Movement Creates Medicine

In partnership with

7-Minute Read

When we think about medicine, we often picture pills in bottles or treatments administered by doctors. But inside our bodies lies an incredible medicine factory that's activated by a surprisingly simple key: movement.

Dr. Robert Butler captured this brilliantly when he said, "If exercise could be purchased in a pill, it would be the single most widely prescribed and beneficial medicine in the nation."

Movement: The Medicine Maker

Unlike taking medicine, where we consume something to feel better, movement actually prompts our body to create its OWN medicine.

Think of your body as a sophisticated pharmaceutical lab. When you move, you're not just burning calories – you're triggering complex chemical reactions that produce natural healing compounds. These compounds help repair tissues, reduce inflammation, boost immunity, and enhance mental well-being.

The Problem with "Stop Moving" Advice

Medical professionals sometimes advise patients to "stop moving" or "avoid anything that hurts" when dealing with pain or injury. While this advice may come from a place of caution, it often creates two significant challenges:

First, imagine being told you can't do something you love, with no clear timeline for when you can return to it. This uncertainty can spark anxiety and frustration, sometimes leading to fear of movement that can persist long after healing has occurred. It's like being told you can't drive your car anymore because of a flat tire, but never being told when you can drive again, OR how to actually fix the tire.

Second, and perhaps more critically, this advice removes one of our body's most powerful healing tools. When we stop moving entirely, we shut down our internal medicine factory.

Our bodies are designed to move, and movement is essential for:

• Maintaining a healthy weight

• Supporting cardiovascular health

• Managing chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension

• Improving mood and reducing stress

• Enhancing cognitive function

• Preventing certain types of cancer

• Producing natural pain-relieving compounds

Your Body's Natural Pain Relief Factory

When you move, your body activates its endocannabinoid and opioid systems.

Think of these as your internal pain medication production lines.

These natural compounds work similarly to pain medications but without the side effects. Even gentle movement can trigger this system – you don't need intense exercise to get benefits.

The Anti-Inflammatory Response

Movement prompts your body to release special proteins called anti-inflammatory cytokines.

These act like microscopic firefighters, helping to reduce inflammation throughout your body. When you stop moving entirely, you lose this natural anti-inflammatory response, potentially allowing inflammation to build up.

The Stress-Pain Connection

Movement helps break the cycle between stress and pain.

When you exercise, your brain releases dopamine, which helps regulate the stress response in a region called the paraventricular nucleus. This is particularly important because stress can make pain feel more intense, creating a vicious cycle that movement can help interrupt.

Think of your body as an incredibly sophisticated pharmacy that produces a wide array of beneficial compounds. The fascinating part is that this pharmacy only fully operates when you move. Every time you take a walk, stretch, or exercise, you're essentially turning on various production lines in this internal pharmacy.

Natural Solutions vs. Medical Interventions

Beyond just pain management, we've developed a concerning pattern in modern healthcare. For almost every health condition, our first response tends to be reaching for a prescription pad. Consider this typical approach:

• High cholesterol → Statin

• High blood sugar → Metformin

• ADHD → Adderall

• Trouble sleeping → Ambien

• PCOS → Estrogen pill

• ED → Viagra

• Depression → SSRI

• Obesity → Ozempic

• Pain → Opioids

But we know that many of these conditions share common underlying factors that movement and exercise can address naturally.

When you move, your body activates multiple healing mechanisms simultaneously:

1. Pain Management System: As we discussed, movement triggers your body to release its own pain-relieving compounds, naturally lowering what we might call the "pain volume." This is often more sustainable than relying solely on pain medications.

2. Sleep Regulation: Regular movement helps synchronize your body's natural sleep-wake cycle, potentially offering a more natural solution than sleep medications. The key is that this approach addresses the root cause rather than just masking symptoms.

3. Mood Enhancement: Exercise stimulates the production of natural antidepressants and mood regulators in your brain. Unlike SSRIs which artificially adjust neurotransmitter levels, movement helps your body produce and regulate these compounds naturally.

4. Brain Health: Regular movement stimulates the production of compounds that protect and enhance brain function, potentially reducing the need for cognitive enhancement medications.

5. Metabolic Health: Instead of relying solely on medications for conditions like diabetes or high cholesterol, movement helps regulate these systems naturally by improving how your body processes nutrients.

6. Immune Function: Physical activity enhances your immune system's ability to fight off illness and manage stress, creating a more resilient system overall.

Meal Prep Slowing You Down? Not Anymore.

Huel Black Edition is your go-to for fast, complete nutrition.

With 40g of protein (more than 5 eggs) and 27 essential vitamins, it supports your immune system, heart, hair, bones, and digestion, it’s a breakfast that keeps you going. Best of all, it’s only $2.50 per serving and takes just 30 seconds to make – no cooking, no hassle.

Use code HUELBE15 for 15% off your first order, plus a FREE t-shirt and shaker.

Upgrade Your Nutrition Today

When pain or health challenges arise, our modern instinct often reaches for a prescription first. But science shows us a powerful alternative: movement is your body's master key, unlocking an incredible array of natural healing processes that no single medication can replicate.

Through exercise, your body produces its own pain-relieving compounds, reduces inflammation, and regulates stress responses - all while improving overall health and wellbeing. So when in doubt, start with movement.

Your body will thank you for choosing this natural medicine, available to everyone, anytime, anywhere.

Until next time

That’s all for today. Whenever you’re ready, here’s how I can help:

• Want to work with me 1:1? Book a Discovery Call to see if you’re a good fit.

• Looking for top supplements? Access my recommended selections through Fullscript, my online dispensary.

• Curious about managing pain? Download my “Pain Guide” here.

Need something else? Just reply to this email - I read every response.

Share it

Thanks always for taking the time to read this.

If you’ve enjoyed this volume of The Movement, please spread the love and tell your friends! You can share this newsletter using the link below:

https://the-movement.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Do you have any suggestions for The Movement? Reply directly to this email or shoot me a message on Instagram.

See yah out there,

Ryan