Most citizens of America are well aware of the seemingly obscure opinions of RFK. Yet, RFK is just one tip of the “natural health” iceberg.

The natural health trend, seemingly reminiscent of antivaxxing, is a movement surfacing on the internet which implies the claim that natural alternatives are highly capable of being superior to modern medicines. Although this movement may seem unproblematic, it carries some deeper meaning.

The natural health trend oftentimes serves as a promotion of overhauling modern healthcare altogether — unless extremely necessary. This includes mental health medications, and even ADHD medications for children. Many of the creators which make up this movement claim that things such as herbs can replace the need for medicinal interference. They criticize things like preservatives in food, and resort to drinking raw milk and consuming unsafe cuts of meat. At some points, natural health creators go as far as to claim the entire pharmaceutical industry is a scam. 

Some natural health creators have attempted to push back against this narrative. An expanding number have used their profiles to demonstrate realism, showing their processed foods and pills, alongside their herb gardens and teas. 

This calls into question the nuance that separates radical primitivism and rich tradition. Natural health isn’t in itself harmful. In fact, it was reported under the Harvard Medical School’s blog that herbal teas such as ginger and chamomile can have positive effects like decreased risk of heart disease death, or even cancer protection (https://www.health.harvard.edu/diet-and-nutrition/the-health-benefits-of-3-herbal-tea). However, even on their blog does it say that these teas should not be used as a substitute for medicinal care.

Arguably, having a nice cup of tea before bed, or encouraging fibrous diets is not inherently bad. Still, we should be weary about how natural health can quickly become natural extremism. As a society we are responsible for distinguishing between the two.