Holistic Health: Mindset, Body & Energy

Seen Pain Hustlers on Netflix yet?

I know they say it is only based on a true story (Insys Therapeutics and Subsys pain medication), but I am speechless that this happens and continues to take place, in some form.

Once again highlighting how important it is to take care of our health holistically and not always opt for the fast acting medication that bypasses us having to do other healing work eg. our diet, exercise, emotional health (eg. suppressed anger has been linked with cancer and heart disease), energy work, trauma healing, nervous system work, the quality of our thoughts and even self talk.

I did 1000s of health sessions over the years and even as a herbalist /nutritionist/health coach, I would still see some people wanting to take a supplement to “fix” things, so they did not have to address other factors. Definitely not everyone was in this camp as many were doing balanced eating, exercise, supplementation and mindset work. Sure, overall they are generally much safer than pharmaceuticals, but it’s never just the “one” thing that fixes everything.

If only it was that simple hey?! If it seems too good to be true, my word it is!

There is a time and place for different options. I had to do antibiotics last year for a persistent lyme and parasitic infection, and I am so thankful that a routine pap smear picked up CIN3 which lead to colposcopies and a recent lletz. I needed local anesthetic and pain medication that day. 100% I am grateful it is around, however, you have to question sometimes, the safety, efficacy and dare I say motives behind some recommendations.

BTW, In a nutshell the movie is about a struggling pharmaceutical start-up that is desperately trying to get their fast acting pain medication for cancer patients, prescribed by Doctors. We see the recruitment of attractive reps, bribing, parties and events and other kickbacks for the Doctors that prescribe, big commissions to successful reps, going off label in terms of how it can be used and eventual overdosing and death of innocent patients.

The CEO and other senior positions all faced fail time, 66 months for the CEO and less for the others involved. The actual data of the 1 clinical trial of 200 stage 4 cancer patients was revealed at the end which put into perspective how findings can be distorted and manipulated in order to show a particular favourable outcome

In a world that is becoming so advanced in terms of medical interventions and so much information in terms of treatments and diet knowledge, I wonder why such a large percentage are overweight? Why diabetes and autoimmune conditions are increasing daily? Why is infertility so widespread? Why are cancers affecting more and more people?

It is completely normal these days for people to be on a standard cocktail as they get older of a statin, a blood pressure med and sometimes a pain med (for arthritis) and a times a proton pump inhibitor thrown into the mix for acid reflux.

When my then 95 yr old grandmother went into a home for rehab post hip surgery, within weeks she was on a mixture of medications. I asked the nurse and they said 2 were for pain, 1 for cholesterol, 1 for blood pressure, 1 for blood thinning. I asked why as she wasn’t on that before she went in and I was told to speak to the Dr. My Mum advised it was the standard. Why put a 95yr olds liver, kidney and gut under that additional load at that age if not absolutely needed??

Google financial payments from pharma to doctors. One pubmed article I found said “Personal financial payments to physicians are a common marketing strategy used by the pharmaceutical industry. These payments include both cash (typically for consulting services or invited lectures) and in-kind gifts such as meals”.

The article went on to say “From 2015-2017, 67% of all US physicians received payments. This proportion exceeded 80% in many specialties (medical oncology, orthopedic surgery, urology, and others), and in many specialties the dollar value of personal payments has increased in recent years. The value of industry payments to US physicians is substantial, totaling $2.18 billion in 2018 alone”. This is before recent viral pandemics of course.

In Australia, From October 2014 to September 2015, member companies of pharmaceutical trade association, Medicines Australia, disclosed payments of $89,658,566 on healthcare professionals, including millions in direct cash payments disguised as fees. In a 2022 article, it was noted that pharma giants have spent more than $42.56m on payments to doctors and another $8.25m to health groups.

I know medication ozempic, is really popular globally. In 2022, it’s manufacturer spent $11m USD, wining and dining Doctors.

There is websites in various countries that lets you search for physicians with past and current financial relationships with pharma. In Australia, you can search Medicines Australia database for payments and transfers of value for activities since Nov 2018 for Australian healthcare professionals.

I know we want to believe that Drs and health professionals, the food industry, pharmaceuticals and the government have our best interests at heart and I know that there absolutely are instances where that is the case. I don’t want to be cynical and jaded here but what I am seeing and reading about it really concerning.

If you have read this far, what are your thoughts? Am I overreacting or is this a really big concern and red flag for us all? Were you aware of this?