National Feature: Only Natural

The evolution of medicine dates back thousands of years and spans many continents and belief systems. From ancient Ayurvedic medicine to the most modern developments in pharmaceuticals, medicine has changed and shifted drastically over the past 5,000 years. With the mass availability of information, humans have become educated in the world of medicine and empowered to choose the practices to which they wish to subscribe. We’ve relied primarily on Western medicine and pharmaceuticals, but we can expect plant-based remedies to play a role in health trends in the year to come as people incorporate holistic healing practices into their daily regimens as preventative and retroactive measures.

People will look to the root cause of disease, not just symptoms. Often when people fall ill, they look to treat what they consider the worst part of their illness—the symptoms they’re experiencing—as quickly as possible. People are starting to understand that they need to solve the root cause of a disease rather than superficial symptoms. With information readily accessible, people can understand why they may be feeling a certain way and what they can do to prevent an illness from moving forward. More than ever, people are looking toward how active they are, vitamins and minerals, nutrients, and diet to uncover what’s causing their symptoms. They will, in turn, be invest- ed in learning about how different plant-based remedies address both symptoms and root causes, and how these can lead them on a path to better health and wellness overall.