The Downstream Effects of Medicines

If you know me, have ever spoken to me, or have ever read anything that I have written, you probably realize that I have a huge bias toward natural medicines in general and homeopathy in particular.  There are many reasons for this bias, not the least of which is the efficacy of the medicine.  But there are other reasons beyond therapeutic results.

One of the major issues with the indiscriminate use, overuse, and abuse of pharmaceuticals is that after they are taken, they are excreted either intact or as metabolites.  Depending on the species taking or being given the pharmaceuticals, these excreted products are either deposited directly on the ground where they make their way into our ground water or they are flushed through a sewage treatement plant that is not designed to remove these chemicals and then they make their way into our ground water.  This ground water then makes its way into our drinking water supply.

Google the studies that have been done on pharmaceuticals in the groundwater.  Major levels of antibiotics, hormones, anti-depressants, etc have been found in nearly every water sampled in nearly every country where these studies have been undertaken.

This drug residue in the water represents a huge problem or at least a huge potential problem for any creature consuming these contaminated waters.  Yes, the residues are present in parts per million which should be harmless but they are also found in complex combinations that have never been studied.  It is the synergistic effects of these chemicals that represent the true danger.

So back to homeopathy and other natural medicines.   Homeopathy is an energy based system of medicine.  The remedies used are diluted beyond chemical detection.  Thus when you use homeopathic remedies there is no chemical residue to be excreted into the environment.  It is only the energy of nature that is being returned to nature.  This is much different than the end results of a pharmaceutical based system of therapeutics.

This benefit is not unique to homeopathy.  Any of the nature based systems of medicine can make this environmentally friendly claim.  Herbal medicine, acupuncture, any of the body manipulation techniques, flower essences, and Ayurvedic medicine can all make this claim.

Chemical vs Natural - the comparison doesn't stop with the therapeutic responses in the patient.  The comparison continues into the larger context of global health. 

We can only be as healthy as the environment in which we live.   Think about that the next time you take a dose of medicine.