Why Natural Medicine Was Replaced (The Truth You Were Never Told)

In the 1926 United States Dispensatory, cod liver oil was a standard medical remedy to inhibit tuberculosis and treat rheumatoid arthritis. It was also used with calcium salts for tetany (muscle twitching) and for nerve pain. Dr. Berg connects this historical use to modern knowledge: cod liver oil is rich in omega-3s, particularly EPA, which is a powerful anti-inflammatory. He implies that this forgotten remedy was scientifically sound and remains useful today for these conditions. No dosage is mentioned; the emphasis is on its historical credibility and modern mechanistic backing.

Betaine hydrochloride appears in the 1926 reference as a treatment for gastric problems and indigestion. Dr. Berg himself recommends it today for the same range of symptoms. He explains that it works by acidifying the stomach, serving as a precursor for hydrochloric acid production, which is crucial for proper digestion and microbial control. This contrasts with the modern tendency to use antacids for reflux, which may arise from insufficient acid rather than excess. By restoring acidity, betaine HCl targets a root cause rather than suppressing symptoms.

The 1926 reference included liver extract as a standard treatment for anemia. Dr. Berg contrasts this with modern medicine's use of synthetic B12 and poorly absorbable iron forms. Liver naturally contains heme iron, the most bioavailable form, and B12 embedded in co-factors that enhance absorption and utilization—unlike the isolated cyanocobalamin or ferrous sulfate often prescribed today. He implies that the historical approach was superior because it worked with whole-food synergies, and that current therapies may fall short due to bioavailability issues.

Methylene blue was one of the earliest synthetic medications but has a different structure than modern dyes. In the 1920s, it was used to shrink tumors, treat meningitis, bladder infections, and gonorrhea. Dr. Berg notes it is making a comeback. Its mechanism involves helping the mitochondria: if mitochondrial damage is behind a chronic illness, methylene blue can make the mitochondria work more efficiently. He does not provide a specific protocol, but the substance is highlighted as a scientifically interesting remedy that is regaining attention.

While prescription lithium carbonate in high doses is used for bipolar disorder, lithium orotate is taken in micro-doses as a nutritional supplement. Dr. Berg explains that people historically bathed in lithium springs for relaxation, and a lithiated lemon-lime soda (original 7Up) was marketed for mood. After lithium was banned from drinks, the practice faded, but now low-dose lithium orotate is popular again for anxiety and depression. He does not specify an exact milligram dose, only that it's a fraction of the medical dose.

Dr. Berg forcefully argues that vitamin D dosing has been suppressed, dropping from 280,000 IU for autoimmune disease in a 1972 medical text to just 600 IU in later editions. He personally believes most people need 6,000–10,000 IU daily just to maintain levels. He enumerates benefits: vitamin D lifts mood, supports every arm of the immune system, alleviates lower back pain that can radiate into legs and pelvis, and is critical in pregnancy and infancy to prevent dental malformations and structural problems. This protocol directly challenges official RDAs and frames vitamin D as a cornerstone nutrient.

Dr. Berg frames the shift as a gradual infiltration rather than an improvement. He notes that we went from hundreds of diagnoses to thousands, each siloed into specialties that treat late-stage dysfunction with single-enzyme drugs, while ignoring root causes like food, sleep, stress, and the microbiome. He points out that 80% of research is funded by pharma, making natural remedies neglected because there is no profit. He also highlights iatrogenic disease and polypharmacy, where elderly patients take dozens of medications. He questions whether 'advancement' truly means more wisdom when time-tested natural remedies are dismissed as snake oil, even though many drugs are derived from them. The book serves as evidence that the erasure was engineered, not based on efficacy.

Dr. Berg recounts that back in the day, lithium springs were popular, and a lithium water drink called lithiated lemon lime soda was made with the slogan to take the ouch out of the grouch. After 1948, when lithium was banned from drinks, the company removed it and renamed the soda to Seven Up. There is speculation about the name: some say it refers to lithium's atomic weight of 7, others to the number of ingredients. Today, many people take lithium orotate, which provides lithium in much smaller dosages than the medical lithium carbonate (about 100 times less). This form is used to improve mood, anxiety, and depression. He does not give a specific dose but frames it as a low-dose supplement option.

Dr. Berg cites an older medical book from 1972 where the protocol for certain autoimmune conditions was 280,000 IU of vitamin D3, then in the next edition it was reduced to about 600 IU. He attributes this to suppression, not evolving science. He personally recommends 6,000–10,000 IU daily just to maintain levels. He details that vitamin D supports mood, every part of the immune system, lower back pain that radiates into legs and pelvis, and is critical during pregnancy and early childhood for dental and structural development. This positions vitamin D as a far more essential nutrient than current guidelines suggest.

He explains that the number one selling supplement globally is One A Day, owned by big pharma, whose first ingredient is calcium carbonate—limestone—which makes the bottle heavy. It also contains synthetic fillers like maltodextrin, food coloring, and flavorings. He contrasts his own approach: he 'gives a crap' about ingredients and ensures his supplements have no maltodextrin and use quality components. He also addresses the 'supplements are not FDA regulated' argument by stating that supplements are not drugs and should not be equated; their side effects are far lower, and comparing them is like comparing a farmers market to a pharmacy. This entire segment is a defense of the natural supplement space while calling out its corruption.