Charlie Grigsby continues to help people with his products

Charles Grigsby, 90, works in his lab in Hamilton where he produces Super J, Super J Fungus Powder and Sweet Feet among other products. Grigsby listens to customers and pharmacists for changes to existing products or new products to produce. He works with production manager Jan Hartweg. Grigsby believes helping people is a key to living longer and being happier.

It's onward and upward for 90-year-old Hamilton inventor, Charlie Grigsby.

Grigsby, a biochemist, continues to develop new products and improve upon existing ones at his laboratory in Hamilton. The enterprise is just one in a long line of work for the inventor who has developed over 100 products in the paint, pharmacy and food fields. He takes pride in helping others.

“One of the secrets to seeing 100 years of age is helping others,” said Grigsby. “You feel better about yourself by helping others.”

Grigsby's products use all-natural ingredients to avoid side effects. His help up to now involved humans, but his latest product, called Super J Fungus Powder, helps horses. Hamilton veterinarian Steven Renard, DVM of the Hancock Vet Clinic, saw the effects of the powder and encouraged Grigsby to produce more. Grigsby has a patent on it and it is distributed through Big Dee's Tack and Vet Supply, one of the largest suppliers of vet medicinal products in the country.

“There were 85 pages of schematics and drawings,” said Grigsby of the patent application. “It was a pretty complicated thing.”

Big Dee's Tack and Vet Supply is the exclusive distributor for race horses. Grigsby is working with an Amish community for an exclusive on work horses.

Super J Fungus Powder needs just one application to cure fungus. Despite this success, Grigsby said his most successful application is helping carpal tunnel syndrome with Super J.

“It's excellent for it,” said Grigsby. “There are no side effects. What's great is it is easily controlled if it flares. You just put a little more on when it flares.”

Super J received a boost after Grigsby received feedback on the product and heard about other problems people needed help with. He added more ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and MgSO4, or magnesium sulfate, commonly available as Epsom salt.

“I always put on the label what is in the product,” he said. “You need to know what you are using.”

Super J's biggest client is Tri-State Nutrition in Quincy. New sellers include Wear Drug in Carthage and a health store in Nauvoo. Arnell Drug in Hamilton was one of the first places to carry Super J.

“I always work with the pharmacists,” said Grigsby. “I have to make sure they are pleased with what I'm doing. They know what works and what doesn't work.”

The products are sold under the NAHO label, or Native American Healing Ointment. Grigsby is part Native American and feels a strong kinship with his ancestors. NAHO is a greeting signifying friendship.

Reducing stress is a major contributor to pain relief, according to Grigsby. Meditation is a stress reducer.

“One of the treatments for pain is prayer,” said Grigsby. “The meditation required for prayer is excellent for reducing stress. You can't reduce pain without reducing stress.

“There is a book put out by the MAYO Clinic on arthritis. On every page, it says to reduce stress. If you don't get rid of stress, you will have pain.

Sales of Super J are increasing strongly each year. Grigsby now has a part-time production manager, Jan Hartweg. Dean Gerdes is in his 11th year helping Grigsby, most recently as plant manager.

“I think we'll be 10 times bigger in a year than we are now,” said Grigsby. “If we are, we'll be producing 100 gallons a day. We'll produce and package here, then take it to another location for packaging and shipping. We do everything at the lab to control contamination.”

Grigsby's had success before with a low sodium cheese he produced called Lorraine, named after his wife.

“It just hits all of a sudden,” said Grigsby. “We were making 50,000 pounds of cheese a day. My goal was 50,000 pounds of cheese a week.”

The lab and its products don't make money. His income comes from another product called Zero Rust, a coating that protects metal against rusting. It is distributed at 500 dealers across the country. It is most popular on the west coast. It is manufactured in Burlington, Iowa, and two places in Missouri.

“I get a lot of calls from trucking companies telling me how it is saving the undercarriages of their trucks,” he said.

Some military vehicles like the Hummer use it. J.B. Hunt Transport Service, Inc., one of the largest trucking firms in the country, switched to Zero Rust in a new deal completed two weeks ago.

Grigsby said he doesn't know when he'll stop working.

“When people ask me how long I'm going to keep working, there's only one answer I can give them,” he said. “God will tell me. It's the only answer I have.”