May Day about Conventional Medicine

The pharmaceutical industry have created huge profits with launching impressive new patents.

While there seem to have been an increasing consumption of pharmaceutical products to handle a variety of symptoms, side effects have also become a bigger health problem that can no longer be ignored.

The pharmaceuticals may have gotten more freedom e.g. to advertise more in public spaces, and OTC medicines are found in shops and supermarkets everywhere. But also people have begun to ask questions and see other ways of healing themselves.

Several of the herbs and dietary supplements, having been criminalized (to be banned?), are the most promising body-friendly competitors to the most sold pharmaceutical medicines.

The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in 1998, suggesting that death related to medications, even when used for correct purposes, may rank among the leading causes of death in the USA.

Reference: Lazarou J, Pomeranz B, Corey P. Incidence of adverse drug reactions in hospitalized patients. JAMA. 1998;279:1200-1205.

In 2000 JAMA published statistics of a study by Dr. Barbara Starfield of the John Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, which presented data derived from studies of hospitalised patients suggesting that doctors and hospitals themselves are now the third leading cause of death in the USA, causing 250,000 deaths every year.

Reference: Starfield B. US Health Care Not Best in World. JAMA. 2000;284.

Chemistry-based pharmaceuticals are experiencing big challenges, even after merging with biotech, functional foods and herbicide industries, because the majority of the people know what they want - and do not want.

Recent development has been that pharmaceutical companies took over small and medium sized dietary producers, while EEC-directives restricted nutrients and herbs. But even though pharmaceutical industries may have achieved more power over vitamins, minerals and herbs, we also do read the bad image media stories and see strong signs of their desparation, as people are taking health into their own hands. In the end, we do believe that good reason and freedom of choice will eventually prevail.

Articles

• Ban proposed on NIH scientists who “consult” with drug and biotechnology companies for pay
• Children in hospitals frequently experience medical injuries
• FDA warns that Avastatin increases risk of heart ailments
• Medicine quotes
• Truths about pharmaceutical companies

Links to website articles

• Medical Mafia rules. Chris Gupta
• Medical system is leading cause of death and injury in US. Sepp Hasslberger 
• Use (Abuse) of Regulations to Protect Pharma Monopoly. By Chris Gupta.
• Western Medicine: a confidence trick driven by the drug industry? BMJ.