Local businessman says his cherry remedies can be used to treat many conditions.
Read more: Local, Cherry, Cerise, Pleva, Ray
For many people in Northern Michigan, Ray Pleva is a familiar face.
He became known in our region for making and marketing meat products made with cherries. But for the last three years, Ray has been in the business of touting his line of natural and homeopathic remedies, made with Michigan cherries, that he claims can help people with a wide range of health problems including arthritis, fibromyalgia, diabetes, and Crohn's Disease, among others.
"Our compounds help reduce and balance the body's system back into its comfort zone and we haven't found any side effects," said Ray Pleva.
Ray, with the help of the president of the Paralyzed Veterans of America, is now working to get his Cerise Nutraceuticals noticed by the Federal Government, specifically by the Veteran's Administration for use by wounded and recovering veterans.
Earlier this week, a letter written by Ray was hand delivered to President Obama by Paralyzed Veterans of America President at a ceremony and meeting for the Veteran's Affairs Department.
"One of our goals was to also then get the President's support and the VA and meet with them and the could set up a pilot program and this could be set up within 30 days," said Pleva.
Ray says the use of his products could save the government millions of dollars in health care costs for veterans by way of reducing the amount of medication they need to take.
"But, they still need to continue to work with their doctor," said pleva.
He also says if the VA does end up using this products, it would benefit to Michigan's economy.
