Returning to Nature

This week we had a debate on environmental health that included three very different positions. Position one argued that returning to natural remedies is the best solution for our health. Position two argued that health comes from medicine and not green superstition. Finally, position three argued that environmental justice will bring better health for all. I personally see the importance of using medicine to better everyone’s health, but this is not possible unless the inequalities that exist among minority groups are addressed through environmental justice. Despite the approaches I believe offer the best solution for this topic I was fascinated by position ones argument. Just earlier this week I was listening to a TED talk with Tod Morton about how the best way to approach food is to return to nature and avoid processed junk food. Now initially this sounds like every other diet that warns against the dangers of junk food, but what Morton was really arguing is that there is no reason for us to rely on quick, processed foods. Up until about 100 years ago an average family did not have access to processed snacks, canned food, frozen dinners, or tomatoes all year long. For years humans survived without the basic food society is so used to, so why can;t we go back to that original, more simple way of living. Now as much as this ideology makes sense to me I still found myself hesitating to fully agree. Position ones argument revolved around a similar idea about the importance of relying on nature to improve our mental and physical  health. Natural remedies include healthy consumption, energy healing,  and yoga. They also argued a major flaw of modern medicine is that it does not address the psychological aspect of pain and focuses too much on the body while ignoring mental health. Tod Morton would agree with the healthy consumption side of their argument and brought up an interesting point that “we are not born craving Whoopers or Skittles” and should instead “eat food and real food”.  The more I think about these arguments the easier it is for me to see the positive benefits of taking a natural approach, but as much as I appreciate and respect nature I still find it easier to see the flaws in both arguments. One big issue I have is that vaccines work and have saved millions of lives. Modern medicine is also responsible for helping millions of people born with medical issues or that inherit genetic diseases. I also believe that a diet consisting largely of fruits and vegetables is not accessible to many people who struggle with getting a meal on the table everyday. I believe the way our society has developed and how our food industry was created does not make it possible for natural remedies to be adopted on a large scale by the majority of the worlds population. Ultimately this approach is stuck in a classical mindset and could not work in modern society. It is nice to think we could return to our natural roots and adopt the less processed and toxic lifestyle of our ancestors. On an individual level it is possible for people to choose a more natural way of living, but a lot would need to change to make this possible for everyone.