The Great Irony of Natural Medicine

Natural Medicine...

The medicine of the poor
Because they cant afford any more
The medicine they know
From centuries ago
The herbs, the water, the food are the cure 
Spiritual healing at the core. 

But when the imports come in and sales from their farm are no more
Mama holds her head and heads to the store
Rice, flour and oil she can afford
Feeds her family, the health effects silently obscured.

Until 10 years later Mama cant hide her dis-ease
Modern day diseases
Cancer, Diabetes
The herbs are not enough to ease her pain
She cant afford a taxi, cant even leave the lane
The all too familiar poor people's fate
Suffering, hopelessness and preventable death awaits.

If only she could afford the surgery
The synthetic drugs coupled with natural supportive therapy
This is the standard of care all humans deserve
But we are so far from this reality, so ironic is our world.

Natural Medicine...

The medicine of the rich
The natural diet pill after the implant stitch 
The very chemicals and products once sold as the best
Abandoned by the mom with some to spare in her gold chest 
She wants the best for her children, not toxins and pesticides 
She switches to organic, swiping her card in the Whole Foods line.

But while taking a hot shower she notices a lump
A palpable mass that makes her heart jump
With stress and pollution, not even the rich are saved
From modern diseases that will be their fate.

She takes her supplements, eats organic, and does yoga
She cries and wonders why this weight chose her shoulder  

Quickly she goes to see her naturopath

Who refers her to a oncologist, herbalist, energy healer and osteopath

With integrative her prognosis is positive

Treated as a whole person: comprehensive, supportive.

10 years later her cancer returns 

Modern day diseases we don't understand, the team learns

Her body loses all control 

She dies at 50. She doesn't grow old. 

All of us humans will one day die

But when and how and why is the reason I cry 

We all deserve the best health care while we are alive

Including modern and ancient, from the herb to the knife

So while we scientifically study what our ancestors already know

Let us remember that integration, balance and equality will always run the show

So here I stand in the middle of the lever

In both privilege and poverty trying to prevent your fever. 

The journey continues...