THE SEARCH FOR THE PERFECT DRUG
Victor P Hinojosa

Scientists have acknowledged the limitations of synthetic drugs and redirected their research towards natural remedies, medicines, and therapies that shamans have used for hundreds of years in their ancient rituals. This has triggered a growing popularity in alternative medicine because research has revealed the validity of naturopathic medicine. Ultimately, we too are encouraged to become our own doctors and scientists, and seek out our own remedies. After all, all you need is a green thumb to acquire medicinal plants, and a lab is no further than your backyard. The shaman of the new millenium is within all of us.
 
Go to your nearest supermarket, health-food store or herb outlet and you will discover nature’s healing power close at hand. According to Tom McGrath (Oct 1997,p. 145), some natural remedies that are readily available to you still need standardized preparations and consultation with your physician before using. None the less he recommends the following natural healers for men: Red Pepper (for indigestion; arthritis; rheumatism; shingles); Milk Thistle (for protecting and healing the liver); Hawthorn (dilates the coronary arteries and is effective in lowering blood pressure); Valerian (for fighting insomnia and restlessness); Ginkgo (improves cerebral blood flow); Peppermint (for soothing your stomach; unclogging your chest and sinus); Echinacea (for strengthening your immune system; combating colds and flu; healing wounds, sores and burns); Chamomile (for easing tension; relieving indigestion); Saw Palmetto (for reducing an enlarged prostate); and Aloe (for healing minor cuts and burns).

Natural Medicine

To define what naturopathic medicine is, I searched for a definition in Taber’s Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary. Naturopathy is defined by Taber as a therapeutic system that does not use drugs but employs natural forces (Taber’s, 1993, p. 1278). Anthony Calpeno (1996) on the other hand doesn’t define naturopathic medicine as a particular type of therapy but rather refers to it as a philosophical point of view. That is, Nature will heal the condition not the doctor, the treatment, or the medicine. In order for homeostasis to be accomplished and maintained, the treatment has to involve the whole person not individual components. The final concept of Calpeno’s philosophy is that the humans body and mind needs all of its parts the Creator gave us in order to get optimum function. All of these concepts may sound like common sense but sometime we need to be reminded of the obvious in order to assure ourselves.

 

CATS CLAW
 
Cats Claw is a medicinal plant used readily in my country. Any time one of my family members returns from a trip to Ecuador, they always bring Cats Claw root along with them. Research has taught us that this plant possesses anti-viral, antimutagenic, antioxidant, and digestive enhancing properties. My mom would use it mostly for cleansing purposes. Today, this plant is being used to treat asthma, arthritis, cancer, gastritis, growing pains, inflammation, rheumatism, UTI’s, and even AIDS.

I asked my mom to share her tea recipe to boost the immune system. She gladly complied and taught me how to make it. These are the steps:

    1. Ingredients:
 
 
    1. First, you bring the water to a boil in a large pot with a cover.
    2. When the water is boiling, add all three herbs into the pot, and then cover.
    3. Allow to boil for 15min.
    4. Turn heat off. Leave cover on. Allow to cool for 5-6 hours.
    5. Strain the tea. Ready to serve.
The two other ingredients, Boldo and Horsetail, are typically found in my country and also have medicinal value. For example, Boldo, is used when treating gall bladder or liver problems and its actions are hepatic and diuretic (Hoffman, D. L.). Horsetail, has been used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, UTI’s, osteoporosis, hematuria, and edema (Equisetum arvense). This medicinal tea has been very useful in our household and has been used for many generations before us. However there is always the opportunity to pioneer a new form of remedy. One person that released the shaman within and did just that, was Dr Max Gerson.

 

The Gerson Therapy

The first time I came across the name Max Gerson, M.D. (1881-1959) was in Mark Kastner’s book Alternative Healing. Max Gerson began curing chronic diseases with a rigorous nutritional and cleansing program that would boost the immune system. Today, this program has been adopted and enhanced by many nutritionists. I decided to look into this nutritional program and consulted my moms nutritionist, Dr. Heriberto Gonzalez, N.D. I began his two-week nutritional program in March 4th 1998. It required a pretty healthy diet involving fiber shakes, herbal teas, supplemental vitamins, and the unforgettable, Dr Gerson influenced, coffee enemas. My mom prepared the indicated tea however she instinctively added her own secret ingredient, cats claw, in to the brew. After successfully completing the program and feeling indestructible to any germ alive, I decided to visit Dr. Gonzalez in person.

 

The Interview
 
When I first arrived at Dr. Heriberto Gonzalez’s N.D. office door, I felt very intimidated not knowing what exactly to ask him and how. I knew him only as a radio personality that my mom listens to for health advice. His office was in the second floor and when I approached the receptionist, she directed me to the waiting room. When I finally met him I explained the reason for my visit and was kindly allowed to record my interview with him. He is a tall, heavy-set man with loads of charisma. At first I think he was skeptical as to where my questions would lead, but later became comfortable and fully cooperative with all my questions. These are some of the questions I asked Dr Gonzalez:

    1. Do you believe strongly in Dr. Gerson’s philosophy of treating the body as a whole?

      2. A: Yes! That’s the principle and philosophy and application of natural medicine. We don’t deal with the illness. We deal with the causes of the illness. It’s a completely different logic and approach between the systems. We are complete opposites in that sense.

    2. Do you consider yourself a holistic medical doctor or conventional medical doctor or a combination of both?

      3. A: Holistic! 100% holistic. However we have been integrated in medical diagnoses and treatment. That’s the way this office functions. We have an urgent need to extend the diagnoses of the holistic medicine using conventional scientific modalities that allow us to determine the status of a patient. Conventional modalities are only used for medical diagnoses. That’s what we do here. It’s not invasive. For example, CAT SCANS, and X-RAYS. Treatment-wise, however, it is completely holistic.

    3. Where did you study medicine?

      4. A: Puerto Rico. I’m not a physician. I’m a naturopathic Doctor. I had to study naturopathic medicine. I wasn’t trained the conventional way. I was taught the natural perspective. However, I used to be a Hospital director for many years in PR where I learned a lot about conventional medicine.

    4. What is the most remarkable thing you have witnessed?

      5. A: I’ve witnessed a lot of shocking successes here in my office. People recover from cancer. What natural medicine does is that it challenges you. It challenges your values, your education, etc.

    5. If you had eight patients with gastritis would you prescribe the same dosage to all patients or would the dosage vary according to the individual?

      6. A: Mostly the same.

    6. What is your opinion on Shamanism?

      7. A: I think they have their limitations.

    7. Do you consider yourself a Shaman? Why?

      8. No. They are into the supernatural and miracles. We have different point of views and different philosophies.

    8. How close are we from finding the cure for AIDS?
We already have found the cure for AIDS. We have already implemented it. There are pretty good studies performed in Europe that attest to it.  
Before I left, I got to meet his baby boy Alejandro. He held him with pride as he explained that he was born a natural birth. Alejandro’s diet consists of exclusively his mother’s breast milk and other natural products. Dr Gonzalez has christened him as a "Holistic Baby".

Conclusion

Through the continued research in alternative medicines we will uncover more and more beneficial remedies. However, there will never be a single cure-all plant, drug, therapy etc. We all are unique individuals.
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REFRENCES

1) Jenkins, M., & McGrath, T. (1997, August). The Secret Garden. Men’s Health, p.142.

2) Taber’s Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary (17th ed.). (1993). Philadelphia: F.A. Davis Company.

3) Calpeno, A. (D.C., N.D.). What is Natural Medicine. The Natural Doctor Home Page. http://www.naturaldoctor.com (1998, January 30).

4) Gonzalez, H. http://www.medicinanatural.com (1998, April 18).

5) Gonzalez, H. (N.D.) Holistic Awareness Network of the Americas. http://www.holisticawareness.com (1998, April 18).

6) Hoffman, D. L. (M.N.I.M.H). Boldo. Health World Online. http://www.healthy.net/library/books/hoffman/materiamedica/boldo.htm (1998, May 1).

7) Equisetum Botanical. Equisetum arvense (shave Grass, Horsetail). http://www.natmedsol.com/botan/equiset.htm (1998, May2).

8) Ullman, D. (M.P.H.). Scientific Evidence for Homeopathic Medicine. Consumers Guide to Homeopathy. http://www.homeopathic.com/research/scienti.htm (1998, April 12).

9) The Gerson Institute and Cancer Curing Society. The Gerson Therapy. http://gerson.org/index.html (1998, February 25).

10) Kastner, M. & Burroughs, H. (1993). Alternative Healing. La Mesa, CA: Halcyon Publishing.

11) Lipp, F. J. (1996). Herbalism. New York: Little, Brown and Company.

12) Allardice, P. (1995). Natural Remedies A-Z. Australia: Harper Collins Publishers.

13) Weil, A. (M.D.) (1995). Sontaneous Healing. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

14) Parrado, P. A. (1997, September). Scratching the surface of cat’s claw’s health-promoting capabilities. Better Nutrition. p.24.

15) Murray, F. (1995, October). Rainforest remedy – una de gato (cats claw). Better Nutrition for Today’s Living. p.70.