“What particularly worries me is the widely held belief that if something is sold over the counter, marked as ‘natural’ or endorsed online, then it must automatically be safe and harmless, while prescribed medicines are somehow toxic,” she added. “As doctors, we know this simply is not true.”
Unfortunately many people's experience says otherwise.
Doctors are often too happy to prescribe medication instead of a change in diet or exercise. Too often happy to use chemistry to fix problems that are societal or political. Too happy to prop up the capitalist pharmaceutical industry that treats patients as guinea pigs. That's why many have turned to alternative medicines. Trust has been eroded in professional medicine. Too many people have had bad experiences with professional medicine.
I personally would still trust a GP over a TikToker, but I am skeptical of everything they say and still read up on it afterwards. I'm well educated and can relatively confidently do that. Mostly understanding what I'm reading. Many aren't or don't know where to go to read, so can't be confident, so they rely on their social interactions instead.
This is an institutional problem that needs fixed at the Cabinet level, and yet nothing constructive will likely be done. Some bullshit like banning nutritional advise online perhaps, which won't fix anything.