Abstract
Conventional medicine has made significant advancements in the past century, yet the global burden of chronic degenerative diseases has continued to rise impressively. Are we healthier than we were a hundred years ago? A narrative review focusing on the direction global health has taken under modern medicine was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, WHO, and CDC databases. The retrieved studies yielded additional historical data, which was also included. The bigger picture emerging from these sources is presented in a narrative form. Our review of historical and current medical literature suggests an alarming worsening of health status in the overall population, with a shift from infectious diseases to chronic debilitating conditions, including serious immune, neurological, and psychiatric illnesses. The countries with well-established healthcare systems are experiencing a higher burden of chronic degenerative diseases. It appears that the healthcare approach has focused on specific aspects rather than considering the complete picture of human health. We propose that healthcare innovations should refocus on studying the individual in their environment as an integral entity and conduct research to understand the long-term effects of medicines and vaccines. Further, integrating complementary and alternative medicine systems that consider health and disease holistically is recommended for incorporation into healthcare. However, it is emphasized that theoretical scientific research in this area remains limited, and there is a growing call for research in complementary medicine healthcare innovations, which, if executed well, may benefit living beings.