ROLE OF ALOE IN THE PARROT DIET

From the experiences I personally know of with Aloe Detox, it probably should be a part of every parrot owner's first aid arsenal. Aloe Detox is is a detoxifying formula available from better health food stores. It contains double-strength Aloe Vera Gel (200:1) with pure Aloe Vera pulp and a natural herbal blend of Milk Thistle, Burdock, Dandelion, Echinacea, Green Tea, Red Clover and Blue Cohosh. There are several brands available but the cases that I know of personally were successfully treated with a brand called NATURADE, which uses all organic ingredients and has been around since 1926.

At this writing, it costs less than fifteen dollars for thirty two fluid ounces. It is recommended at the ratio of one part formula to two parts water for human consumption. Because it is non-toxic, one can adjust the amount given a parrot according to the severity of its medical condition. One case was that of an Amazon baby, which a practicing veterinarian had given up for dead because of a very stubborn and serious crop problem. The bird had been treated with spinach, BeneBac, Nystatin and even Tylosine with some improvement, but after two feedings with Aloe Detox, the bird made a dramatic recovery and the problem has never recurred. In another case, two veterinarians had been unable to diagnose or successfully treat an adult female Eclectus which was extremely ill. Both had tried everything at their disposal to save her but finally sent her home to be kept comfortable until the inevitable end. In desperation, the owner started the bird on Aloe Detox and for the first time in six weeks, the Eclectus resumed eating, gained weight, and within weeks had Perfectly Normal Values on a CBC.

One of the veterinarians commented that had he not drawn the blood himself, he would have sworn that it came from a different bird which had never been ill! These are documented cases, although no formal tests with controls have been run on this product as far as I know. At the very least, when our veterinarians give up on seriously ill birds or other pets, there is nothing to lose by trying this all-natural and non-toxic product. Although it has been used in the United States mainly as a treatment for surface skin injuries and problems, Aloe is used primarily as a beverage in the rest of the world. Aloe is effective for many inflammatory conditions of the digestive system and other organs. It has been shown in lab tests to prevent stomach lesions and to cure gastric and peptic ulcers. There have been many reports that it is effective in cases of colitis and other inflammations of the digestive tract. Just as in humans, many health conditions in parrots and other animals begin with digestive problems.

Many parrot owners now seek to prevent these problems by the regular addition of Aloe Vera to their water or food supply. In the wild, our birds could seek out natural clays and plants to detoxify the foods they consume which may have toxic properties. Few of us provide our birds an effective substitute for this valuable component of their diet. In Russia, tests were conducted on rabbits to see if Aloe increased the body's ability to handle harmful substances. Of the rabbits given Aloe Vera for thirty days, a third of them were able to survive deadly doses of strychnine, whereas no rabbits without the Aloe Vera were able to survive. This could indicate that the natural protective functions of the body are stimulated by this remedy. Considering the fact that the fresh fruits and vegetables as well as the seeds and grains that we feed to our birds are USUALLY contaminated by varying amounts of pesticides and other chemicals, the addition of a detoxifying agent could prevent many illnesses and discomforts as well as prolong their lifespans, which all too often are not what they could and should be. Perhaps the addition of Aloe to the diet of parrots could be considered the next best thing to feeding all organic foods, which sometimes are expensive and difficult to obtain.

The polysaccharides found in Aloe Vera gel exhibit antiviral activity and enhance immune cell function. AIDS patients have been able to obtain relief from many of their symptoms such as night sweats and fever without the toxic side effects of prescription drugs. If this enhanced immunity translates into less illness for our birds, it's definitely worth trying. Many arthritis sufferers have found that their aches and pains respond to an oral regimen of four tablespoons of Aloe Vera gel daily. At that rate, a gallon of gel or juice will last one person for two months. When the dosage is cut down to the small amount needed for a parrot, Aloe Vera may be the least expensive supplement on the market. It is obvious in older parrots that they too have arthritic changes causing aches and pains. It certainly would seem possible that they too may be helped by the addition of Aloe to their diet. There are many claims by dog owners that the addition of Aloe to the diet made remarkable improvements in their dog's crippling arthritis.

Many people swear by stabilized Aloe Vera juice as a nasal irrigate to prevent and eliminate the discomfort of sinus conditions. Many of our birds too suffer with this malady and the use of an Aloe Vera and saline solution to flush congested sinuses may prove to be a useful remedy.

In addition to all of the aforementioned benefits to our birds, the following conditions also have been improved by the use of Aloe Vera: abscesses, cysts, E.Coli, fungus, mycobacterium, strep and staph infections, salmonella, respiratory infections, yeast infections, and parasites! And best of all, even if Aloe Vera does not improve ALL of these conditions, how many other remedies can make the claim that they do no harm? At the very least, in non-emergency situations, Aloe Vera can be tried before other products which may have detrimental side effects. Perhaps preventative use of this wonderful natural remedy will restore some of the components missing from the diets of our parrots and prevent some of the associated problems.

Reprinted by Pretty Birds from Electronic Eclectus 1997 by Carolyn Swicegood

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