Author's product rating: 
| Advantages: |
natural, can help with many conditions, good for pets and humans |
| Disadvantages: |
too may products not all the real thing |
| Recommend to potential buyers: |
yes |
I often advise cat owners on their pets' behavioural problems and one of the many things that I see pet owners complaining about frequently is about how expensive vets' bills can be today. Often medication along with vaccines or even blood and other tests, dental care and not to mention the vet's fee on its own, can cost a fortune (with many medical cases not always covered by all pet insurances).
I guess pet owners wouldn't complain that much if a visit to the vet could solve the problem once and for all but quite often now I see pet carers questioning the necessity and the effectiveness of the medication prescribed by their vet.
Are all these visits and medication prescribed by the vets in all cases justified? Do they really help our pets or do they do more damage?
Some believe that cats don't really need so many vaccines, or any of the other medicines, chemicals and poisons that supposedly "protect" them from disease and/or parasites. These are the very poisons that cause the problems. Medication should be only given only when it is absolutely necessary. Instead we should try and help our animal friends with natural solutions if possible. We should help our pets fight their illness the natural way, by giving them good quality food and nature's medicines, herbs, flower essences, etc.
Holistic therapy is a very popular alternative to normal medication not only for humans but also for our pets and even in some cases like with Bach Flower Essences/Remedies they seem to work even better with animals. A belief, which is shared by many, vets and pets experts also.
Today that there is a plethora of herbs and other natural remedies available to use, there is one particular and very well known plant/herb which has been used for centuries for healing, one of nature's great healers' the aloe vera plant. As I have some experience with holistic therapies I was already aware of the healing properties of aloe vera but I had never personally used it as a form of medicine on its own, till someone I knew re-introduced me to its healing properties, after herself had some personal experience - it helped her cat with his cystitis problems. She sounded very enthusiastic and she was totally convinced that aloe vera was a miracle for her pet and herself as it also seemed to have helped her with her own skin condition, so I decided to do a bit of investigation on my own and to try to find a bit more about that miracle plant. The results were more than impressive, I do admit, as aloe vera appeared to be recommended by many and even to be used in many commercial products because of its healing properties (from razors to toilet paper and now deodorants). I've also got some more first hand testimonials from others who seemed to knew already how good aloe vera is (the story of a 13 year old dog who was suffering from osteo-arthritis and couldn't move because his joints cracked too much and after he took aloe vera gel for four days the joint cracking stopped and he was able to run like a much younger dog, about a cat in the final stages of terminal cancer being still alive 9 months after started taking orally aloe vera gel, etc, etc).
So finally and after I had a little talk with my local vet I was convinced to give it a try on my cats (and myself and partner). Now after 2 months using aloe vera products everybody in my family are full of energy (too much energy I should say regarding my cats' morning explorations), my cat's ear infection cleared without need to visit the vet, my other cat's skin problem disappeared, they all have shiny coats, healthy appetite and they are drive me insane (my partner included too).
So why aloe vera is that good? Well I'll try to give some scientific explanation (which it might sound a bit boring) which will explain the 'why'. Aloe vera, also known as Lily of the Desert, the 'plant of immortality', and the 'medicine plant' (yes it is a lily and not a cactus although it looks like one), is native to East and South Africa and is grown in most subtropical and tropical locations, including Latin America and the Caribbean. The virtues of Aloe vera have been recorded for thousands of years by many ancient civilizations, including Egypt, Persia, Greece, India and Africa. In 1500 B.C. Egyptians recorded use of the herbal plant in treating: burns, infections, parasites. It is also believed that the fresh gel was used by Cleopatra to keep her skin soft and young. Aloe was also used by the Ancient Greeks, Arabs and Spaniards and is still used by hunters in Africa to reduce perspiration and body scent.
The aloe juice and gel, which is used today, is made from the inner leaf (most commonly used for minor cuts and burns). The bitter yellow juice found between the gel and the outer skin of the leaf is dried and used as a laxative.
Aloe vera leaf contains more than 200 different constituents. Acemannan and other polysaccharides boost T-lymphocyte cells, which help promote skin healing and neutralize many of the enzymes responsible for damaging the mucosal wall. Aloe vera juice is naturally rich in: Vitamin C which helps maintain tone of blood vessels and promotes good circulation, Amino acids which are chains of atoms constructing protein in our body, Enzymes which rejuvenate aged tissues and promote healthy skin, etc. Aloe vera juice is one of the finest body cleansers for the stomach, liver, kidneys, spleen, bladder, and it's the finest colon cleanser known, helps with indigestion, stomach distress and ulcers, arthritis, bladder and kidney infections. Taken orally is an excellent internal tonic for energy and well being, when added to pet's daily diet (and humans' too).
Aloe vera can help when applied on many skins conditions such as allergies, abscesses, fungal infections and many types of dermatitis, it can also help with problems such as stings, sunburn, ulcers, wounds, wrinkles (no that cats do care about wrinkles) etc.
Also research by an American company has shown positive results for the treatment of a form of feline leukaemia, with possibilities for human use also.
Some also believe that it can prolong a cat's life if it is added regularly on their diet (The oldest UK cat's owner thinks that his long life is due to the fact that she has put Aloe Vera Gel in his food for the past 10 years)
But as with any other holistic therapy it is best to consult your vet first and discuss the situation and not to alter or stop medicines prescribed without first consulting them.
There is a whole range of aloe vera products available but I personally use a particular brand which I buy from this particular website (the link below) and although they might be a bit on the expensive side, the products are good quality, the info and advice is great and their products are suitable for pets and their humans. Beside I wouldn't use anything on my cats that I wasn't prepared to try on myself first!!
Although complementary medicinal herbs should be used to complement conventional veterinary medicine and not to replaced them I've found that they have helped my cats and continue to do so and they have saved me not only a lot of money on vets bills but also they give me the opportunity to offer to my pets a life as natural as possible.
http://seanymph.brinkster.net/aloe_cat.htm
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