Arrested for Healing People: Part 2
Before being arrested for doing something good, a person must become good at doing something; so good, in fact, they become a major threat to others.
Before becoming a doctor, Raymond Christopher joined the Army. He had already experienced how the use of fresh herbs and nutrition healed many disease conditions. His Army career took him from Fort Douglas in Salt Lake City, Utah to Fort Lewis in Washington. He served as a supervisor to a medical dispensary under the supervision of Major Shumate.
Ray was interested to see the difference between the treatments of disease with herbs versus medications. From the first, he was frustrated to observe how the drug protocols only treated the soldier’s symptoms. He was used to seeing diet and herbs address the causes of disease. With herbs, the diseases went away without coming back or having side effects; however, Major Shumate was firmly against the use of any herbal treatments.
One day a soldier was brought in with a major infection on his head. After nine hospital stays with treatments by dermatologists from other parts of the country, nothing had worked. The soldier’s case was diagnosed with an incurable, severe case of infective impetigo. When Major Shumate brought the soldier in, the entire staff gasped in horror at what they saw. The soldier’s head had been shaved as much as possible and his scalp was covered with a crusty scab an inch thick.
Ray simply said, “What a beautiful case of impetigo!”
“Unfortunately,” Shumate said, “we have to release this man from the Army.”
“I object to that!” the soldier cried. “I came into this Army a clean man. I caught this thing while I was here, and now you’re asking me to take this filth home to my wife and children. I won’t do it.”
“I’m sorry,” Shumate responded. “We’ve done everything possible and used every cure medical science has to offer. Nothing has worked. We have to give you a release, and it will be an honorable discharge.”
“Wait,” Ray said. “This man can be healed.”
Shumate whirled to face him, “None of your blasted herbs!”
The soldier spoke up. “I should have something to say about this. I don’t care if he puts horse manure on my head, as long as he heals me.”
Shumate paused and then said, “All right. If you sign papers releasing the government and the Army from any liability, you can try this treatment.” The papers were signed, and Ray was asked when the big unveiling would be.
“Monday morning!” Ray snapped back without really thinking it through. Then he realized he had only one week. He was far from home without any herbs, and this was the worst case of impetigo he had ever seen. His herb of choice would be the husk that covers the black walnut before it’s ripe. He would grind the husks, cover them with the strongest grain alcohol and seal the jar. Then he would shake it vigorously three times a day for two weeks to draw the healing molecules out of the herb. The green husks of the unripe walnuts contain organic iodine which is much more antiseptic and healing than the non-nutrient, inorganic type used on cuts, etc.
Immediately, Ray thought of a friend in Salt Lake City who had a black walnut tree in his back yard. His friend agreed to gather some husks, even though the ground was covered with snow. He shipped them overnight. The husks arrived sopping wet. This would reduce their potency; plus, he only had weak rubbing alcohol to prepare the tincture. The Army didn’t allow the stronger grain alcohol.
Ray powdered the wet husks the best he could, covered them with rubbing alcohol and carried the bottle with him everywhere. He shook it vigorously for two days. Then he strained the tincture, made a compress to fit over the soldier’s head, soaked it with the tincture and gave instructions to keep it wet constantly. He added a list of dietary instructions for the mess sergeant to feed the soldier wholesome foods.
When Monday arrived, everyone gathered. They expected to see the next failure and mock the herbs. Ray hadn’t even seen the soldier since he applied the compress. After skillfully cutting away the adhesive tape, he lifted the compress off the soldier’s head. The entire scab came off with it and the soldier’s scalp was as clean and pure as a baby’s. The impetigo was gone with no scarring.
The staff gasped. Shumate said, “I’ve never seen anything like this in all my medical practice.” He took Ray aside and said, “I’ve misjudged you, Private Christopher. From this day on you have full permission to practice with herbs. Set yourself up a laboratory here, and as long as you’re under my jurisdiction here at Fort Lewis, do whatever you like.”
With that, Ray became the only practicing herbalist in the United States Army during World War II.
Until then … TAKE CHARGE! … Sylvia