There is a role for medication in medicine. Congenital disease can result in the complete malfunction of a vital function, such as in type 1 diabetes. Medication is often necessary in this case. The body has a remarkable ability to heal itself, but sometimes irreversible damage occurs, either from untreated chronic disease or a severe traumatic accident, and medication may be necessary in these cases. And while a disease process may be reversible, medication may be indicated to help mitigate further damage while healing takes place. Americans, though, are prescribed far more medications than in other countries, but without measurable benefit in key indicators, such as life expectancy, and this is because of the paradigm forced upon us by corporate and political influence.