Why Current Healthcare is Failing Us: The Symptom Suppression Approach

We live in a world where symptom suppression is the status quo for healthcare. This means that, rather than looking for and addressing the underlying root cause of an illness or ailment, many healthcare professionals focus on simply managing or reducing the symptoms. This symptom suppression approach is failing us and leading to long-term health issues, which could be avoided if a root cause approach was taken instead.

Suppression of Symptoms

Suppression of symptoms is the most common approach used in modern healthcare. Rather than treating the underlying root cause of an illness or disorder, it focuses on suppressing the symptoms. This can be done through a variety of means, such as medication, topical application, surgical removal, and antibiotics. 

Medication is a common form of symptom suppression. Pharmaceuticals are often prescribed to help reduce pain and other symptoms. While this can SEEM to be effective in the short-term, it often masks the underlying issue without addressing it, leading to further complications in the long-term.

Topical application is another form of symptom suppression. Creams and ointments can be used to reduce swelling and inflammation, but again, this does not address the underlying root cause. In some cases, these treatments can even make matters worse by driving the illness deeper into the body.

Antibiotics are commonly prescribed for bacterial infections. While this can help reduce symptoms in the short-term, it does not heal the underlying infection and can lead to antibiotic resistance if used too frequently or inappropriately.

The suppression of symptoms approach may seem like a convenient solution in the short-term, but it can cause more harm than good in the long run. By suppressing the symptoms rather than addressing the underlying cause of an illness or disorder, the body finds different ways to express itself which can result in deeper rooted problems and further complications. Therefore, it’s important to always seek treatment that gets to the root of the problem in order to achieve lasting results. 

Emotion Suppression

In today’s society, it has become commonplace for people to rely on antidepressants and sedatives to cope with depression, anxiety, and fear. While it might seem like a quick fix to temporarily suppress these emotions, the issue here is that what is suppressed does not just disappear. Instead, it will grow deeper into the body, potentially resulting in even more psychological damage than if the emotion was addressed at its root cause. 

This can be seen in the book “British Natural Formula” which informs doctors of the drugs they prescribe. If you read the side effects of these drugs, you will find that they are often the same as the symptoms they are trying to suppress. This means that while doctors may think they are helping their patients, they are really just masking the problem without addressing the underlying issues. This can lead to long-term mental health issues and even suicidal thoughts, as has been seen in some cases where people have taken antidepressants. 

On top of this, emotional suppression can also result in physical health problems, as the body is unable to truly relax and heal when it is constantly under emotional stress. As such, it is essential to seek treatments which address the root cause of emotional issues rather than just masking them with temporary solutions. This will help ensure that both physical and mental health are looked after, leading to a healthier and happier life.

Antidepressants can be lifesaving in the short term, but more work is needed to be done to fully alleviate the emotional symptoms in the long term. I understand that trying to implement a holistic approach in the depths of depression could be like trying to do something productive whilst rolling down a hill, and medication can give the space to start to implement what the body and mind really needs. However, it is not something to be used in isolation and certainly not a long term fix. 

Suppression of Body Secretions 

The suppression of body secretions is an all-too-common approach to healthcare and just general lifestyle today. 

When it comes to sweat and odor, many people turn to antiperspirants and deodorants as a quick fix, without considering the potential health risks associated with blocking the body's natural detoxification process. 

For example, in the axilla (armpit) there are a dozen or more lymph nodes that are responsible for processing waste products and toxins. If these lymph nodes are prevented from working properly due to antiperspirant use, then the whole area becomes congested. This congestion can lead to the formation of breast cysts and even breast cancer. This is why many women who have had surgery for breast cancer have also had to have their lymph nodes removed in the armpit.

It is therefore much wiser to opt for natural deodorants free from toxins, such as mercury, and allow perspiration to occur naturally. Excessive sweating may be a sign of something deeper going on in the body, such as liver weakness or an overactive circulatory system. In this case, it is important to try and sort out the root cause of the problem rather than simply suppressing the symptoms.

Topical Application Suppression 

Topical application is a common form of symptom suppression, in which corticosteroids are applied to the skin as an external medication. While this can provide temporary relief for those suffering from skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis, it can also cause a myriad of issues.

When corticosteroids are applied topically, they inhibit the elimination of waste products from the body through the skin. This can lead to a buildup of toxins in the body, which can then manifest as more serious health issues such as asthma. This is why there is a strong link between hay fever, asthma, and eczema.

The use of topical applications that contain coal tar or zinc can also push diseases deeper into the body, rather than treating them at their source. These forms of symptom suppression should be avoided when possible, as they are more likely to exacerbate an existing problem rather than help resolve it.

Instead of masking symptoms with topical applications, it’s important to address the root cause of the issue. This means looking at your lifestyle and nutrition habits, identifying any underlying health issues, and addressing them holistically. By focusing on healing from the inside out, you can not only manage existing symptoms, but also prevent future illnesses from developing. We have a number of posts on addressing eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea here. 

Suppression by Surgical Removal 

Surgical removal has been used to suppress symptoms in the body for many years. This approach is often seen as a fast and easy way to treat various ailments and diseases. However, it is important to note that suppression of symptoms through surgical removal can be counter-productive.

When it comes to the throat and tonsils, the act of removing them can be detrimental to one’s health. Tonsils help fight against infection and if they are removed, this can lead to chronic throat infections and hay fever. Rather than resorting to surgical removal, herbal remedies and natural supplements should be taken to support the immune system and not suppress it. 

Likewise, warts are viral in nature and can sometimes turn into cancers when removed. Instead of removing them, it is important to take steps to strengthen the immune system to allow it to combat the virus on its own.

In general, surgical removal of symptoms should be considered a last resort rather than a first line of defense. It should only be used when all other options have been exhausted and the risk of leaving the ailment unchecked outweighs any potential benefits of suppression.

Suppression by Medication

Medications are often used to suppress the symptoms of a condition, rather than targeting the root cause. Painkillers are one of the most commonly used medications for symptom suppression and while they do help in the short-term, they can cause long-term health problems. Painkillers can mask the underlying disease, disrupting the delicate balance of the microbiome, leading to allergies, autoimmune issues, and neurological disturbances. They also reduce serotonin production in the gut, which is an important neurotransmitter for mental health and gut motility. 

In certain cases, antibiotics can be life-saving and should be used when needed. However, herbs such as garlic can act as natural antibiotics and target only the harmful bacteria while leaving the beneficial bacteria intact. This can be a much safer and healthier option for symptom suppression. Please see our post on natural antibiotics here. 

The Bottom Line

Current healthcare is designed to suppress symptoms, rather than healing from the underlying root cause. Suppression of symptoms can take many forms including emotion suppression, suppression of body secretions, topical application suppression, surgical removal and medication. This approach can provide temporary relief, but it does not address the true problem, leaving a person vulnerable to further issues down the line.

At Synergised, we take a different approach. We search for the underlying reason for the symptoms and then alleviate at a root cause level, rather than masking at the surface. We approach health completely holistically, because everything in the body and mind is connected. We search for root level imbalances through at-home functional lab testing. We alleviate symptoms with tailored protocols that use all sorts of functional medicine, natural healthcare methods, diet and lifestyle methods. Our goal is to help you reach optimum health from the inside out and enjoy the best quality of life possible.