A healthy patient is a lost customer?
Today, we went to the market, and my favorite vendor had papayas for us – grown by himself! He even showed me videos of his garden, and it was enchanting. Here in Crete, in certain regions, it’s possible to grow all kinds of tropical fruits – he has mangoes, dragon fruit, guavas, passion fruit, and more! Holy moly, my imagination took off as I pictured our future home’s garden!
But back to the fateful papayas.
Papaya is a tropical fruit that supports digestion, strengthens the immune system, and helps the body recover from inflammation. It’s packed with nutrients that are beneficial to our health. James taught me that even the seeds are worth eating. When dried and crushed, they turn into a pepper-like spice. These seeds are incredibly beneficial and help eliminate intestinal parasites thanks to compounds like caricin and benzyl isothiocyanate.
And that brings us to a topic we’re currently dealing with – one surely familiar to many parents. I recently wrote to our family doctor asking for a prescription, but today’s coincidental encounter made me think. If nature already provides us with all the remedies we need, then how and why did we become so disconnected from it?
A small study conducted in Nigeria (2007) showed that papaya seeds significantly reduced intestinal parasites in children.
I looked into the ingredients of the deworming drug Vermox, hoping to find a clue of natural origin. According to ChatGPT, it turns out the substance is fully lab-synthesized, derived from petrochemicals and industrial intermediates.
Quite strange, considering we have all of this in nature already. It made me ask deeper questions.
Has the development of lab-made drugs been influenced by commercial interest – and to what extent?
ChatGPT replied:
Yes — commercial interest has played a significant and complex role in the development of lab-produced medicines. The pharmaceutical industry is one of the world’s largest and most profitable sectors, meaning economic motives have always been part of the process — for better and for worse.
Here’s how commercial interests have influenced drug development, distribution, and usage:
💰 1. Research directed toward profitable diseases
- Medicines are developed primarily for conditions that require long-term treatment and generate steady income.
→ For example: chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and depression — rather than rare or poverty-related illnesses. - Natural, affordable remedies often go unresearched simply because they can’t be patented.
🔄 2. Patents and market protection
- Pharmaceutical companies are granted patents giving them 20 years of exclusive production and sales rights.
- This creates a monopoly and major profits, especially for widely used drugs.
- Sometimes minor molecular tweaks are made to extend patent protection (“evergreening”).
💊 3. Preference for symptom management over root-cause treatment
- Drugs are often designed to control symptoms rather than cure the actual issue.
→ Why? Because long-term use means continuous revenue. - Example: high blood pressure, cholesterol, acid reflux — medications relieve but don’t always resolve.
📉 4. Natural alternatives sidelined or suppressed
- Natural or non-patentable substances are rarely studied, as they’re not profitable (e.g., turmeric, wormwood, probiotics).
- Some companies have actively discouraged research that could threaten the market share of their products.
- Independent researchers and funders are rare, meaning business interests influence what gets studied — and what doesn’t.
📢 5. Marketing and influence over doctors and patients
- Pharma companies spend billions on marketing to influence doctors, clinics, and patients.
- Incentives, conferences, and perks affect prescription behavior.
- In countries like the U.S., direct-to-consumer ads create demand even where none exists.
⚖️ How does this affect us?
| Positive impact | Negative impact |
|---|---|
| Many effective medicines have saved millions of lives | Overhyped or unnecessary drugs are marketed for profit |
| Scientific progress is accelerated through funding | Drug prices are often unreasonably high |
| Diseases are under better control | Natural and holistic treatments are overlooked or suppressed |
| Strong quality and safety regulations | Evidence may be skewed by financial interests |
🧡 In summary:
Profit motives are central in pharmaceutical development, but that doesn’t mean every medicine is bad or science is corrupt.
It does mean we, as patients, must be informed, critical, and balanced — using medicine when needed, but not forgetting the roles of nutrition, movement, natural healing, and prevention.
I’m not sure how to conclude this post. I’ve had to confront these issues personally, and while I had my suspicions, I never expected such a deeply thought-provoking answer from ChatGPT. I encourage others to also ask questions and dig deeper — especially when it comes to matters that affect our health.
