When Oil Met Medicine: What We Were Taught, What We Weren’t

There’s a version of history that sounds clean and simple: Modern medicine advanced, science improved, and we got better outcomes.

And to be fair, a lot of that is true.

But there’s another layer that’s a bit more… complicated.

Not conspiracy. Not fantasy. Just influence, money, and timing.

Where the Oil Industry Enters the Story

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, something shifted.

Before that, healthcare was a mix of:

• Herbalists

• Midwives

• Traditional healers

• Home remedies passed down through families

Yes, many were women. Yes, outcomes varied. But there was a strong focus on supporting the body, not just treating symptoms.

Then came industrialisation… and oil

Oil wasn’t just fuel. It became the base for petrochemicals, and from there:

• Synthetic drugs

• Plastics

• Chemical processing at scale

One of the key players was John D. Rockefeller.

He built wealth through Standard Oil, and later became one of the biggest funders of:

•  Medical schools

• Research institutions

• Hospitals

The Turning Point: Medical Education Reform

Around 1910, a major report changed everything:

The ‘Flexner Report’ Which was funded by philanthropic foundations backed by major industrial wealth

That includes:

• Steel money → Andrew Carnegie

• Oil money → John D. Rockefeller

This report:

• Standardised medical education

• Raised scientific rigor (a good thing)

• Shut down hundreds of schools that didn’t meet the new model

But here’s the key:

• It favoured lab-based, drug-focused medicine

• It reduced the role of herbal, naturopathic, and holistic practices

And guess what aligned perfectly with that model?

Petrochemical-based pharmaceuticals

So What Were Doctors Actually Trained In?

After this shift, training focused heavily on:

• Diagnosis of disease

• Drug-based interventions

• Surgery and acute care

• Lab science and chemical treatments

Less focus on:

• Nutrition

• Lifestyle

• Preventative care

• Herbal or plant-based medicine

The Oil–Medication Connection (This Part Matters)

Many modern medications are derived from or processed using petrochemicals.

That doesn’t automatically make them bad, but it does mean:

• The same industry that profits from oil

• Also profits from chemical-based treatments

Examples include:

• Synthetic hormones

• Certain pain medications

• Plastics used in medical delivery systems

Cure vs Manage: The Business Model Question

Here’s where things get uncomfortable.

A system built around: Ongoing treatment is often more profitable than one-time cures

Now, that doesn’t mean doctors are doing the wrong thing. Most are working within the system they were trained in.

But the system itself?

It often leans toward managing conditions, not eliminating them entirely.

What Happened to Natural Health?

After these changes:

• Herbal medicine was labelled unscientific

• Traditional healers were pushed out

• Natural remedies became “alternative”

The vibe shifted to:

“If it’s not pharmaceutical, it’s not real medicine”

And Yet… Here We Are Again

Fast forward to now, and we’re seeing a swing back.

Things once dismissed are now being studied properly:

• Plant compounds for inflammation

• Gut health and microbiome research

• Essential oils and antimicrobial properties

• Nutritional therapy

Regulatory bodies like the Food and Drug Administration require strict testing, so many natural therapies are now going through clinical trials to meet modern standards.

Hospitals, Sunlight, and Linen Sheets

Before modern hospital systems became highly clinical:

• Patients were often placed in sunlight

• Rooms were designed for fresh air and ventilation

• Linen sheets were used because they were breathable and natural

This wasn’t “woo”, it was practical.

Sunlight supports:

• Vitamin D production

• Immune function

• Mental health

Over time, hospitals became:

• More sterile

• More enclosed

• More focused on infection control

Which improved some outcomes, but also removed natural environmental support

Medications That Didn’t Age Well

History has shown that some widely used treatments later caused harm:

• Thalidomide (birth defects)

• Certain early hormone therapies

• Some pain medications later linked to dependency issues

This doesn’t mean medicine is unsafe -it means we are always learning, often after the fact

Where Essential Oils Fit In

Essential oils get labelled “woo” pretty quickly.

But here’s the grounded truth:

• Some have antimicrobial properties

• Some support relaxation and stress response

• Many have been used for centuries

Are they a cure-all? No. Are they useless? Also no.

And importantly:

They often have fewer systemic side effects than pharmaceutical options But they are also less regulated and less standardised

So What’s the Real Takeaway?

This isn’t about:

• Rejecting modern medicine

• Or blindly trusting natural remedies

It’s about understanding that:

The system we use today was shaped by industry, funding, and priorities

And that:

• Both medicine and natural health have value

• Both have strengths and limitations

A More Balanced Way Forward

Instead of picking sides:

• Use medicine when needed

• Support the body where possible

• Stay curious

• Ask questions

Because the goal isn’t to go backwards.

It’s to move forward with:

Better awareness, better choices, and a fuller picture of how we got here

If this sparked something for you, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Where do you sit on this, fully medical, fully natural, or somewhere in between? -Ang x