What is natural medicine?

Posted by Victoria Anisman-Reiner May 24, 2006

I've been doing a lot of thinking, since accepting the position to write for Suite101, about what exactly is meant when we use the term "natural." Natural is one of those words that we toss around, even though it's over-used, because there isn't another or a better way to express what we mean.

Natural isn't quite the same as organic. It isn't fully described by the terms pure, unprocessed, unmodified, non-GMO, or raw; yet it can include all of these things and more.

As informed consumers, we know that "natural" "organic" and "pure" on a label don't necessarily mean that it's so. There are ways, legal and illegal, that the people who make and package processed foods can mislead using sneaking labels. "No sodium" actually means less than x%; MSG can be hidden in foods under the misnomers "natural flavours" or "spices." Unless you know how to decifer the polysyllabic strings of chemical names and symbols that pop up on ingredients lists - and even the experts can't know all of them - it can be a real challenge to determine which foods, much less which "natural" supplements and personal care products, are safe and effective for us to use.

The "medicine" part of the title of this column is easier to explain. I think medicine is anything that we can use to help us feel better - to enhance our health, our fitness, and our body's innate ability to cleanse, rebuild, protect or strengthen itself. But by this definition, "medicine" encompasses everything from pharmaceutical drugs; to foods, herbs, tinctures, homeopathic remedies, and essential oils; to energy work like reiki and Touch for Health; to psychotherapy and energy psychology; to sports and activities which improve our fitness and our emotional health. Is all of that medicine? I think I can live with that definition, broad though it may be.

If you'd like to know more about natural medicine, please see my first column What is "Natural Medicine"? or check out Alternative Medicine at Suite101.