Western medicine puts a bandage on problems

Alia Bennett/Contributing Writer

I’m shocked yet happy to see that alternative medicine is not as taboo as it once was. With words like GMO or genetically modified organism and organic becoming a regular part of everyday conversation, it only makes sense that many are choosing to pay extra attention to their health. Medical bills are no joke, with or without insurance, despite the many ailments can be avoided. It’s no secret that name-brand medication can cost an arm and a leg, but you’d be shocked to know that generic medicines aren’t much better. According to Forbes, the prices of 222 generic drug groups increased by at least 100 percent over the course of 2013 and 2014.

It seems to be the American way to put bandaids on a deep wound instead of actually getting to the root of the issue. Americans spent a whopping $44 billion on over the counter medication last year according to The New York Times. That much money could be put towards teaching people how to live a healthy lifestyle rather than simply covering up symptoms. Having a cold around the winter is normal, but having a cold several times a year? That is a big issue and your immune system clearly isn’t in the best shape. Masking the problem with multiple doctor’s appointments and prescriptions is not the answer, getting to the root of the issue is.

It can be inferred that the average patient doesn’t really know how take care of their own body nor are they taught to. We are too reliant on outside help and pills. Why don’t we learn from those in the East who practice other methods that advocate paying attention to health in a holistic way? Why are we taught to simply take a pill, whether it’s an antibiotic or painkiller, for so many issues? Sure, it may be easy to take a painkiller every time you feel an ounce of pain but have you ever considered the short-term and long-term side effects? In addition, antibiotics wipe out all bacteria; not just bad bacteria.  The body needs good bacteria, or the bad will flourish out of control and create a host of problems. The abuse of western methods would put you in a position that could potentially be much worse than when you first walked in the doctor’s office.

Thankfully, alternative medicine has virtually little to no side effects and encourages us to live in a way that prevents issues from even arising in the first place. Methods such as Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine are highly successful due to the fact that they focus on the body as a whole. Instead of pills and syrups, you’re taught to use some of the simplest remedies involving food and herbs. A lot of people use pineapple juice to make their own “natural” cough syrup. Also, raw garlic as well as several herbal oils have been praised for centuries because of their antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties. I personally use garlic to knock out any arising signs of a cold within 24 hours. While I am pleased at the tremendous progress we’ve made in medicine over the years, more attention needs to be given towards preventative and holistic medicine. The sooner we realize that we have control over our health, the better we will be.

Disclaimer:

The opinions presented within this page do not represent the views of FIU Student Media Editorial Board. These views are separate from editorials and reflect individual perspectives of contributing writers and/or members of the University community.

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