Nature's Pharmacy: Aloe Vera

We have seen the commercials on TV espousing the benefits of this ointment in our hand lotion, soap, moisturizer, shaving cream, shampoo, sun screen, and cosmetics. However, when I speak of aloe vera, I am referring to the whole plant and not some processed isolated chemical. Aloe vera, used both internally and externally, is one of nature's most powerful tools in creating a path to wellness.

My family uses aloe at home on any skin condition: cuts, abrasions, bug bits, acne, burns. It can even help heal psoriasis, exzema, poison ivy, athlete's foot, and other forms of dermatitis. Aloe vera's versatility is unparalleled. It is antimicrobial and can replace antibiotics for scrapes and abrasions. Aloe has analgesic properties which help relieve the pain and inflammation of wounds. As an emollient, aloe vera helps to soften and soothe the skin. From its high water content aloe is a great way to hydrate, moisturize, and rejuvenate the skin. As an antipruritic, aloe vera helps relieve or prevent itching. As an an astringent, it can help reduce bleeding from minor abrasions.

Simply cut an inch off the tip of a stem (be sure to say thank you!) and squeeze the gel right onto the effected area. Rub it in and feel the healing begin.

As miraculous as aloe vera is in minding the health of our skin, it is just as beneficial when taken internally. Yes, I said you can eat it! When the bug is going around and I want my family to get a boost of extra nutrition, I will cut off a stem, slice back the top layer, and spoon out the clear gel. This goes right into the blender with all the other goodies I have chosen to make our breakfast smoothy (banana, raw farm fresh egg, yogurt, berries, avocado). Please note: This is an exceedingly medicinal, incredibly dynamic plant and should be used with a level of respect for its potency. Moderation and short-term use are key when taking aloe orally.

Scientists have discovered over 150 nutritional ingredients in Aloe vera. That's some vitamin pill! Aloe vera is loaded with vitamins and minerals. It contains Vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, C, E, folic acid, along with choline, calcium, magnesium, zinc, manganese, chromium, selenium, copper, iron, potassium, and phosphorus Amino acids are the building blocks of protein and aloe vera includes all eigth essential amino acids. The fatty acids found in aloe vera can help influence our brain function.

Had enough yet? Me neither! Aloe vera aids in digestion. It is filled with enzymes which help to break down the food that we have eaten. It soothes and cleanses the intestines and colon. As an adaptogen, aloe vera helps with either constipation or diarrhea. Aloe vera stimulates the immune system helping to fight infections. It also alkalizes the body. Most disease condition, including cancer, thrive in an acidic pH.

Though fresh is best, if you want to try adding some aloe vera juice to your tool belt, I reccomend Lily of the Desert organic aloe vera juice.

Who Are The Quacks?

We’ve all heard the word “Quack” before. It refers to a person falsely claiming to have curative powers; a fraud pretending to have medical skill.  In a broader sense, a charlatan or a person who masquerades as having competence, qualifications, or expertise he or she does not possess. As a chiropractor, I have heard (or seen in print) this word used many times in the direction of my profession by medical doctors, pharmaceutical reps, nurses, and other health care professionals only to be repeated through the misguided public. 

One only needs to take a gander at Stephen Barrett’s website Quackwatch (Don’t stay long. You may strain your diaphragm laughing) to understand how fear of the unknown driven through a God complex can replace an understanding of basic science, subjective validation, and Natural Law. Barret and his followers refuse to acknowledge, for example, that acupuncture has sustained a culture for 1,000s of years before the introduction of pharmaceuticals. The medical community points at those who refuse their medicine, their surgeries, their germ theory, and their dogma.

Dr. Royal Lee, founder of Standard Process Whole Food Supplements, was a pioneer in the field of nutrition. In the late 1950s Dr. Lee found himself under attack for exposing the dangers of consuming lifeless, nutritionally barren, processed, sugar laden food. In the aftermath of court battles with the FDA, a gag order was placed on him. He was prohibited from speaking publicly or writing on health, medicine, or nutrition.  His library of life long research was ordered destroyed! This, all the while Camel cigarettes and Coca-Cola were being promoted as a digestive aid. Quack.

Allopathic medicine refuses to acknowledge that chiropractic is scientific even though their AMA Encyclopedia defines the very foundation of chiropractic: “The nervous system is the body’s information-gathering, storage, and control system. The overall function of the nervous system is to gather information about the external environment and the body’s internal state, to analyze this information, and to initiate appropriate responses.” In other words, without a properly functioning nervous system, we have dysfunction in the body. Quack, quack.

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Lest we not forget that the very group we have put in charge of our health care is the leading cause of death in the country. According to the research by Dr. Gary Null, published in the article, Death by Medicine. Over 780,000 people die each year due to medical negligence. Quack, quack, quack.

You want to talk about quacks? Let’s start with DES, Delcon Shield, silicone breast implants, Thalidomide, Fen-Phen, Vioxx, Accutane, Flomax, Depakote, smallpox vaccination program in the Philippines in 1917 creating the worst epidemic the island had ever seen resulting in over 60,000 deaths, Avandia, Humira, Swine Flu Vaccine, Chantix, Paxil, Prozac, Effexor, Zoloft, Lexapro, Yasmin, Reglan, GranuFlo, Abilify, transvaginal mesh, Gardasil, NuvaRing, Fosomax, Crestor, Baycol, Bextra, Mirena IUD, Adderall, and treating viral infections with antibiotics. I hear lots of quacking going on.

  

The lesson learned here is to be careful when you point a finger at someone. You have three pointing back at yourself.