In the not too distant past, many people relied on natural medicine for minor ailments and chronic problems.  There were no "miracle drugs," just old-fashioned home remedies.  When you were sick, grandma made a batch of chicken soup and loaded you up with cod liver oil.  Every family had bits and pieces of home doctoring knowledge.  It was essential to life.

Natural medicines are pure medicines that accelerate our body's healing process to restore a healthy balance; they help us take care of ourselves.  The more we listen to our bodies and the symptoms of our ailments, the more responsibility we can take for our health.

It makes sense to use the safe and effective remedies available to us.  In light of modern medical knowledge, who would not take something as simple as an herb or a spoonful of dirt if they knew it would drastically help the situation - not to mention the possibility of avoiding the side effects so often associated with conventional chemically created drugs?  Home remedies will always have a place at the bedside, treating human aches and pains.

Folk remedies have made valuable contributions to scientific medicine.  Many drugs and over-the-counter medications owe their existence to nature.  For instance, white willow was one of the original sources of salicin, the chemical that lead to the introduction of aspirin.  And kaolin, a mineral clay, has been used valuably by the pharmaceutical industry in the form of Kaopectate to relieve intestinal diarrhea and distress.

The fundamental objective of natural medicines, as in clay, is to assist the body in working properly - to help the body help itself.  Clay is not a quick cure for any disease.  It is, however, especially suited to dealing with chronic complaints.  Clay, given in small doses, is slow in effect, but the slow process evokes a more definite and radical cure than other supposed "quick-fix" medications.

In the past few years, scientific research has revealed some of the magic behind the workings of clay.  This helps us to better understand its physiological actions, namely why clay is so effective in promoting and maintaining health.  Yet, for all the scientific analysis done so far, we still don't know why or how clay exactly works.  Apparently, like so many other things in the universe, nature keeps her work a secret.  Consequently, it is up to us to learn how to use these natural gifts in a wise and intelligent manner.