Why We Should Appreciate Medicine

In my field, I meet people at both extremes. Some believe pharmaceuticals are always the answer. Others believe they should be avoided at all costs. After more than two decades of working with clients, I’ve come to a different view: wisdom lives in the middle.

The body is remarkable, and it has limits

I believe deeply in the body’s ability to heal. Nutrition, sleep, movement, stress management, and a healthy relationship with our own minds support that ability every day. But our bodies also face things our ancestors never did, including environmental exposures, chronic stress, processed foods, and infections and conditions that can overwhelm even a well-cared-for system. Sometimes the body needs more help than lifestyle alone can provide.

A personal example

In 2022, I had a total knee replacement. I’m a naturopathic doctor who uses and values botanicals like boswellia and curcumin, and I was extremely grateful for my pain medication. No supplement was going to relieve that pain, and trying to be a purist would only have made me suffer and slowed my recovery. Medicine did what it was designed to do. It relieved my suffering so I could heal, move, and rebuild my strength. Then I leaned on natural supports to help the rest of my recovery.

Natural and conventional care can work together

Pharmaceuticals and natural approaches aren’t enemies. Medication can relieve suffering, manage serious conditions, and sometimes save lives. Natural approaches can support prevention, resilience, and overall well-being, and can help the body cope with the demands of treatment. The best care often combines both.

Using discernment

Being a thoughtful, empowered client means asking good questions:

• Is this a situation where prevention and lifestyle support are appropriate?
• Is this a condition that needs medical treatment, or is my suffering something medicine can relieve?
• How might natural support work alongside what my doctor recommends?
• Could any supplement interact with my medication?

Please talk with your prescribing physician before stopping or changing any medication, and let your doctor know about the supplements you take. Safe care is team care.

Our role

At Honeycomb, we’re here to walk with you on your wellness journey, not to tell you what to reject. Our goal is to help you understand your body, support it wisely, and make choices that fit your situation. Gratitude for modern medicine and trust in the body’s natural wisdom can live side by side.

This article is for educational purposes and isn’t a substitute for medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider about your individual needs.