How Medicine Was Reengineered
Nick HowarthPublished on: 14/01/2026
By the early 1900s, American medicine stood at a crossroads. On one side was a broad, pluralistic medical system that emphasized nutrition, lifestyle, botanical medicine, and the body’s innate ability to heal when given the right conditions. On the other was a rapidly emerging industrial model built on laboratory chemistry, patented compounds, and centralized control. The winner of that contest was not determined by clinical outcomes alone. It was determined by economics.
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