A friend sent us a video via WhatsApp telling how Japanese doctors treat their patients by prescribing nutrition as dietary medicine, exercise, avoiding alcohol and lifestyle changes for disease-free living and for their world-record longevity. But elsewhere doctors prescribe chemical drugs as 'medicines' for 'curing' diseases and for 'longevity'
There is also another Japanese doctor by the name of Yukie Niwa, M.D., D.M.S PhD who wrote at least two books:
1. “Drugs Do Not Cure Disease”
2. “Free Radicals Invites Death”
Niwa is not just an ordinary medical doctor, but he is also a medical researcher with over several research publications behind his name. He is also consultant immunologist to several hospitals in Tokyo, and Head of Institute of Immunology in Tokyo. He strongly condemns the use of drugs for treating disease as used in conventional allopathic medicine.
See also these two comics attached among many similar ones.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
https://www.reddit.com/r/
This sets me to write this article that I wish to dedicate to all healthcare professionals
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over 80% of the global population continues to rely on traditional medicine for healthcare needs. Why is that when we have modern medicine these days? There must be some reasons behind this. This is seen not just in African and Asian countries, but throughout the world including highly educated individuals in advanced countries like in China, Japan, South Korea, United States, United Kingdom, all the way down to the south in Australia and New Zealand. literally the entire world, and they are here to stay, encouraged and promoted by WHO itself including here in Malaysia.
In the 1980’s I sat as a member of a very powerful policy-making and expert committee – The Joint WHO-Ministry of Health-Institute for Medical Research Expert Technical Committee (WHO-MOH-IMR Expert Technical Committee)
I sat on this high-powered policy-making committee for 6 years till my retirement in 1994 after which others took over. The government in that Committee with the advice of WHO wanted to integrate traditional and complementary medicine into the mainstream health care system of this country.
I remember in that Committee where I sat among 12 directors from the Ministry of Health and 6 officials from WHO and only my boss and myself from IMR was in that Committee. I was tasked to study and observe how Traditional Chinese Medicine was practised in Malaysia. I remember spending 6 months every evening 4 hours each evening including Saturdays and Sundays from 6 pm till 10 pm going to the main TCM Clinic near Merdeka Stadium (currently Malaysian Chinese Medical Association) to watch and learn from the TCM practitioners there. I like going there because of the fragrance and aroma of herbal medicines permeating the air the Chinese pharmacists dispensed, so unlike the western pharmacy where those synthetic drugs are odourless. I was extremely surprised there were also Malays and Indian patients, not just Chinese seeking treatment there. I spoke to both the TCM practitioners who were very fluent in English (they were English educated) and their patients to get their feedback and learn as much as possible about TCM which was initially alien to me. I was extremely impressed by the way they conducted the clinic sessions, and even for acupuncture, they wear face masks and gloves and sterilize the needles through a spirit flame and use the needles only once (disposable needles). They too clerk clinical notes just like medical doctors in hospitals. The patients from all races I spoke to were extremely satisfied with the treatment. After 6 months, 4 hours each evening non-stop after work I wrote out a 260-page technical report, accompanied by a 30-page Executive Summary for the Committee who are all policy makers for them to decide. Both my reports combined were longer and in more detail than my London PhD thesis.
Fortunately, they accepted my report. It was discussed by the Cabinet, went to Parliament and a law was passed to legally recognize TCM as part of the country’s health care before it was and is now integrated into the country's mainstream health care system, now made available in selected government hospitals. Probably that was one of my best achievements in medical research besides other clinical trials where I led. A few years later a 2-day National Conference on Traditional Medicine sponsored by the Ministry of Health was held at the Institute for Medical Research where I managed to present a conference paper on behalf of the TCM Association.
TCM is so ancient we cannot ignore it. It has its roots in the shamanistic era of the Shang dynasty, between 1766 BC and 1122 BC. The earliest known written record of TCM is the Huangdi neijing (The Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic) from the 3rd century BCE.
Conventional allopathic medicine is only 100 years old, a drug-based system of medicine introduced by Rockefeller using his petroleum products
This today has effectively come into place, legally and officially by an Act of Parliament. As a result of the legal recognition of traditional and complementary medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Indian Ayurvedic Medicine, alongside with western homeopathic, naturopathic, osteopathic and chiropractic medicines are very popular today in Malaysia, especially TCM
This trend of seeking traditional health care and treatment is not only seen in less educated individuals but even among doctors and clinicians who were my doctors’ colleagues who went to traditional healers rather than seeking other medical doctors for help when they are sick.
Just to give two examples of doctors I know – one was my own medical colleague who in one of our casual morning chit chats told us that when she is sick, she will never take any of the prescribed drugs. She would find other means of treatment from outside. She told us she will prescribe all these drugs only for her patients, but not take them for herself.
Another example was a Senior Consultant Psychiatrist, who was the Head of the Dept of Psychological Medicine at the University of Malaya. He later became a Consultant Psychiatrist to WHO. We knew each other very closely since our college days in the 1960’s. He was complaining to me about some chronic pain he had for years, and despite being a specialist clinician himself trained in western scientific medicine, none of the rheumatologists could help him. He told me he then went to Tung Shin Hospital in Kuala Lumpur to seek treatment from a Traditional Chinese Physician. He was completely amazed his years of chronic pains completely went away after just a few sessions. What’s more, he told me it was very cheap too – only some RM 30 per session of treatment. He told me secretly he cursed his own type of scientific allopathic medicine using painkillers that never cured him. There were many other similar stories told to me by my own colleagues who were all medical doctors.
There are several reasons behind this phenomenon, even in the presence of modern medicine. Let us have a look at some of the reasons why a whopping over 80 % of the world population seek traditional medicine or other systems of medicine over conventional drug-based medicine. Here are some reasons:
Cultural and Historical Roots
Traditional medicine is deeply embedded in the cultures and histories of many societies. Practices such as Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Unani, and indigenous healing systems have been passed down through generations and are viewed as integral to cultural identity. Many people trust these systems because they are in line with their cultural beliefs and practices.
Accessibility and Affordability:
Modern medicine is often costly and may not be readily available, especially in rural or underserved areas. Traditional medicine practitioners are more accessible in many regions, and their services are usually more affordable. For example, in many parts of Africa, Asia, and South America, herbal medicine and traditional healers serve as the first point of contact for healthcare. Nevertheless, even in the United States, the UK and in Europe where modern health care is easily accessible, there are lots of people there who still go for alternative, complementary or integrated treatment. The Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine (RLHIM) in the heart of London in Great Ormond Street
London near the famous Children Hospital is just an example.
Long Wait:
In Malaysian hospitals there is always a very long waiting time, typically about 2 -3 months just to get an appointment to see a specialist, and even on the day of appointment there is a very long queue and waiting time, often as long as 5 -6 hours just to see the medical specialist, after which another 45 – 90 minutes just to get the medicine, most of the time the same medicine that have not cured them in all the past visits The appointment time and the day of appointment is so ridiculously long that it puts patients off. Patients go away to seek traditional or other alternative medical treatments.
Perceived Safety and Natural Appeal:
Many individuals perceive traditional medicine, especially herbal remedies, as "natural" and therefore safer than synthetic drugs. While this belief isn't always scientifically accurate, it is the same with those who are wary of the side effects associated with some modern medications.
Holistic Approach:
Traditional medicine often takes a holistic view of health, addressing not just physical symptoms but also emotional, spiritual, and social well-being. This approach appeals to individuals seeking more personalized and comprehensive care than what is sometimes offered in modern medicine.
Chronic Diseases and Complementary Use:
Modern medicine excels in acute care and life-threatening conditions such as in a medical emergency where quick intervention is very crucial, but often struggle with managing chronic diseases or conditions where symptoms are recurrent and quality of life is affected (e.g., arthritis, migraines). Traditional therapies are often sought as complementary treatments to alleviate symptoms, improve well-being, or fill gaps in care.
Trust in Traditional Healers:
Traditional healers are often respected figures within their communities, offering not just medical help but also emotional and social support. This trust is a significant factor in why people continue to turn to traditional medicine.
Limited Awareness or Acceptance of Modern Medicine:
In some areas, there is limited knowledge about or access to modern medical practices. In others, there is mistrust or scepticism about the pharmaceutical industry, leading people to rely on traditional practices they believe to be more transparent or associated with their values.
Integrative Medicine Trends:
Interestingly, there is a growing movement in modern healthcare systems to integrate traditional practices. For instance, acupuncture, rooted in TCM, is now widely recognized and practiced in Western healthcare for pain management.
Herbal supplements and remedies are often included in integrative medicine to complement standard treatments. This integration helps bridge the gap between traditional and modern approaches, making traditional practices more acceptable even in modern contexts.
Interestingly, there is a growing movement in modern healthcare systems to integrate traditional practices. For instance:
1. Acupuncture, rooted in TCM, is now widely recognized and practiced in Western healthcare for pain management.
2. Herbal supplements and remedies are often included in integrative medicine to complement standard treatments.
The availability of TCM in government hospitals in Malaysia today is just an example of such integration of traditional medicine into the mainstream healthcare system
This integration helps bridge the gap between traditional and modern approaches, making traditional practices more acceptable even in modern contexts.
Religious and Spiritual Beliefs:
For some individuals, health and illness are deeply intertwined with religious or spiritual beliefs. Traditional medicine often incorporates spiritual rituals, which bring into line with the patient’s worldview and faith, offering comfort that modern medicine may not provide.
Challenges in Modern Healthcare:
Modern healthcare faces issues such as, high costs. over-reliance on pharmaceuticals, and systemic inefficiencies These challenges may lead some people to explore traditional options as more practical or relatable alternatives.
Future of Traditional and Modern Medicine:
The coexistence of traditional and modern medicine highlights the need for research into the efficacy and safety of traditional practices. Promoting evidence-based integration of these systems can enhance global healthcare. For instance, initiatives by WHO and other organizations aim to standardize and validate traditional medicine, ensuring it complements modern treatments effectively.
One of the other reasons why people go for other systems of treatment is because drugs and pharmaceuticals don’t permanently cure, especially for chronic and lifestyle diseases except control the disease using drugs temporarily as blockers. The patients were asked to come back again for follow up with the same medication that never cured them resulting in more and more linked diseases propping up, requiring more and more other inhibitor drugs to be added until the patients become disgruntled or died of the disease together with all those drugs their doctors gave.
These angry, disgruntled patients then begin to seek other traditional or alternative systems of medicine. I say this because in a healthy living body, its biochemistry is like a clean river with clean running water flowing constantly, whereas in disease, it's like a river with polluted water flowing constantly. In disease, most of these drugs act as blockers and inhibitors attempting to temporarily block off the abnormal chemistry of a disease, resulting in the need for constant chemical blockers to be added. The pathological chemistry like constant running water in a river cannot be effectively and permanently blocked up but dammed up or diverted elsewhere. This results in new linked diseases popping up, since both in health and disease the body is a living body with constant running biochemistry, whether normal or abnormal. Hence the initial disease cannot be cured using drugs as blockers and inhibitors unless the patient is willing to clean up his own body chemistry from its source by lifestyle and dietary modifications. I think this is the greatest disadvantage using chemical drugs to manage most of these chronic and non-communicable diseases these days.
The analogy of the body’s biochemistry to a flowing river is both perceptive and evocative. Let me explain my point further to provide a balanced response.
First of all, modern medicine often focuses on managing symptoms and preventing disease progression rather than offering a permanent cure, especially for chronic and lifestyle-related conditions like diabetes, hypertension, or arthritis. Many pharmaceuticals are designed as inhibitors, blockers, or modulators of specific biochemical pathways, addressing symptoms or preventing complications rather than the root cause. For example, hypertension is managed with beta-blockers or ACE inhibitors, but these do not address the root cause (e.g., stress, obesity, high salt intake). Diabetes is managed with insulin or glucose-lowering drugs, but they don’t resolve the underlying insulin resistance or pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction.
While these drugs are life-saving in acute scenarios, their chronic use without addressing the underlying cause can lead to dependency and the cascade of new complications I mentioned.
Blockers and Biochemical Flow:
The analogy of polluted water being temporarily dammed or diverted is the same as the pharmacological mechanism of many drugs such as blockers (e.g., beta-blockers, proton pump inhibitors) that inhibit specific biochemical pathways but don’t necessarily resolve the underlying pathology.
Over time, the body’s dynamic biochemistry, akin to the flowing river, can adapt, leading to secondary issues like drug resistance or side effects, often requiring additional medications. This is particularly evident in polypharmacy for aging populations.
For instance, prolonged use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for acid reflux can lead to nutrient malabsorption, bone issues, or gut microbiome imbalances, creating a cycle of additional treatments.
Let's consider the role of lifestyle and dietary interventions. Many chronic conditions have roots in lifestyle and dietary habits. Modern medicine increasingly recognizes that pharmaceuticals alone are insufficient without addressing these factors
1. Dietary habits (e.g., high sugar, processed foods)
2. Physical inactivity
3. Stress and mental health
4. Environmental factors (e.g., pollution, toxins)
Lifestyle interventions, such as dietary modification, exercise, and stress management, are essential to "cleaning up" the body’s biochemical flow. For example:
1. A plant-based or Mediterranean diet can reduce inflammation and oxidative stress.
2. Exercise enhances insulin sensitivity and cardiovascular health.
3. Mindfulness and stress management improve hormonal balance and immune function.
So how can traditional healthcare practices be integrated into modern healthcare practices? Implementing these changes requires patient education, motivation, and systemic support, which are often lacking in conventional healthcare systems.
Another reason why patients turn to traditional medicine is because of their dissatisfaction with the "blocker" approach. This drives many to seek traditional or alternative systems. These systems often promise a holistic, root-cause resolution, appealing to patients frustrated by the seemingly endless cycle of pharmaceutical management.
For example, ayurveda and TCM focus on balancing bodily systems (e.g., through detoxification and restoring energy flow). In functional medicine they combine modern diagnostics with dietary and lifestyle adjustments to address root causes.
Natural therapies like fasting, yoga, and herbal remedies emphasize restoring the body’s innate healing mechanisms. The same principles being practised in naturopathic medicine by naturopathic doctors
Patients perceive these approaches as more associated with the concept of "cleaning the river" rather than "blocking the pollution."
The disadvantage of drug-dependent management touched on a critical limitation of modern pharmacotherapy: its tendency to fragment the body into isolated systems rather than addressing it as a whole. This approach has the risk of polypharmacy, especially in elderly patients, increasing the likelihood of adverse drug interactions.
It fails to address the psychosocial dimensions of chronic diseases, such as emotional stress and lifestyle factors. It can foster patient passivity, where individuals rely solely on drugs without making necessary lifestyle changes.
For example, a patient with Type 2 diabetes might continue an unhealthy diet while relying on metformin, failing to resolve the root cause.
Our living body has a mind, body with its highly complex chemistry that drives its function and physiology plus its unseen and unmeasurably soul. It is not a machine that requires oiling when it makes noise. It is a living chemistry that requires a living holistic treatment when it makes noises (symptoms) when things are not in order. There must be a root cause for these 'noises'. It is the body's natural way to tell us something is not right inside and needs to be addressed and removed. We can't just shut its cries by using some chemicals (drugs). That's why most drug-based treatments, especially for long-term chronic diseases, do not work. We need to address their root causes first in an all-round holistic approach and be kind to the body. This holistic and integrated approach in medicine is the right way, not using harsh chemical drugs to shut it up. Then we are only treating its cries (symptoms) for help. Symptoms are not disease. They are signals the body is trying to cry out to us. We need to help it with compassion but not shut it out with inhibitors and blockers. The body is a living soul, not a dead body or a lifeless machine that needs only oiling when it gets rusty and starts to cry out (its symptoms).
I think integration should be the way forward. To address these issues, a more integrated approach is needed, combining the strengths of modern and traditional medicine. This includes promoting preventive healthcare through education on diet, exercise, and stress management. Integrating evidence-based traditional practices into modern systems. Encouraging functional medicine approaches that emphasize root-cause resolution. Developing drugs that not only block but also support the body's natural repair mechanisms.
The assessment that chronic diseases require more than chemical blockers. Modern medicine must evolve to focus on prevention, patient education, and addressing root causes, rather than merely managing symptoms. The analogy of polluted rivers I gave underscores the importance of a holistic, proactive approach to health. Combining the best of both traditional and modern systems, while empowering patients to take charge of their own health, is likely the most effective way forward. Integrating traditional practices into modern healthcare is the only way to achieve this balance?
The analogy of the body as a living entity with a mind, body, and soul is deeply the same thinking as the philosophy of holistic medicine. It eloquently highlights the importance of addressing the root causes of health issues rather than merely silencing the symptoms.
The body's "cries" or symptoms being signals is a cornerstone of holistic and integrative medicine. These signals are, indeed, the body’s innate intelligence communicating that something is amiss. Ignoring these cries by merely suppressing them with drugs can be likened to silencing a smoke alarm without putting out the fire.
Treating the body with compassion is incredibly understandable and exceedingly important. A holistic approach truly requires kindness—not just in the methods we use but also in the intent behind them. It involves understanding the interconnectedness of physical, emotional, and spiritual health, recognizing the body's immense capacity for self-healing when supported properly.
Doctors should be taught the essence of this holistic care. They should also be taught the living body has a mind and soul as well, not some cells, tissues, organs, systems and their (bio)chemistry that requires ‘oiling’ by using chemical drugs.
This view not only is the same as traditional systems of medicine but also with emerging trends in modern healthcare that recognize the limitations of mechanistic views.
Let us as clinicians, health care providers continue to share ideas and our thoughts together as colleagues, friends, and learners. Health care has complex challenges. Ideas like mine through my years in medical research in a senior position looking for holistic solutions to healthcare are a reminder of how much clinicians can achieve through collaboration and mutual respect.
Ju-boo lim
ju-boo
lim
Articles yet to come here by this author are:
The Irreversible Chemistries of Death (awaiting)
5. Tracing Backways What Makes a Body Becomes Alive Again after Death? (awaiting)
6. How Did Jesus Reversed the Chemistries of Death and Restored Life to the Dead? (awaiting)
7. Giants in Ancient Times (awaiting)
8. Why Alien Civilizations in Other Worlds Do Not Wish to Communicate with Humans on Earth (awaiting)
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