Patented quaternary ammonium suspended in aloe vera distillate for topical pain relief with the addition of patented monolaurin (monoglyceride of a fatty acid) for nontoxic antimicrobial activity.
HEALx/AVIx Soother Plus Cream - 15ml bottle - £10.75 (rrp)
HEALx//AVIx Soother Plus Cream - 30ml tube - £15.05 (rrp)
Above: Dr Renata Schneider talks about the benefits of Soother Plus.
Benefits
• Can be applied to specific areas to offer pain relief and assist in healing.
• Can be beneficial when treating bruises, trauma, musle cramps, post-surgical incisions and self-inflicted wounds.
• Provides a nontoxic alternative to antibiotics.
• Offers a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory cream for management of skin disorders.
• Can help to manage swelling and inflammation.
• Can help to reduce local pathologic viral, bacterial and fungal populations in lesions.
• Uses transdermal technology for efficacy of topical application and pain relief, and can act as a vehicle for other drugs (e.g. antibiotics where appropriate).
Soother Plus Cream and Feather Plucking
Whilst the causes of feather plucking can be many, and often multi-factorial (diet, behaviour, boredom, habit), the tendency can be enhanced by poor skin and feather condition, or through the irritation that plucking itself causes.
Use of the Soother Plus Cream has been shown to assist feather pluckers by hydrating the skin and feathers, and improving their condition, offering pain relief to the affected areas and helping to prevent infection that can cause further pain and irritation in the plucked area.
The bird is therefore less discomforted by the area, and is less aware of it, and the need to 'scratch the itch' is reduced.
Whilst not being a cure to the underlying issue, the use of Soother Plus Cream has, in many instances, helped improve the condition of a 'plucker'.
Left: A non-healing wound in a sphynx cat aided by HEALx Soother Plus Cream. See the case studies page for more details.
The Pain Relieving Properties of the Natural Ammonium Compunds in Soother Plus
Quaternary amines are produced artificially, often for use as injectable pain relief, but also occur naturally and are produced by protein breakdown in the body. Quaternary ammonium compounds are a naturally occurring quaternary amine.
Healthy cells maintain an electrical balance with a positive charge outside the cell and a negative charge inside the cell. When injury occurs the cellular membranes are disrupted and the electrical balance is destroyed eliciting local pain. Quaternary amines have a strong positive electrical charge which helps to re-establish the electrical balance in the cell membranes, thus dulling the pain perception. The quaternary ammonium compounds in HEALx and AVIx products are formulated to pass through the skin and offer pain relief directly at the site of the cellular damage.
The Properties of Monolaurin
A monoglyceride is composed of glycerin with one fatty acid molecule attached. Where two fatty acids attach the resulting compounds are known as diglycerides, with three fatty acids attach they are known as triglycerides. Whilst diglycerides and triglycerides are inactive, monoglycerides have active antimicrobial properties.
Soother Plus Creamer contains the monoglyceride monolaurin.
It has long been recognised that lauric acid, a saturated fatty acid found in many natural products particularly coconut oil, palm oil and breast milk, has strong anitviral properties.
According to published research lauric acid is one of the best 'inactivating' fatty acids. Lauric acid itself cannot be taken orally because it is severely irritating, however the monoglyceride of lauric acid, monolaurin - which is present in Booster - can be taken orally without any problems.
Monolaurin is non-toxic, non-irrtating and approved as a direct food additive by the FDA, yet adversely affects harmful bacteria (but not beneficial gut bacteria), yeast, fungi and protozoa in the body, and envelopes viruses.
Fatty acids and monoglycerides produce their killing/inactivating effects by several mechanisms.
• An early postulated mechanism was interference of the plasma membrane lipid bilayer. The antiviral action attributed to monolaurin is that of liquefying the structure of the viral envelopes, causing disintegration of the microbial membrane.
• More recent studies indicate that one antimicrobial effect in bacteria is related to monolaurin's interference with signal transduction/toxin formation.
• Another antimicrobial effect in viruses is due to lauric acid's interference with virus assembly and viral maturation.
• A mode of action may be directly on the immune system itself.
Research over the last 30 years has produced an impressive volume of papers listing the antimicrobial effects of monolaurin on a wide range of potentially pathogenic viruses, bacteria, yeasts and fungi, and protozoa. It would appear that monolaurin has no adverse effect on desirable gut bacteria, and only on potentially pathogenic microorganisms. Of greater significance perhaps is that there appears to be very little development of resistance of the organism to the bactericidal effects of these natural antimicrobials.
The Pharmacokinetic Properties of Aloe
• Contains vitamins C and E, and vitamin A pre-cursors, with antioxidant benefits.
• Bradykinase: reduces excessive inflammation when applied to skin.
• Mucopolysaccharides: which have an immunoregulating effect.
• Anthraquinones: aloin and emodin, which are phenolic compounds found in plant sap. These have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiviral properties.
• Saponins: antiseptic-antibacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal properties.
• Campesterol, sisterol, lupeol: plant steroids that may provide and anti-inflammatory effect.
• Salicyclic acid, whcih is anti-inflammatory.
• Contains amino acids.
• Contains lignin, which endows aloe vera with its penetrative effect and allows the carrying of other ingredients.
• Is a 'cooling herb': most feather and skin conditions are referred to as 'warm' disorders.
This rabbit's feet were greatly improved through the use of HEALx Soother Plus Cream.
See the case studies page for more details.
Uses and testimonials
• General -
"I have used the Soother Plus in a white rhino, deer, elephant, wallaby, leopard and also in cats and dogs. The results were in my honest opinion pretty amazing. I use them together with cleaning, disinfecting and, in some cases, injectable medication."
"I have been using HEALx Soother Plus in open wounds without any problems at all. I have used it many times already with rabbits, guinea pigs, reptiles and birds - especially bumblefoot - and it not only works but also seems to be quite effective regarding pain management."
Dr Sergio Sarmiento, Exoticos Vet Clinic, Mallorca
• Birds - "An Amazon parrot with bumblefoot had AVIx Soother Plus applied to his feet. He is now more comfortable perching and is not lifting his feet anymore. Reports of erythema on the bottom of the feet disappeared after application."
Thomas Bankstahl
, DVM, Massacusetts.
• Dogs - "HEALx Soother Plus works wonderfully. (Within 2 days) my border collie's burns from the sand were completely healed and (he was able) to run outside in the pouring rain and mud without any problems at all." Lesa, Canine Performance Events.
• Cats - "My cat had extensive bruising and swelling, most noted on his front legs which were purple, red and very swollen...I used the HEALx Soother Plus (that) evening...I was amazed to find that by the morning his legs looked wonderful. The redness was gone, as were the purple marks. The swelling was not noticable, and it was hard to see evidence of all of his trauma." Sheri.
Ingredients
A patented monoglyceride suspended in aloe vera distillate and a patented quaternary ammounium solution for analgesia.
Directions
Apply a thin layer topically and gently massage into the affected area.
Try to allow 30 minutes for active ingredients to penetrate the skin and have maximum effect.
The area can be bandaged and the cream will still be effective, though bandaging is not necessary.
Several treatments per day may be required to manage pain.
Rinse affected area with warm water every 7-10 days to avoid build-up.
Discontinue use if redness of irritation continues to occur with no sign of improvement.
Avoid contact with eyes.
Are these the same product?
If you just glanced at these two tubes of HEALx Soother Plus, you may think they are different products, possibly made from different ingredients. But they are, in fact, the exact same formulation. The consistency of HEALx Soother Plus is temperature-dependent, so temperature is the only variable here, and both have the same powerful healing abilities. However, if you prefer a thicker, creamier texture, simply refrigerate the tube for a few hours.
