At the present time, there is a very interesting situation. We have never had stronger drugs but, the pharmaceutical industry has a death grip on the medical profession through journals, advertisements, meeting, etc. to persuade doctors that the proper role is to select which drug or drugs to use to suppress which symptoms. Natural healing systems understand that any suppression of a symptom will cause a diminished general state of health. 

As a person is healing, their symptoms will improve from above downward, from vital to less vital organs, from most recent to earliest symptoms which disappear in the reverse order of their appearance.

Because this is theoretical, I'll use a hypothetical case to illustrate. A patient who has arthritic pain gets treated with aspirin (or Celebrex®, Motrin®, or Vioxx®, etc.) now their pain is reduced but they have GI symptoms such as heartburn, pain, and eventually bleeding. The same person, treated with chiropractic, restorative medicine or nutritional supplements as well as dietary modification - now the patient's pain is also better but they are overall stronger and healthier.

Many traditional practitioners think it's good enough to get symptoms reduced to a level that the patient can function; but I do not consider anyone with a chronic illness to have been adequately treated until they express the idea that, "It took a long time to have a health problem but I am glad I found the pathway of healing”.