For decades we have been sold the idea that modern medicine is nothing short of miraculous. I used to believe this as well.
In some ways, there are truly miraculous developments within medicine - these are usually advancements in engineering. For example, when we speak about minimally invasive surgeries performed by accessing and navigating the body by blood vessels.
Indeed, the large-scale availability of these techniques are due to engineering. However, the innovations in these areas are often led by brilliant physicians who literally tinkered with household supplies in their garage.
I do not want to detract from the innovative and hard work that these pioneering physicians have conducted to get us where we are.
But, the argument I am making is far broader than the contributions of these rare individuals. The innovations of these physicians are most frequently used on patients who suffer from debilitating chronic disease. In fact, many of these interventions can be thought of as "heroic” in that they are last-ditch efforts to prolong life…after it has already been carelessly abused.
Discarding the Past
The first half of the 20th century is considered to be a “golden age” for medicine. During this period we developed surgical techniques, immunizations, drugs, and infection control.
We are led to believe that this era was so effective, that it rapidly led to a relative rise in chronic illness.
However, we fail to discuss that this same period witnessed the centralized allopathic school of Rockefeller medicine smear and discard the medical wisdom that humans have cultivated and used for millenia.
Many of these enduring perspectives and practices have since been labeled as “pseudoscience” or “quackery.”
For example, the miasma theory holds that many diseases are caused by environmental pollutants or toxins. It posits that epidemics are caused by emanations of rotting organic matter. This theory was advanced by Hippocrates and endured until the late 19th century, after which it was abandoned in favor of germ theory.
But, why was it abandoned? It is as relevant today as ever. Our environment is in large part responsible for most diseases that we experience. What specific entities you want to attribute a disease too is, frankly, irrelevant to miasma theory. Your environment should look, smell, sound and feel healthy.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Remnant | MD to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.