Modern medicine as we know it today didn't evolve naturally. It was shaped by powerful influences, particularly by figures like John D. Rockefeller. Many people are unaware that the natural and plant-based healing modalities, which had been the cornerstone of human health for centuries, were systematically discredited and pushed aside in favor of pharmaceutical approaches. This was not a simple shift in preference but a deliberate, calculated move driven by profit.
In the early 20th century, Rockefeller, one of the wealthiest men in history, played a significant role in shaping modern medicine. His fortune, built on oil through Standard Oil, allowed him to invest heavily in various industries, including healthcare. Rockefeller saw the potential of turning natural substances into chemical derivatives, which could be patented and sold at a high profit. With the rise of petrochemical products, he realized that medicines could be produced from these chemicals, leading to the birth of the pharmaceutical industry.
The Flexner Report and the Demise of Holistic Healing
A key moment in this transition was the Flexner Report of 1910, commissioned by Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie. This report evaluated medical schools across the United States and recommended that many be closed or restructured. The schools that taught natural healing, homeopathy, and plant-based medicine were labeled as unscientific and inferior. Only the institutions that embraced the new pharmaceutical model were promoted and funded, effectively wiping out many traditional practices.
As a result, the medical landscape changed drastically. Holistic healing, including the use of herbal remedies, became marginalized. Doctors who practiced natural medicine were discredited, and the medical schools that survived focused almost exclusively on pharmaceutical interventions. The curriculum was rewritten to focus on pharmaceutical treatments, surgery, and radiation as the only legitimate forms of medicine.
The Birth of Big Pharma
With Rockefeller’s influence, medical research and treatments became heavily intertwined with the pharmaceutical industry. Petrochemical-derived drugs became the standard for treating illness. And because these drugs were patentable, they generated enormous profits. Rockefeller, through his foundations and alliances, funded medical institutions, research, and public health campaigns that cemented pharmaceuticals as the foundation of modern healthcare.
The Rockefeller Foundation, through various donations and funding initiatives, pushed for more stringent regulations that benefited the pharmaceutical industry. This led to a system where medicines were no longer derived from nature but from synthetic chemicals, often based on petrochemical derivatives. Over time, this created a dependence on pharmaceutical solutions, sidelining natural, plant-based, and holistic approaches.
The Long-Term Impact on Healthcare
This shift had profound consequences. Today, many people are disconnected from the healing power of plants and the body’s natural ability to heal itself. Instead, they rely on pharmaceutical drugs that often treat symptoms rather than addressing the root cause of illness. There’s now a growing movement to return to these ancient, holistic healing practices, with more people becoming aware of the benefits of natural remedies and plant medicine.
While pharmaceuticals certainly have their place—particularly in emergency medicine and life-saving treatments—it's important to understand how this system was created. By recognizing the influence of Rockefeller and the pharmaceutical industry, we can make more informed choices about our health. It’s not about rejecting modern medicine, but about understanding that the system was designed to promote profits over holistic, patient-centered care.
Sources:
https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/constellations/index.php/constellations/article/view/29450