studies, but natural medicine actually has a growing body of scientific evidence to back it up. This evidence comes primarily in two forms:
✔ Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled (RDBPC) clinical trials: RDBPC studies, which test the effectiveness and safety of medications, are the gold standard in the pharmaceutical industry. More and more, these same studies are used to test the effectiveness of alternative treatments, including nutritional supplements. In the U.S., the National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) is devoted exclusively to studying and reporting on the safety and effectiveness of alternative and complementary treatments; visit nccam.nih.gov for details.
✔ Investigations into human biology and physiology: Advances in technology are revealing more and more about how the human body functions and how genetic, environmental, and lifestyle variables alone and together influence health and illness. For example, a recent study published in the journal Cell found that some of the bacteria living in the human body produce antibiotics, which help prevent and fight infections from certain harmful bacteria. This study provides additional support for the natural cures approach of supporting a healthy immune system with probiotics and avoiding the overuse of broad-range antibiotics that kill beneficial as well as harmful bacteria.
Science not only supports the use of natural medicine, but it also drives its development. Many reputable nutraceutical manufacturers now have their own research departments to develop and test products. (A nutraceutical is a food-based product that’s used as a medicine.) Among other advances, this research has helped to develop vitamins and minerals that are more easily and fully absorbed by the human body, probiotics that survive stomach acid exposure so more live microorganisms can populate the gut, and formulations that provide the right mix of nutritional supplements to support the proper function of various systems in the body, including the digestive, cardiovascular, and immune systems.
Natural medicine requires that you become an active participant in your own health. It requires commitment and sacrifice. You may need to eliminate from your diet some of your favorite foods and beverages. You need to exercise at least 30 minutes every other day. Most importantly, you need to invest time and effort in exploring what makes your body tick and figuring out what’s causing certain symptoms or what your body needs and isn’t getting to achieve optimum health.
The payoff is good health and vitality. Inflammation, at the root of many chronic illnesses, dissipates. You feel less congested and bloated and achy. You’re less susceptible to infections and chronic illnesses, including heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. You add years – quality years – to your life. And if you do become ill, you know exactly what your body needs to kick its self-healing powers into high gear.
Recognizing Natural Medicine’s Many Benefits and Its Few Drawbacks
Before investing time, effort, and money in any endeavor, it’s a good idea to weigh the pros and cons so that you can make a well-informed decision regarding the type of healthcare you want. In this section, I highlight the potential benefits and drawbacks of natural medicine as compared to conventional medicine.
A natural cures approach to health and healing offers numerous benefits, including the following:
✔ Provides a user-friendly alternative to the typical doctor-patient interaction. Natural medicine practitioners tend to treat people instead of illnesses. You’re more likely to get personalized care.
✔ Treats the cause, not just the symptoms. The natural cures approach attempts to identify and eliminate illness instead of merely suppressing symptoms. This approach is more likely to result in a cure.
✔ Empowers you to take control of your own health. A good natural healer is an educator, teaching you about your body and what it needs to be healthy. She doesn’t just hand you a prescription and send you on your way.
✔ Eliminates or reduces prescription medication side effects. One goal of natural medicine is to reduce or eliminate prescription medications from your daily regimen. Less prescription medication means fewer medication side effects. No prescription medication means no medication side effects.
✔ Improves your overall health. Natural medicine doesn’t merely eliminate illness; it strengthens the body overall. A body that’s in optimal condition is better able to fight infection and cure illness. Being healthy is far more desirable than merely being not sick.
✔ Strengthens your immune system. Your digestive tract accounts for 70 percent of your immune system. Conventional treatments often undermine gut health by killing beneficial microbes that reside in the gut. Natural medicine promotes gut health by enhancing digestion and nurturing a healthy environment in which beneficial microbes thrive.
✔ Enhances your mood, energy, and endurance. Conventional medicine screens people for illness. Natural medicine screens for deficiencies, allergies, and sensitivities to find out what to eliminate that’s making you sick and what your body needs for optimal function. As a result, natural medicine improves how you feel overall.
✔ Saves money and time, due to fewer doctor visits. Natural medicine teaches you how to be healthy so that you can develop the knowledge and skills to prevent illness and heal yourself. You may spend more time getting up to speed on the basics and more money on groceries and supplements, but preventing very costly chronic conditions that degrade your quality of life will likely save you much more in doctor bills, prescription costs, and time off work due to illness.
Admittedly, natural medicine has a few drawbacks, including the following:
✔ It’s not always easy. Natural medicine isn’t as easy as popping a pill. Overhauling your diet, exercising regularly, reducing stress, and learning about your body all require time and effort.
✔ Sometimes, you have to fly solo. If you can’t afford a doctor and your insurance refuses to cover alternative healthcare options, you may need to fly solo with information in books and magazines and online.
