I’d say a lot of it is the placebo effect, people expecting something to work.
Though many of our modern manufactured drugs had natural origins and some old-school medical practices do help many people.
I use an old thing called ‘U-I oil’. You can buy it in any Chinatown pharmacy.
Try rubbing it on your joints, if they’re hurting; or breathe it a little and rub on your chest if you have a cold and congestion.
Works as well or a lot better than the typical stuff in an American drugstore.