The Marvels of Modern Medicine

Modern Medicine is one of the greatest offerings of Science.

As a child, I looked up to modern medicine. I loved being checked on gently by my kind-hearted physician. I knew that a visit to his clinic would often involve receiving a bottle of colourful potion, drinking which would help me feel better!

I watched my grandparents with multiple health problems lead long lives of fairly good quality, while the generation prior to theirs succumbed to simple illnesses in their forties and fifties. Thanks to the support of modern medicine, my grandparents lived into their eighties.

My own life was saved by modern medicine when I developed a pregnancy-induced life-threatening condition. Had I developed the same condition a century ago, I would have been one among millions of women who lost their lives to pregnancy.

Much of what we take for granted today posed a huge threat to our ancestors – smallpox, typhoid, cholera, rabies, snakebites, measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus and the list goes on.

Appendicitis meant death in the past whereas today it is no big deal at all!

Anaesthesia for surgical procedures is another feather in the cap. It’s hard to imagine how terrifying it may feel to be cut open without being put to sleep!

The life-saving measures offered by modern healthcare, both in the form of medicine and surgery, are one of its greatest contributions to humanity.

Certain common health conditions like diabetes and hypertension may not have a cure yet but they can certainly be managed well through a combination of medicine and lifestyle measures.

Vaccinations are another significant contribution of medical science. All of us reading this have witnessed the havoc caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. While some are not for vaccines, the fact remains that vaccination has been a safe and reliable solution for several million people in the last few decades and more recently during the Covid outbreak.

I am sometimes asked why science must focus on the remedies to illness. Why not teach people to be well so we can prevent illness from developing in the first place?

My answer is that illness is part of the world we live in.

As wellness practitioners, we can certainly teach people about how to stay well.

But does that guarantee that illness will disappear?

All of us need the support of healthcare from time to time, even if just for simple health concerns.

Let’s intend and work towards creating a safe and disease-free world.

Let’s work towards helping people embrace wellness.

At the same time, it is important to be awake to the fact that illness is as much a part of the current world as wellness.

Opposites co-exist on this plane of duality called Planet Earth.

For as long as this is the case, healthcare is required.

Wellness can go hand in hand with medical care (where required).

Medicine has always been part of humankind’s history.

The Native Medicine of the past has evolved into the Modern Medicine of today.

When we take a moment to see how far we have come due to the progress made by medical science, we may find ourselves feeling grateful for it.

Thank you, Science!