The history of Alternative Medicine has many twists and turns as what we now call Traditional Medicine. I wouldn't exactly call Penicillin a 'traditional' medication, but I would definitely use that term when describing how it was originally used to treat our servicemen back in the early days of its availability. Different types of treatments have seen their popularity wax and wane, others have exploded in popularity (Opioids), while still others have disappeared entirely (using Lysol as a form of Birth Control). My state has recently legalized recreational marijuana and I learned that the state earned over $12 million in taxes from its sale. Talk about an all-time high. The 'dispensaries' are scattered all over the edges of my city as not to embarrass model citizens who are just trying to get drunk in peace throughout the city limits. Let's do some comparison 'shopping' when it comes to some pain relievers. First, there are opioids; specifically, oxycontin. This drug was developed by the fine folks at Purdue Pharma. Purdue knew that these little beauties were game changers, and they had enough clout to get the FDA to put this drug on the market even though a very similar drug called oxycodone was withdrawn less than a decade earlier. Was this done to help people who were struggling with pain issues? It depends on who you ask but Purdue did this because they knew the drug was more powerful than even oxycodone and 1. They could make a 'kill'...er, a healthy...er, a strong profit which would put smiles on the faces (my second example would do this much easier) of shareholders and fatten their wallets and 2. They could market this medication as an effective pain reliver as they knew it was very addictive and repeat business is the whole point of the game. Since doctors have pulled back from prescribing these drugs, users have had to turn to other forms of relief such as cocaine or heroin. Secondly, there is marijuana. Since this is a harvested crop like corn or wheat and not a compounded drug invented in a lab, capitalist society has long been very wary of its positive effects and extremely worried what it could do for reputable businessmen's bottom lines. This sort of natural remedy can help people with pain issues due to cancer treatments and other maladies when used in measured doses. Historically, it's been treated poorly by the motion picture industry. The people who used it became crazed maniacs ("Reefer Madness") or totally irresponsible stoners (Cheech and Chong in any film they ever made). It's been called a gateway drug by people who are convinced that people who use it will automatically 'graduate' on to 'harder' stuff like cocaine, heroin or Netflix. These are many of the same people who will get drunk and make fools of themselves at weddings of your friends or relatives. Of course, the key to one's usage of any 'stimulant' is moderation which can be a little bit difficult and thus many people avoid this key entirely because its uncool to 'check yourself before you wreck yourself'. I'm not a doctor and I've never even played one on TV, but I do know that the phrase 'I can stop anytime I want' is never good sign. Should you avoid these chemicals entirely? If you are someone who can summon the power of whatever can lead you directly to your happy place without a pitstop to your local 'pick me up hut', then I would recommend you do just that. Maybe you're one of the chosen people who are high on life. That's not such a bad place to be, is it?
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