Why do people think all natural is safer?

[blissinanarchy1]

Both my mother and girlfriend are like this. I never understood it. "It's from nature, it's not "chemicals" ". When I try to explain chemicals are natural as well, they say "No, chemicals are man made". Sadly, this seems to be a very popular belief, not just with my mother and girlfriend. Chemicals occur in everything, natural or man made. Natural doesn't mean safer. I don't know if people with this mindset think anything that is man made is equivalant to fucking anti-freeze or something, or what. Natural can be just as dangerous if not more. Biggest example is medication. People think self medicating with herbs and plants is safer. You're not a doctor, you have no idea what dose to take, and everything you need to know. Googling it doesn't mean you know everything you need to know.

[zeitgeist057]

Herbal supplementation and natural solutions are big in my family. I work in healthcare.

People are somewhat right to see natural remedies as safer, as the manufactured drugs are usually very strong (effective). Compare echinacea or olive leaf extract to amoxycillin or vancomycin. The potency makes those manufactured solutions much more dangerous, which is why most of them require a prescription, whereas things like aspirin or St. John's wort do not.

You are also partially right, in that even natural remedies can be dangerous. I mean, broccoli can be dangerous if you eat enough of it, if only because you eat so much you vomit. " Any tool is a weapon if you hold it right" - Ani DiFranco

https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZrMM2GHRtGo

What I have been taught by the witches in my life, is that herbs are food, they are supplementation that helps your body perform optimally. Of course taking the wrong thing at an inappropriate time or in an inappropriate amount can hurt you. Keeping balance is the important thing. A little orange here for C, a banana there for K, a few drops of golden seal to boost immune function, spirulina, creatine, turmeric, fiber, fats, carbs, protein.

I would also counter that you can learn a lot on the internet by googling, but it's best to not get all your information from a single source; form a big picture from multiple sources.

[TheMajesticKing777]

It's about the trust you put in these products, many products that are created I believe are made for profits and no matter what harm it does in the long run, money runs the world and unfortunately people put money over human life and the only form of comfort people can have is something being natural, for example I even believe medicine that are given by doctors or hospitals can eventually be harmful cause not only do they help you with one problem but they can form another which will bring your right back to the hospital where you'll end up putting money in these peoples pockets or whatever sick people run hospitals and these places that are suppose to help people but end up causing holes in your pockets and throw you in a hole of debt, a ride in an ambulance costs thousands, that's is just sad how someone can be dying and the ride to the hospital is also an additional charge, I have no trust in the government and how society works and I'd choose a natural product over a product that contains chemicals I don't know about, if coca cola can keep an ingredient top secret where even the government is involved then what other bullshit do they hide from the public and obviously the secret to the coca cola is top secret because it makes money.

[TheMajesticKing777]

This honestly revolves around everything nowadays

[HighlyVolatile]

I always found it curious as well and it contradicts basic ideas we find in chemistry. I do tend to romanticize "natural" but not for safety. Actually, if I tried to live in the wilderness like some distant ancestor in our evolutionary history foraging and hunting for my own food absent modern luxuries and comforts, I'd probably reduce my lifespan by at least half (not sure if I would even survive a single winter). Yet it sounds fun to me! So I like the romantic imagery of a more "natural" lifestyle, although I don't associate safety with it.

[AviatorTom]

Interesting. I just had the same discussion with my SO today. She was talking about all-natural foods and I was pointing out that they are chemicals too. She got upset, said I didn't know what I was talking about, and I just dropped it. You can't convince someone who believes something else.

[josephinelcajon]

There is nothing pure or "natural" left in this world! We have manipulated and crossbreed everything. This is why the 1% want off this planet so badly!