Zinc: A Natural Cure-All?

In recent years I've made attempts to look at alternative forms of medical treatment, slowly making pharmaceuticals a minority to natural remedies. This is because I've always felt that I could heal myself if it was given the proper tools to do so. When I was a child, I was able to make myself sick on cue when I was desperate to get out of school. I could actually go as far as to make my breakfast find its way into our porcelain bowl, if you will, without using the old finger-down-the-throat trick. Knowing I could get sick on cue as a child made me always feel that there was something in my body that was intelligent enough to heal on cue just as easily as it could become ill.

As I grew older I began to seek out preventative forms of treatment, realizing that while treating an illness after its occurrence was fine, preventing it from attacking my body all together was even better. So I began my journey to find healthier foods, lifestyle choices, exercise programs and anything else that might help to keep me healthy year-round. In the process, I found myself visiting healthy living fairs where businesses get together to inform of the natural services they provide in my city.

At one particular fair, I met an acupuncture therapist who I found rather intriguing - intriguing enough to make an appointment. During my appointment, he explained the benefits of acupuncture therapy as a preventative alternative to medicine. He also explained the benefits of herbal supplements as opposed to medication. After giving me a breakdown of the benefits of holistic medicine, he tested me for deficiencies and found that my body was lacking the mineral zinc. Only remembering zinc from seeing it on the periodic table in science class, I was unsure of how helpful it could be for me. He explained, however, that zinc is not just useful in the human body, it is absolutely vital; a zinc deficiency can cause serious health problems over time by decreasing immunity to diseases.

Surprised at the apparent necessity of zinc to maintain a general healthy state, I inquired further. He went on to explain that taking zinc in direct doses (dissolvable forms) could literally stop a cold in its tracks. This is because of zinc's powerful ability to strengthen the immune system and improve white blood cell counts. He also explained that zinc can prevent and heal cold sores, help prevent osteoporosis, improve the health of your skin, hair and nails, reduce the appearance of acne, help heal ulcers and even help AIDS patients increase their immunity.

I couldn't believe that I'd never known about this magnificent preventative measure!

"Why are people not informed of ways to stay healthy instead of having to treat their illness after it's too late?" I wanted to know.

Looking as though I had touched on a taboo topic, he simply said the words "politics" and I knew immediately to step away from that conversation.

But the politics of the medical field didn't stop me from trying this alternative form of preventative treatment. I began taking one dissolvable zinc tablet each day, and needless to say, I've made it six months without catching a cold or falling prey to any other form of illness. Coincidence? Maybe. But seeing as though I've gotten sick every 2-3 months for as long as I can remember, I want to think there's something to this zinc stuff. This is not to say that I don't recognize the other factors that help to determine my overall health, but I can attest the power zinc has had in maintaining a healthy body.

So is zinc actually a natural cure-all - a total preventative measure that can reduce the need for pharmaceuticals? It's possible that we'll never find out as long as medication is highly profitable. But taking zinc and other herbal supplements, in addition to proper exercise and healthy living, could very well be the preventative measures we need to halt many illnesses that have become commonplace, and rid us of the overly-expensive medical costs that plague our underpaid and underinsured society.