find some solutions, and I feel I owe it a lot to turning to God for help. However, I’m open-minded and never gave up hope completely. God didn’t heal me but pointed me to where I needed to go to start the recovery process. Of course, I had to take a leap of faith and actually try something that was new and even a bit strange to me. In addition, we were already financially struggling but were lucky to have just enough to afford the appointments and supplements. And I wasn’t very hopeful or confident, I was angry that God couldn’t just fix me. But, I do understand now why.
It wasn’t the easiest path to go down, but I’m always 100% glad that I chose that path. Otherwise, I would be on drugs on the couch instead of full of life and energy feeling like I have a purpose in the world trying to help others.
When Modern Medicine is USEFUL & When it is NOT
Just to be clear, there are situations where pills are sometimes the best option. For example, maybe to help with an acute illness, a really bad infection, rash, sinus infection, bladder infection. Although, there is often other natural remedies to try first. If these things are happening frequently though, there are probably other issues that might need to be addressed. Anything that is short-term or life-threatening, any type of accident or serious injury modern medicine is needed.
If you are taking pills for several months or more then there is a deeper health issue that probably needs to be addressed. That’s when most people need to search for something else. Of course, there are exceptions for people who are suffering unimaginable pain or severe mental health struggles, and sometimes it may be the better choice for the elderly. So take that with a grain of salt, as I’m not a practitioner, and every situation is different.
Then, there are also injuries where many people become dependent on drugs to deal with the pain. However, there are actually treatments out there that can help people to naturally heal faster.
BOOK TO READ: By understanding how the human microbe has changed over time with antibiotics becoming more common, you get a greater understanding of how the health of our society is deteriorating. Very scientific. If you enjoy that, check this out: Missing Microbes: How the Overuse of Antibiotics Is Fueling Our Modern Plagues
The important thing is to just do some of your own research and not trust in one doctor completely. Unless you have no option at the time. It is also important to understand there are always consequences for taking some sort of drug long-term. In some cases, it might be the best option, but in a lot of situations, it’s not.
Consequences for Long-Term Medicines: Hormonal Birth Control
The advertisements make the risks seem pretty low, but actually like I said above ANY medication long-term has huge risks. If you take them for a couple of months the risks may not be that high. But being on drugs over multiple years, there may be consequences not worth the short-term benefits. The risks for cervical cancer and breast cancer significantly increase. View some studies here and safer alternatives: Is Your Hormonal Birth Control Protecting You or Causing Cancer?
These contraceptive methods have also been linked to other health issues such as high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and blood clots (Bollinger, 2017).
My Experience with Birth Control
I was certain my hormones were imbalanced when I was in my early 20s and my medical doctor just offered me birth control pills. I asked if there was a way to check my hormone levels. When they told me they didn’t do that I assumed they had all the answers and went on the birth control.
A few years later I went off of it, and I knew my hormones were even more imbalanced. So then from a recommendation from my other natural doctor, I was able to find a naturopath that specialized in hormonal health. The naturopath actually gave me tests to get down to the root cause of my problems. I can’t say if this was a direct result of the birth control or something that was wrong prior, but after I was off it, I found out I had an allergic reaction to two of my own hormones. As I already suspected, my hormones were also unbalanced.
You Have To Figure Out What Works For You
It’s your choice what pills you need for your life and your lifestyle. I’m not against pills, I just find them to be over-utilized. I just want to make people more aware of the risks. Modern medicine tends to cover up the risks and make it seem as though taking long-term pills is no big deal. They also don’t mention many alternatives. Do some research, talk to your doctor, and see what is best for you.
How Our Medical System Harms Chronic Pain Sufferers
Doctors Mentally Harm Chronic Pain Sufferers
Even sadder with many of these difficult health issues the medical community through lack of proper training will tell patients who are suffering there is nothing wrong with them. Of course, because they can’t find any answers through their limited testing. Some have even told chronic pain patients that they are just making things up. You wouldn’t believe how common that is. Most know they don’t have answers, some are just heartless, some have too big of an ego. But they were all trained to fix surface-level symptoms. They are trained to push drugs and many are not trained in empathy.
By focusing on symptoms they also miss the bigger picture of addressing the whole person from a mental, physical, and spiritual standpoint. I cover this in my blog ILLNESS is RARELY JUST PHYSICAL Problems. There are many holistic treatments and therapies that address all of these. However, there are also many natural, holistic treatments that fall short of this. Modern medicine though never treats the whole of a person.
BOOK TO READ: This book is a great insight into understanding our modern-day struggle with pain, what people go through, how people struggle with little help from our medical system. We will all suffer from pain at some point in our lives. It is important to understand how the medical system handles it. The Painful Truth
Society Attacks Chronic Pain Sufferers
Society attacks chronic pain sufferers as if they don’t have enough pain already. Many are called lazy and questioned on whether they are actually sick. With chronic pain one day a person can be in a wheelchair unable to walk and the next day out and about on two feet. It’s just that some days are worse than others. Somedays they have to store up energy to have one day of fun, and then their bodies are in pain for three days after. Many chronic pain sufferers are always in pain but they have to keep living, so they manage.
Outside of the medical community many also take a lot of harsh criticism. Many people with depression are told to just work on positive thinking and do exercise, mindful activities, or to turn to religion to fix them. As someone who has suffered from different forms of depression, I can tell you most of the time those solutions don’t work, and it’s hurtful to people who are suffering to hear that.
Why Do We Expect a Quick Fix?
We expect a quick fix because we are not properly educated on preventative health. Most of us don’t understand how cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and all these other chronic health conditions happen. The medical doctors don’t know, but the good alternative holistic doctors do, sorta. I will explain more in a later blog.
As I mentioned in the previous blog How We Focus More on Short-Term Health vs Long-Term Health, there isn’t a quick fix for many health issues because the problems have been going on long before the person started having numerous life-changing symptoms. You can’t fix the mold in your house as easily after it spreads.
Why Do We Rely So Heavily on Modern Medicine When There are Better Options?
Why Have We Been Told Alternative Treatments are Quackery?
I was literally jaw-dropping, shocked when I read the history of how modern medicine became a monopoly in the United States. These lies about alternative/functional treatments are addressed in my Shocking History of Modern Medicine blog.
What did you learn from this? I would love your feedback. Please leave a comment.
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View ALL my Flaws in Healthcare Blogs:
- Flaws in Healthcare Making & Keeping People Sick
- Perfect Weight Doesn’t = Healthy – Cellular Health Matters More
- ILLNESS is RARELY JUST PHYSICAL Problems
- How to Strengthen Your Immune System & Defend it When it’s Weak
- Facts on Germs & Immune Health to Uncover the LIES
- Cure vs Treatment & The MULTIPLE Problems with “CURES”
- Shocking History of Modern Medicine
- Why We Shouldn’t Wait to Fix Health Problems!
- How We Focus More on Short-Term Health vs Long-Term Health
- Health is Deteriorating in the U.S. (Health Conditions Becoming Common)
References:
American Pain Society (2012, September 11). ScienceDaily/Chronic pain costs U.S. up to $635 billion, study show. Retrieved from: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120911091100.htm#:~:text=Health%20economists%20have%20reported%20the,cancer%2C%20heart%20disease%20and%20diabetes
The Institute for Functional Medicine/The Functional Medicine Approach. Retrieved from: https://www.ifm.org/functional-medicine/what-is-functional-medicine/
Bollinger, Ty. (2017m The Truth About Cancer/Is Your Hormonal Birth Control Protecting You or Causing Cancer?. Retrieved from: https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/hormonal-birth-control-cancer/
I have a Wellness Coach Certificate, I'm an entrepreneur, an innovator, writer, and artist. My expertise includes over 7 years of marketing, research, and developing content for holistic health businesses. Plus, my own personal journey of becoming chronically sick: understanding what went wrong, and finding a way to heal and live a healthier life. I have a passion for wellness with a wealth of knowledge surrounding: wellness, flaws in healthcare, root causes for chronic illnesses, and alternative treatments.
