The Coexistence of Natural and Pharmaceutical Medicines
From the very beginning the natural order has enabled our continued existence through the interaction of human physiology and food chemistry. The human cellular system and the ingredients of food exhibit an inherent synergy in bio-chemistry. The interdependent activities of the “natural system” involve ordered reactions for the purpose of maintaining balance (homeostasis) and regulated control of biochemical pathways. These physiological processes are ensured through food chemistry in respect of included ingredients, their proportions and concentrations. Read More
The title of this article says it all. When the established system of medical practice is viewed realistically, it must be concluded that two objectives are in play. “Health”Management in the sense of achieving physical wellness and “Wealth” Management in the sense of optimizing associated financial rewards, which are clearly at odds with each other. It is a critical issue with regard to medicines. Should both objectives merit equal consideration or does public health demand priority on ethical grounds? Given the choice of how tax revenue is applied, a majority would likely put health matters in first place or jointly alongside national defense. Addressing these objectives depends on resolution of opposing views between “government managed” or “privately operated” systems. 
In order to distinguish between “medicine” referencing the practice of diagnosing and healing bodily ailments on the one hand and specific remedies such as prescription drugs and dietary products on the other, the following definitions are proposed. The term “medicine” should apply to the practice of medicine specifically and the plural form “medicines” to remedial substances. Consequently, the subject title “True Medicines” refers solely to remedies.
It is common in our modern society to limit the treatment of disease to approved pharmaceutical drugs, but that method is neither logical nor justified. The truth is that other treatment methods have been successfully utilized to improve human health for centuries, often without the side effects that we witness with pharmaceutical drugs. Overall, the universal doctrine of treating diseases only with approved pharmaceutical drugs simply cannot be justified on scientific grounds. 
Even though seniors (65+) represent about 13% of the population, they use more than one third of prescription drugs. It is even more significant when it is realized that the risks associated with both prescribed and over the counter drugs are dramatically higher among seniors than with the general population. Physicians should expect adverse drug reactions (ADR) as much as 50% for seniors using 5 or more prescription drugs per day. Clearly, risks are much more significant when prescribing drugs to seniors. The medical profession recommends slow and frequent monitoring of prescription drugs when treating ailments among seniors as a means of managing senior health matters. Are these so called precautions enough to safeguard the health of aging patients? 
From the beginning of human existence, the immune system has been the primary method of defending against and preventing disease. Its ability to function successfully depended upon diet and physical activity. A little over a century ago, synthetic drugs provided an alternative, more direct way of inhibiting the progress of disease and providing emergency remedies for acute cases. 
Scientific Reflection by Dr. Gerry Norton