Currently I'm not taking anything, thankfully, but I do owe a debt of gratitude for the drugs that have helped me over the years. Anti-biotics and vaccines at the least.
To answer the questions, yes it is much better living through chemistry. I have several relatives who would more than likely not be around were it not for prescriptions drugs. One of them had to prove it this summer by choosing not to take a medication because of an inconvenient side effect. CPR delivered by an EMT crew and a few days in the hospital, has persuaded that individual to never do that again.
I think modern medicine is wonderful, it's just the business side that can suck. Pushing drugs on the market before thorough testing, for example, leading to death or severe side-effects.
Well, everything is chemistry. All the natural processes of a completely healthy person are chemistry. Vitamins are chemistry. Aspirin is chemistry.
But chemistry is not always good. Cancer is chemistry. Heroin is chemistry. Arsenic is chemistry.
Chemistry can make life better or worse. And the business aspect of things is a big, big component of prescription drugs. Not just drugs that aren't adequately tested, but drugs that are unnecessary.
Because of this pervasive business aspect, I really do believe a patient needs to do their own homework before deciding to go on a drug. Doctors are specialists, but they aren't gods, and a lot of them get kick-backs for prescribing certain drugs, whether you need them or not, whether they're safe or not.
And even good chemistry can be bad. I too owe my life to antibiotics. But that doesn't mean there isn't a culture of irresponsibility surrounding antibiotics. Over-prescription has resulting in drug-resistant bacteria and pervasive allergies. More conservative treatment would minimize or avoid most of these problems.
And you can see the effects of money if you own a pet. Take your pet to the vet with a problem, and they will try the most conservative viable means of treatment. Often, this involves avoiding pharmaceuticals if possible, and opting for more gentle treatment. Things like honey bandages for surface-level infections, and supplements for mild arthritis. These things
work when used in appropriate cases. There's no reason to go straight to powerful drugs. And in the veterinary industry, there's less monetary incentive for vets to over-medicate.
I'm not a homeopath by any means. That stuff can be dangerous, and it hurts a lot of people. But there's legitimate science behind a lot of non-pharmaceutical methods of treatment, and there is often no reason for someone to be on some of the medications they're on.
Patients needs to keep themselves informed, ask questions, and when in doubt, get a second opinion. Chemistry is only as good as the person wielding it.