Thoughts on having a natural labor verse epidural?

I think I've already made up my mind on what I'll do with my next pregnancy depending on how smoothly it goes....

But I mentioned it to a friends mother and she looked at me and said "that's stupid and dangerous" all I could think to say in the heat of the moment was "how do you think women did it before the epidural" she said nothing else, but I felt very offended by her words. Not because I didn't agree with her but just the way she said it.

And it made me wonder about how other women feel about it.

Update: in case I worded it wrong. Or wasn't specific. I want to have a natural labor, med free. Thank you for your comments!