Honor the Hippocratic Oath to First Do No Harm or Be Part of the Hypocrisy of Western Medicine
The Hippocratic Oath was once the gold standard for medical ethics, ensuring that physicians upheld their duty to protect patients from harm. At its core was the principle primum non nocere—first, do no harm. Yet, modern Western medicine has strayed far from this ideal. Instead of prioritizing patient health and safety, the pharmaceutical-driven system frequently promotes drugs that treat one condition while creating another, trapping patients in a cycle of medication dependency and worsening health.
Example 1: Tamoxifen – Preventing Breast Cancer While Causing Another
Tamoxifen, a drug classified as a Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator (SERM), is widely prescribed to breast cancer survivors to prevent recurrence. However, its use carries a significant risk: it increases the likelihood of endometrial cancer. While Tamoxifen blocks estrogen receptors in breast tissue, reducing the risk of breast cancer recurrence, it stimulates estrogen receptors in the uterus, increasing the risk of endometrial cancer—a well-documented effect supported by clinical studies (Jordan, 1994; Curtis et al., 1996). This contradiction exposes the hypocrisy of Western medicine: prescribing a drug to prevent one life-threatening illness while simultaneously increasing the risk of another. The very system meant to protect patients is failing them by promoting pharmaceuticals that create new diseases rather than addressing root causes.
Example 2: Prednisone – The Runaway Train of Inflammation and Breakdown
Prednisone, a corticosteroid, is commonly prescribed to suppress inflammation in conditions such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, and autoimmune diseases. However, long-term use leads to a cascade of destructive effects. One of the most concerning is catabolism, the breakdown of muscle, bone, and connective tissue. This degradation weakens the body’s structural integrity, leading to osteoporosis, joint pain, and ligament damage—ironically resulting in more inflammation. Physicians then prescribe higher doses of prednisone to combat the inflammation caused by the drug itself, creating a vicious cycle akin to a runaway train. Clinical research has confirmed these devastating effects (Lukert & Raisz, 1990; Van Staa et al., 2002), yet prednisone remains a go-to treatment in conventional medicine, prioritizing symptom suppression over true healing.
Mary Anne’s Story
Mary Anne is a pharmacist. Just like many of us, she strayed away from nature. But she found her way back. Listen to how she no longer has Crohn’s disease and has a renewed view on life.
A Call to Natural Health Practitioners: Uphold the True Hippocratic Oath
While conventional medicine has been co-opted by the pharmaceutical industry, natural health practitioners have the responsibility to uphold the true essence of the Hippocratic Oath. Rather than masking symptoms with harmful medications, holistic and functional medicine professionals must remain dedicated to identifying and treating the root causes of disease. Proper nutrition, detoxification, and lifestyle interventions can often eliminate the need for dangerous pharmaceuticals.
It’s Up to Us to Stop the Drug-Induced Disease Epidemic
Western medicine’s hypocrisy has led to an epidemic of drug-induced diseases. It’s time to shift the focus from profit-driven treatments to true patient healing. If we don’t take a stand now, more lives will be caught in the never-ending cycle of prescription drugs that do more harm than good. The choice is clear: honor the Hippocratic Oath, or be complicit in the hypocrisy of modern medicine.
Hop on board. We have a big mission to lead us.
References
Jordan, V.C. (1994). “Tamoxifen as the first targeted long-term adjuvant therapy for breast cancer.” Endocrine-Related Cancer.
Curtis, R.E., Boice, J.D., Shriner, D.A., et al. (1996). “Tamoxifen and the risk of endometrial cancer.” The Lancet.
Lukert, B.P., & Raisz, L.G. (1990). “Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis: pathogenesis and management.” Annals of Internal Medicine.
Van Staa, T.P., Leufkens, H.G.M., Abenhaim, L., et al. (2002). “Use of oral corticosteroids and risk of fractures.” Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.
