Shouldn't the headline be "Prescription pills present a precarious paradox"?

I've often wondered what those who cling to "natural is better" think prescription drugs come from? Often, they come from "nature." Dr. Cramer is right on--natural remedies aren't necessarily safer. However, as demonstrated by the recent Pfizer billion dollar penalty, drug companies often put profit before safety. This is not the first time Pfizer has been penalized for dubious practices. I wonder why nobody gets put in prison?

Dr. Cramer has addressed a subject that is near and dear to our family. A human being is a complex organism where almost countless systems have to work in harmony. Drugs, even prescription drugs, can and often do upset that balance, that harmony.

"Pain kilers" are a prescription drug. A son with a broken back was prescribed pain killers. His back never healed properly and he continued to take pain medication to allow him to function.

Along the way he confided in many of us that he was concerned because he thought that the pain pills were messing him up emotionally.

Well, he is no longer worrying about pain. He is no longer experiencing physical pain. He is no longer with us.

Pain and pain pills may have been a factor in his death. Those two items may have just been a minor player in a stage filled with major players. In this life, we will never know, but we will always wonder.

That is so sad. We had a similar situation in our family with a shattered shoulder from snoboarding accident. Eventually the pain pills became the way of life. My belief is that pain pills create a rebound pain, a vicious syndrome. After a $40,000 rehab, no pain pills, no exceptional pain. Although the shoulder will never be as it once was. I, so wish there had been another way for your family. Your son truly is no longer in pain. I believe he is in ever new joy and bliss.

And to well said, there is indeed a difference between the natural rememdy and the pharmacuetical. The pharmacuetical is an altered molecule. The body cells have little locks, designed for specific keys. The pharmacuetical keys don't quite fit, sometimes completely clogging and distorting the little locks, subsequently "side effects". Some medicine are life saving on a temperary basis. Chronic conditions are not suitable for artificial treatments.

I have a chronic condition that can only be controlled by a prescription drug. I know what would happen to me if I quit taking it, and I have no intention of doing so, or of trying some off-the-wall natural remedy. If you believe in God, don't you think He would have inspired people to find these miracle drugs? If He put the natural remedies here, why would He not want us to have things that are even better now that we have the ability to make them? If you wish to go natural, feel free, but don't condemn me for taking what I need to keep me functioning.

Sure doctors and medicine have their place, but at this point, they are overused.