Have you noticed how we are being inundated by TV ads from the
pharmaceutical industry? And all those new “diseases”! It seems as
though every symptom qualifies as a new “disease” which must be treated
with a newly patented medication. Apparently, many people are taken in
by all those ads. Public Citizen, in their excellent articles, reports
how these ads are increasing sales. The number of people asking their
doctors for these meds they have seen advertised has increased
dramatically.
And of course magazines, Time and National Geographic to name only
two, contain these ads, also.
All of this makes me wonder how much the content of programs or
publications has to be carefully “self-censored” so as not to upset the
companies who pay for these commercials. Obviously, anything that would
cast a negative light on the pharmaceutical industry, or encourage
people to wise up and take charge of their health so that they become
less and less dependent on their products, would be a “no-no.” It is
common for a little wishy-washy “health advice” to be given on TV.
Something like “eat a healthy diet and exercise.” That’s not telling you
what the “healthy diet” is, of course. (By the way, have you noticed how
the language is changing? Lately it has become acceptable to say
“healthy” when “healthful” is really meant. My English teachers would
disapprove!)
It is shameless the way patients are manipulated through “peer
groups.” It seems that every ailment has a “peer group” that keeps these
patients loyal to the pharmaceutical company manipulators pulling the
strings. It is common knowledge that it is in the best financial
interest of the industry to help keep patients with chronic illnesses
alive so they can be life-long users of their products. Chronic, managed
illness means a steady stream of money for the industry.
It is interesting how many of these patients become complicit to
their own detriment. They bear their illness as a status symbol or a
badge of honor. One such example is an ad by one of the large
pharmaceutical companies. In this TV ad, women who have had breast
cancer call each other “sister”, etc. You get the picture!
Frank and I take absolutely no medications, not even aspirin. It is
funny how twice a year when we go to the dentist for our semi-annual
cleaning and check-up, the dental hygienist asks each of us if anything
has changed with our health. She used to ask if we take any medications. The answer has
always been “none.” And “no” nothing has changed health-wise, and we
believe that this is because we eat a healthful, whole food
(unprocessed), vegan diet.
See our Health and Recipe sections:
http://all-creatures.org/health.html
http://all-creatures.org/recipes.html
