Aloe Vera Studies Organisation:
Giving You the Facts and Exposing Fiction and Hype About Aloe Vera, its Healing & Nutritional Properties, and What to Look for in Top-Quality Aloe-based Products
The following article is published in the magazine: Alternative Medicine, The Voice of Alternative Medicine® (issue 28, March 1999).
While this website does not necessarily endorse everything in the article, it is felt that the article contains valuable information for you, and will let the reader decide how it may apply to your own situation.
The Potted Physician, 13 Ways Aloe Vera Can Help You:
Known to herbalists and medical folklorists for centuries as the "medical plant" or "the potted physician", this cactus-like plant with green dagger-shaped leaves filled with a clear, viscous gel was brought from Africa to North America in the sixteenth century.
But long before this, aloe, whose name means "shining bitter substance," was widely regarded as a master healing plant. The ancient Egyptians referred to aloe as the "plant of immortality" and included it among the funerary gifts buried with the pharaohs. In recent decades, medical research has confirmed and extended many of the health claims for the shining bitter substance (used topically or consumed as a liquid) that is the heart of aloe. Here is a brief review of its merits.
Helps Heal Wounds:
The bulk of the aloe leaf is filled with gel, 96% water with the other 4% containing 75 known substances. Applied to wounds, aloe gel is a mild anesthetic, relieving itching, swelling, and pain: it also is antibacterial and ant fungal, increases blood flow to wounded areas, and stimulates fibroblasts, the skin cells responsible for wound healing.
An animal-based study in the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association found that both oral and topical aloe preparations speed wound healing. Animals were given either aloe (100mg/kg body weight) in their drinking water for two months or 25% aloe Vera cream applied directly to wounds for six days.
Aloe had positive effects in both cases. The size of wounds decreased 62% in the animals taking oral aloe compared to a 51% in the control group. Topical aloe produced a 51% decrease in wound size compared to a 33% in the control group.
Supports Surgical Recovery:
Aloe decreases surgical recovery time, according to a report in the Journal of Dermatologic Surgery and Oncology. Eighteen acne patients underwent facial dermabrasion surgery, in which lesions are scraped away. Dressings were applied to their faces, with half of each person's face receiving the standard dressing coated with surgical gel, and the other half with aloe added to this dressing. The half of the face treated with aloe healed approximately 72 hours faster than the other side.
Dermatologist James Fulton, M.D., of Newport Beach, California, principal author of the report, uses topical aloe in his practice to speed wound healing. "Any wound we treat, whether it's suturing a cut or removing a skin cancer, heals better with aloe Vera on it," he states.
Soothes Burns:
In a study in the Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand, 27 patients with moderate burn wounds were treated with a gauze coated in either aloe gel or Vaseline'~ (petroleum jelly). The burns healed more quickly in the aloe group, with an average healing time of 12 days compared to 18 days for the group using Vaseline.
Minimizes Frostbite Damage:
A study published in the Annals of Emergency Medicine established that aloe works for frostbite as well. Researchers gave standard treatments for frostbite (antibiotics, ibuprofen, and rewarming) to 154 patients with mild to severe frostbite. Of patients who additionally received aloe Vera cream, 67.9%
healed without any tissue loss (amputation) compared to 32.7% in the control group. Researchers concluded that aloe prevented a decrease of blood flow to the frozen tissues, a common cause of tissue loss in frostbite.
Screens Out Radiation:
Aloe protects against skin damage from X rays, according to researchers at Hoshi University in Japan publishing in the journal Yakugaku Zasshi. They found that aloe was an effective antioxidant, mopping up the free radicals caused by radiation, and that it protected two of the body's healing substances, superoxide dismutase (an antioxidant enzyme) and glutathione (an amino acid which stimulates the immune system).
Heals Psoriasis Lesions:
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in Tropical Medicine and International Health, 60 patients with chronic psoriasis were given a 0.5% aloe Vera extract in a mineral oil cream. The ointment was applied three times daily for five consecutive days (15 applications total per week) for four weeks.
When patients were checked after eight months, far more psoriasis skin lesions had healed in the aloe group (82.8%) than in the placebo group (7.7%). Further, 83.3% of the aloe group were considered cured of their psoriasis compared to only 6.6% of the placebo group.
Eases Intestinal Problems:
Aloe Vera juice can be effective for treating inflammatory bowel disease, according to a study in the Journal of Alternative Medicine. Ten patients were given two ounces of aloe juice, three times daily, for seven days. After one week, all patients were cured of diarrhea, four had improved bowel regularity, and three reported increased energy.
Researchers concluded that aloe was able to rebalance the intestines by "regulating gastrointestinal pH while improving gastrointestinal motility, increasing stool specific gravity, and reducing populations of certain fecal microorganisms, including yeast." Other studies have shown that aloe Vera juice helps to detoxify the bowel, neutralize stomach acidity, and relieve constipation and gastric ulcers.
Reduces Blood Sugar in Diabetes:
Aloe reduced the blood sugar levels in diabetics, as reported in Hormone Research. Five patients with adult (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes were given 1/2 teaspoon of aloe extract daily for up to 14 weeks. Blood sugar levels were reduced in all patients by an average of 45%, with no change in their total weight.
Reduces Arthritic Swelling:
Aloe can help prevent arthritis and reduce the inflammation in joints already affected by arthritis, according to the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association. Aloe can also inhibit the autoimmune reaction associated with certain forms of arthritis, in which the body attacks its own tissues.
Animals were injected with a bacterium to cause arthritic symptoms, namely inflammation and swelling. To determine if it could prevent arthritis, aloe (150mg/kg body weight) was injected under the skin daily for 13 days. Physical measurements were taken daily to determine the amount of swelling and inflammation.
Several compounds from aloe showed ant arthritic activity, according to the researchers. One organic acid in aloe reduced inflammation by 79.7% and suppressed the autoimmune response by 42.4%. Another aloe compound (anthraquinone) reduced inflammation by 67.3% but had no effect on the autoimmune response.
Curtailing HIV Infection:
An extract of mannose, one of the sugars in aloe, can inhibit HIV-1 (the virus associated with AIDS). In a 1991 study in Molecular Biotherapy, HIV-1 cells were treated in vitro (outside the body) with a mannose extract. Aloe slowed virus reproduction by as much as 30%, reduced viral load (total amount of the virus), suppressed the spread of the virus from infected cells, and increased the viability (chance of survival) of infected cells.
Nutritional Support for HIV Patients:
Aloe Vera juice proved to be an effective part of a nutritional support program for HIV+ patients according to the Journal of Advancement in
Medicine. For four months, 29 patients were given 100% pure aloe Vera juice (five ounces, four times daily) along with an essential fatty acid supplement and another supplement containing vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. Patients were told to continue with their normal diet and not to take other supplements.
After 90 days, all of the patients had fewer occurrences of opportunistic infections, thrush, fatigue, and diarrhea, as well as increased white blood cell counts (meaning their immune systems were responding positively). Their assessment of overall quality of health also improved. In 25% of the patients, aloe apparently knocked out the virus's ability to reproduce. Researchers found that aloe (the mannose extract and perhaps other compounds) stimulates the body's immune system, particularly T4 helper cells, white blood cells that activate the immune response to infection.
Stimulates Immune Response Against Cancer:
Aloe may help prolong survival time and stimulate the immune system of cancer patients, according to recent research. In a 1994 study in the Japanese medical journal Yakhak Hoeji, mice with cancerous tumors were given aloe orally for 14 days. While the aloe did not suppress tumor growth, the average life span of the mice was prolonged by 22% for those given 50mg aloe/kg body weight and by 32% for those given 100mg/kg daily. A simultaneous experiment on human cancer cells (outside the body) found that high doses of aloe significantly suppressed the growth of these cancer cells.
Researchers writing in Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy found that a compound (lectin) from aloe, when injected directly into tumors, activated the immune system to attack the cancer. Killer T cells, white blood cells that bind to invading cells and destroy them, began to attack the tumor cells injected with lectin.
Aloe turns on the immune system by activating macrophages (white blood cells which "swallow" antigens), causing the release of immune-activating (and anticancer) substances such as interferons, interleukines, and tumor necrosis factor. In addition, aloe promotes the growth of normal (non-cancerous) cells, researchers said.
Benefits Lung Cancer:
Aloe's protective effect was confirmed in a study of 673 lung cancer patients in Okinawa, Japan, published in the Japanese Journal of Cancer Research. This survey looked at the connection between smoking, comparative amounts of 17 plant foods in the diet, and the occurrence of lung cancer over a five-year period.
Aloe was the only one of the plant foods that was protective against cancer. "The results of plant epidemiology suggests that aloe prevents human pulmonary carcinogenesis ," stated the researchers. Further, aloe is "widely preventive or suppressive against various human cancers."
"The Aloe Vera Healer
The secrets of Aloe Vera... revealed..."
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Sunday, March 29, 2009
Aloe Vera :: Many Different Cultures
For centuries, Aloe Vera has been used by many different cultures. The
ancient Greeks, the Romans, the Babylonians, Indians and the Chinese have all used
Aloe Vera as a medicinal plant. Throughout the years, Aloe Vera (Aloinae) has been
called many things: Potted Physician, Wand of Heaven, Wonder Plant, Heaven’s
Blessing, and Plant of Life.
Botanists have identified at least 200-300 different types of Aloe Vera plants.
Of all these types of Aloe, only five have demonstrated medical benefits: Aloe
Barbadensis Miller, Aloe Perryi Baker, Aloe Ferox, Aloe Arborescens and Aloe
Saponaria. Aloe Barbadensis Miller is the most widely used as well as the most
potent. Indigenous to Africa, it is now grown all around the world specifically in
warmer, drier climates.
The structures of most Aloe plants are very similar. Aloe grows to maturity in
approximately four years, at which time the leaves begin to sprout. They taper to a
point near the top of the plant, and the leaves have soft spines every few inches lining
their silhouette. The Aloe Barbadensis Miller has about a 12-year life span.
According to Dr. Peter Atherton in his book titled The Essential Aloe Vera,
“The structure of the Aloe leaf shows the outer-rind about fifteen cell layers thick. . .
The hardness is due to the large amounts of calcium and magnesium present in it. . . .
Below the rind are vascular bundles or tubes of xylen and phloem. The xylen
transports water and minerals from the roots upwards into the leaves . . . The
phloem transports the synthesized materials down to the roots and other parts of the
leaf.”
Studies have found that there are 75 ingredients contained in the Aloe leaf.
These ingredients have a variety of medical benefits. They are divided into the
following categories:
• Ligin – This cellulose substance is found in the gel has no known medical
properties except it posses the property of penetrating the human skin.
• Saponins – These form soapy lathers when mixed and agitated with water. They
have been used in detergents, foaming agents and contain antiseptic properties.
• Anthraquinones – There are 12 of these contained in the sap of Aloe Vera: Aloin,
Isobarbaloin, Anthracene, Emodin, Ester of Cinnamonic acid, Chrysophanic acid,
Barbaloin, Anthranol, Aloetic acid, Aloe Emodin, Ethereal oil and Resistannol.
These act as natural laxatives, painkillers and analgesics, and they contain powerful
antibacterial, antifungal and virucidal properties.
• Minerals – Aloe Vera contains the following minerals:
- Calcium (essential for proper bone and teeth density)
- Manganese (a component of enzymes necessary for the activation of other
enzymes)
- Sodium (ensures that the body fluids do not become too acidic or too alkaline)
- Copper (enables iron to work as oxygen carriers in the red blood cells)
- Magnesium (used by nerves and muscle membranes to help conduct electrical
impulses)
- Potassium (regulates the acidic or alkaline levels of body fluid)
- Zinc (contributes to the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates and fats)
- Chromium (necessary for the proper function of insulin, which in turn controls the
sugar levels in the blood)
- Iron (controls the transportation of oxygen around the body via the red blood cells)
• Vitamins – Aloe Vera contains numerous vitamins:
- Vitamins A, C, & E (crucial antioxidants that combat dangerous free radicals in the
body)
- Vitamin B & Choline (concerned with the production of energy, amino acid
metabolism and developing muscle mass)
- Vitamin B12 (responsible for the production of red blood cells)
- Folic acid (helps develop new blood cells)
• Amino Acids – Amino Acids are the building blocks of protein, which
manufacture and repair muscle tissue. The human body requires 22 amino acids and
needs 8 essential ones. Aloe Vera provides 20 of 22 required amino acids and 7 of 8
essential ones.
• Enzymes – Some of the most important enzymes in Aloe Vera are: Peroxidase,
Aliiase, Catalase, Lipase, Cellulase, Carboxypeptidase, Amylase and Alkaline
Phosphatase. Enzymes help to break down food and assist in digestion. Some
enzymes help break down fats while others break down starches and sugars.
• Sugars – Aloe Vera contains both monosaccharides, such as glucose and fructose,
and polysaccharides. Polysaccharides are the most important types of sugars. They
aid in proper digestion, maintain cholesterol levels, improve liver functions and
promote the strengthening of bones.
• Sterols – Sterols are important anti-inflammatory agents. The ones found in Aloe
Vera are: Cholesterol, Sitosterol, Campesterol and Lupeol. These sterols contain
antiseptic and analgesic properties. They also have pain killing properties similar to
aspirin.
As Aloe Vera is comprised of approximately 99% water, all of these chemicals
are contained in the remaining 1% of the plant. Although this may seem like a small
percentage to contain so many ingredients, its helpfulness has been proven to be
significant. Dr. Atherton claims that this is due to synergistic actions. He writes,
“Synergism is defined as, ‘the working together of two or more drugs, muscles, etc.,
to produce an effect greater then the sum of their individual effects.’”
Aloe Vera has the ability to provide essential nutrients, kill bacteria, viruses,
fungi, yeasts and reduce inflammation. Dr. Atherton claims, “Tissues that die and are
renewed rapidly such as the lining of the gut, which renews itself about every four
days, and the skin every 21 to 28 days or so, need a rich and ready supply of building
materials to produce and maintain healthy, efficient cells.” A proper diet
supplemented with Aloe Vera is an effective way to get these essential nutrients. Aloe
Vera can also reduce inflammation to injured tissue. Inflammation occurs when
healthy tissue is injured and blood begins to clot around the tissue to repair the
injured tissue. Aloe Vera is a natural anti-inflammatory that is much more delicate on
the human body.
The benefits of Aloe Vera have long been tested throughout history. It is only
in recent years that studies have scientifically proven many of the medicinal benefits
of Aloe Vera. Perhaps the longer that scientist and botanists study the benefits of
Aloe Vera, the more improvements it will create to human health and well-being.
Atherton, P. (1997). The Essential Aloe Vera. Newport Pagnell: Mill Enterprises.
ancient Greeks, the Romans, the Babylonians, Indians and the Chinese have all used
Aloe Vera as a medicinal plant. Throughout the years, Aloe Vera (Aloinae) has been
called many things: Potted Physician, Wand of Heaven, Wonder Plant, Heaven’s
Blessing, and Plant of Life.
Botanists have identified at least 200-300 different types of Aloe Vera plants.
Of all these types of Aloe, only five have demonstrated medical benefits: Aloe
Barbadensis Miller, Aloe Perryi Baker, Aloe Ferox, Aloe Arborescens and Aloe
Saponaria. Aloe Barbadensis Miller is the most widely used as well as the most
potent. Indigenous to Africa, it is now grown all around the world specifically in
warmer, drier climates.
The structures of most Aloe plants are very similar. Aloe grows to maturity in
approximately four years, at which time the leaves begin to sprout. They taper to a
point near the top of the plant, and the leaves have soft spines every few inches lining
their silhouette. The Aloe Barbadensis Miller has about a 12-year life span.
According to Dr. Peter Atherton in his book titled The Essential Aloe Vera,
“The structure of the Aloe leaf shows the outer-rind about fifteen cell layers thick. . .
The hardness is due to the large amounts of calcium and magnesium present in it. . . .
Below the rind are vascular bundles or tubes of xylen and phloem. The xylen
transports water and minerals from the roots upwards into the leaves . . . The
phloem transports the synthesized materials down to the roots and other parts of the
leaf.”
Studies have found that there are 75 ingredients contained in the Aloe leaf.
These ingredients have a variety of medical benefits. They are divided into the
following categories:
• Ligin – This cellulose substance is found in the gel has no known medical
properties except it posses the property of penetrating the human skin.
• Saponins – These form soapy lathers when mixed and agitated with water. They
have been used in detergents, foaming agents and contain antiseptic properties.
• Anthraquinones – There are 12 of these contained in the sap of Aloe Vera: Aloin,
Isobarbaloin, Anthracene, Emodin, Ester of Cinnamonic acid, Chrysophanic acid,
Barbaloin, Anthranol, Aloetic acid, Aloe Emodin, Ethereal oil and Resistannol.
These act as natural laxatives, painkillers and analgesics, and they contain powerful
antibacterial, antifungal and virucidal properties.
• Minerals – Aloe Vera contains the following minerals:
- Calcium (essential for proper bone and teeth density)
- Manganese (a component of enzymes necessary for the activation of other
enzymes)
- Sodium (ensures that the body fluids do not become too acidic or too alkaline)
- Copper (enables iron to work as oxygen carriers in the red blood cells)
- Magnesium (used by nerves and muscle membranes to help conduct electrical
impulses)
- Potassium (regulates the acidic or alkaline levels of body fluid)
- Zinc (contributes to the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates and fats)
- Chromium (necessary for the proper function of insulin, which in turn controls the
sugar levels in the blood)
- Iron (controls the transportation of oxygen around the body via the red blood cells)
• Vitamins – Aloe Vera contains numerous vitamins:
- Vitamins A, C, & E (crucial antioxidants that combat dangerous free radicals in the
body)
- Vitamin B & Choline (concerned with the production of energy, amino acid
metabolism and developing muscle mass)
- Vitamin B12 (responsible for the production of red blood cells)
- Folic acid (helps develop new blood cells)
• Amino Acids – Amino Acids are the building blocks of protein, which
manufacture and repair muscle tissue. The human body requires 22 amino acids and
needs 8 essential ones. Aloe Vera provides 20 of 22 required amino acids and 7 of 8
essential ones.
• Enzymes – Some of the most important enzymes in Aloe Vera are: Peroxidase,
Aliiase, Catalase, Lipase, Cellulase, Carboxypeptidase, Amylase and Alkaline
Phosphatase. Enzymes help to break down food and assist in digestion. Some
enzymes help break down fats while others break down starches and sugars.
• Sugars – Aloe Vera contains both monosaccharides, such as glucose and fructose,
and polysaccharides. Polysaccharides are the most important types of sugars. They
aid in proper digestion, maintain cholesterol levels, improve liver functions and
promote the strengthening of bones.
• Sterols – Sterols are important anti-inflammatory agents. The ones found in Aloe
Vera are: Cholesterol, Sitosterol, Campesterol and Lupeol. These sterols contain
antiseptic and analgesic properties. They also have pain killing properties similar to
aspirin.
As Aloe Vera is comprised of approximately 99% water, all of these chemicals
are contained in the remaining 1% of the plant. Although this may seem like a small
percentage to contain so many ingredients, its helpfulness has been proven to be
significant. Dr. Atherton claims that this is due to synergistic actions. He writes,
“Synergism is defined as, ‘the working together of two or more drugs, muscles, etc.,
to produce an effect greater then the sum of their individual effects.’”
Aloe Vera has the ability to provide essential nutrients, kill bacteria, viruses,
fungi, yeasts and reduce inflammation. Dr. Atherton claims, “Tissues that die and are
renewed rapidly such as the lining of the gut, which renews itself about every four
days, and the skin every 21 to 28 days or so, need a rich and ready supply of building
materials to produce and maintain healthy, efficient cells.” A proper diet
supplemented with Aloe Vera is an effective way to get these essential nutrients. Aloe
Vera can also reduce inflammation to injured tissue. Inflammation occurs when
healthy tissue is injured and blood begins to clot around the tissue to repair the
injured tissue. Aloe Vera is a natural anti-inflammatory that is much more delicate on
the human body.
The benefits of Aloe Vera have long been tested throughout history. It is only
in recent years that studies have scientifically proven many of the medicinal benefits
of Aloe Vera. Perhaps the longer that scientist and botanists study the benefits of
Aloe Vera, the more improvements it will create to human health and well-being.
Atherton, P. (1997). The Essential Aloe Vera. Newport Pagnell: Mill Enterprises.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Aloe Vera Gel
Aloe Vera Gel
Imagine slicing open an Aloe leaf and consuming
the gel directly from the plant. Our Aloe Vera Gel
is as close to the real thing as you can get.
The miraculous aloe leaf contains over 200 compounds,
including 20 minerals, 18 amino acids
and 12 vitamins. A product of our patented aloe
stabilization process, our gel is favored by those
looking to maintain a healthy digestive system and
a natural energy level.
The first to receive certification by the International
Aloe Science Council, this rich cocktail of pulp
and liquid authenticates this product just as nature
intended. Taken daily, either alone or mixed with
pure fruit juice, it is one of the best nutritional
supplements available!
INGREDIENTS
Stabilized Aloe Vera Gel, Sorbitol, Ascorbic Acid
(Antioxidant), Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate (To
Help Protect Flavor), Sodium Benzoate (To Help
Protect Flavor), Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol
(Antioxidant).
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 8 fl. oz. (240 ml)
Servings Per Container about 4
Amount Per Serving
Calories 40
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Sodium 60mg 3%
Total Carbohydrate 12g 4%
Sugars 0g
Protein 0g 0%
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
CONTENTS
33.8 fl. oz. (1 qt., 1.8 fl. oz.) 1 liter
DIRECTIONS
Shake well. Refrigerate after opening.
• The power of aloe – from the inside out
• The first of its kind to be Certified by the
International Aloe Science Council
• Contains over 200 compounds
• Beneficial for maintaining a healthy
digestive system
13 Ways Aloe Can Help
The Potted Physician
Known to herbalists and medical folklorists for centuries as the "medical plant" or "the potted physician", this cactus-like plant with green dagger-shaped leaves filled with a clear, viscous gel was brought from Africa to North America in the sixteenth century.
But long before this, aloe, whose name means "shining bitter substance," was widely regarded as a master healing plant. The ancient Egyptians referred to aloe as the "plant of immortality" and included it among the funerary gifts buried with the pharaohs. In recent decades, medical research has confirmed and extended many of the health claims for the shining bitter substance (used topically or consumed as a liquid) that is the heart of aloe. Here is a brief review of its merits.
Helps Heal Wounds
The bulk of the aloe leaf is filled with gel, 96% water with the other 4% containing 75 known substances. Applied to wounds, aloe gel is a mild anesthetic, relieving itching, swelling, and pain: it also is antibacterial and antifungal, increases blood flow to wounded areas, and stimulates fibroblasts, the skin cells responsible for wound healing.
An animal-based study in the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association found that both oral and topical aloe preparations speed wound healing. Animals were given either aloe (100mg/kg body weight) in their drinking water for two months or 25% aloe vera cream applied directly to wounds for six days.
Aloe had positive effects in both cases. The size of wounds decreased 62% in the animals taking oral aloe compared to a 51% in the control group. Topical aloe produced a 51% decrease in wound size compared to a 33% in the control group.
Supports Surgical Recovery
Aloe decreases surgical recovery time, according to a report in the Journal of Dermatologic Surgery and Oncology. Eighteen acne patients underwent facial dermabrasion surgery, in which lesions are scraped away. Dressings were applied to their faces, with half of each person's face receiving the standard dressing coated with surgical gel, and the other half with aloe added to this dressing. The half of the face treated with aloe healed approximately 72 hours faster than the other side.
Dermatologist James Fulton, M.D., of Newport Beach, California, principal author of the report, uses topical aloe in his practice to speed wound healing. "Any wound we treat, whether it's suturing a cut or removing a skin cancer, heals better with aloe vera on it," he states.
Soothes Burns
In a study in the Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand, 27 patients with moderate burn wounds were treated with a gauze coated in either aloe gel or Vaseline™ (petroleum jelly). The burns healed more quickly in the aloe group, with an average healing time of 12 days compared to 18 days for the group using Vaseline.
Minimizes Frostbite Damage
A study published in the Annals of Emergency Medicine established that aloe works for frostbite as well. Researchers gave standard treatments for frostbite (antibiotics, ibuprofen, and re-warming) to 154 patients with mild to severe frostbite. Of patients who additionally received aloe vera cream, 67.9% healed without any tissue loss (amputation) compared to 32.7% in the control group. Researchers concluded that aloe prevented a decrease of blood flow to the frozen tissues, a common cause of tissue loss in frostbite.
Screens Out Radiation
Aloe protects against skin damage from X rays, according to researchers at Hoshi University in Japan publishing in the journal Yakugaku Zasshi. They found that aloe was an effective antioxidant, mopping up the free radicals caused by radiation, and that it protected two of the body's healing substances, superoxide dismutase (an antioxidant enzyme) and glutathione (an amino acid which stimulates the immune system).
Heals Psoriasis Lesions
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in Tropical Medicine and International Health, 60 patients with chronic psoriasis were given a 0.5% aloe vera extract in a mineral oil creme. The ointment was applied three times daily for five consecutive days (15 applications total per week) for four weeks.
When patients were checked after eight months, far more psoriasis skin lesions had healed in the aloe group (82.8%) than in the placebo group (7.7%). Further, 83.3% of the aloe group were considered cured of their psoriasis compared to only 6.6% of the placebo group.
Eases Intestinal Problems
Aloe vera juice can be effective for treating inflammatory bowel disease, according to a study in the Journal of Alternative Medicine. Ten patients were given two ounces of aloe juice, three times daily, for seven days. After one week, all patients were cured of diarrhea, four had improved bowel regularity, and three reported increased energy.
Researchers concluded that aloe was able to rebalance the intestines by "regulating gastrointestinal pH while improving gastrointestinal motility, increasing stool specific gravity, and reducing populations of certain fecal microorganisms, including yeast." Other studies have shown that aloe vera juice helps to detoxify the bowel, neutralize stomach acidity, and relieve constipation and gastric ulcers.
Reduces Blood Sugar in Diabetes
Aloe reduced the blood sugar levels in diabetics, as reported in Hormone Research. Five patients with adult (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes were given 1/2 teaspoon of aloe extract daily for up to 14 weeks. Blood sugar levels were reduced in all patients by an average of 45%, with no change in their total weight.
Reduces Arthritic Swelling
Aloe can help prevent arthritis and reduce the inflammation in joints already affected by arthritis, according to the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association. Aloe can also inhibit the autoimmune reaction associated with certain forms of arthritis, in which the body attacks its own tissues.
Animals were injected with a bacterium to cause arthritic symptoms, namely inflammation and swelling. To determine if it could prevent arthritis, aloe (150mg/kg body weight) was injected under the skin daily for 13 days. Physical measurements were taken daily to determine the amount of swelling and inflammation.
Several compounds from aloe showed antiarthritic activity, according to the researchers. One organic acid in aloe reduced inflammation by 79.7% and suppressed the autoimmune response by 42.4%. Another aloe compound (anthraquinone) reduced inflammation by 67.3% but had no effect on the autoimmune response.
Curtailing HIV Infection
An extract of mannose, one of the sugars in aloe, can inhibit HIV-1 (the virus associated with AIDS). In a 1991 study in Molecular Biotherapy, HIV-1 cells were treated in vitro (outside the body) with a mannose extract. Aloe slowed virus reproduction by as much as 30%, reduced viral load (total amount of the virus), suppressed the spread of the virus from infected cells, and increased the viability (chance of survival) of infected cells.
Nutritional Support for HIV Patients
Aloe vera juice proved to be an effective part of a nutritional support program for HIV+ patients according to the Journal of Advancement in Medicine. For four months, 29 patients were given 100% pure aloe vera juice (five ounces, four times daily) along with an essential fatty acid supplement and another supplement containing vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. Patients were told to continue with their normal diet and not to take other supplements.
After 90 days, all of the patients had fewer occurrences of opportunistic infections, thrush, fatigue, and diarrhea, as well as increased white blood cell counts (meaning their immune systems were responding positively). Their assessment of overall quality of health also improved. In 25% of the patients, aloe apparently knocked out the virus's ability to reproduce. Researchers found that aloe (the mannose extract and perhaps other compounds) stimulates the body's immune system, particularly T4 helper cells, white blood cells that activate the immune response to infection.
Stimulates Immune Response Against Cancer
Aloe may help prolong survival time and stimulate the immune system of cancer patients, according to recent research.
In a 1994 study in the Japanese medical journal Yakhak Hoeji, mice with cancerous tumors were given aloe orally for 14 days. While the aloe did not suppress tumor growth, the average life span of the mice was prolonged by 22% for those given 50mg aloe/kg body weight and by 32% for those given 100mg/kg daily. A simultaneous experiment on human cancer cells (outside the body) found that high doses of aloe significantly suppressed the growth of these cancer cells.
Researchers writing in Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy found that a compound (lectin) from aloe, when injected directly into tumors, activated the immune system to attack the cancer. Killer T cells, white blood cells that bind to invading cells and destroy them, began to attack the tumor cells injected with lectin.
Aloe turns on the immune system by activating macrophages (white blood cells which "swallow" antigens), causing the release of immune-activating (and anticancer) substances such as interferons, interleukines, and tumor necrosis factor. In addition, aloe promotes the growth of normal (non-cancerous) cells, researchers said.
Benefits Lung Cancer
Aloe's protective effect was confirmed in a study of 673 lung cancer patients in Okinawa, Japan, published in the Japanese Journal of Cancer Research. This survey looked at the connection between smoking, comparative amounts of 17 plant foods in the diet, and the occurrence of lung cancer over a five-year period.
Aloe was the only one of the plant foods that was protective against cancer. "The results of plant epidemiology suggests that aloe prevents human pulmonary carcinogenesis [lung cancer]," stated the researchers. Further, aloe is "widely preventive or suppressive against various human cancers."
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Known to herbalists and medical folklorists for centuries as the "medical plant" or "the potted physician", this cactus-like plant with green dagger-shaped leaves filled with a clear, viscous gel was brought from Africa to North America in the sixteenth century.
But long before this, aloe, whose name means "shining bitter substance," was widely regarded as a master healing plant. The ancient Egyptians referred to aloe as the "plant of immortality" and included it among the funerary gifts buried with the pharaohs. In recent decades, medical research has confirmed and extended many of the health claims for the shining bitter substance (used topically or consumed as a liquid) that is the heart of aloe. Here is a brief review of its merits.
Helps Heal Wounds
The bulk of the aloe leaf is filled with gel, 96% water with the other 4% containing 75 known substances. Applied to wounds, aloe gel is a mild anesthetic, relieving itching, swelling, and pain: it also is antibacterial and antifungal, increases blood flow to wounded areas, and stimulates fibroblasts, the skin cells responsible for wound healing.
An animal-based study in the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association found that both oral and topical aloe preparations speed wound healing. Animals were given either aloe (100mg/kg body weight) in their drinking water for two months or 25% aloe vera cream applied directly to wounds for six days.
Aloe had positive effects in both cases. The size of wounds decreased 62% in the animals taking oral aloe compared to a 51% in the control group. Topical aloe produced a 51% decrease in wound size compared to a 33% in the control group.
Supports Surgical Recovery
Aloe decreases surgical recovery time, according to a report in the Journal of Dermatologic Surgery and Oncology. Eighteen acne patients underwent facial dermabrasion surgery, in which lesions are scraped away. Dressings were applied to their faces, with half of each person's face receiving the standard dressing coated with surgical gel, and the other half with aloe added to this dressing. The half of the face treated with aloe healed approximately 72 hours faster than the other side.
Dermatologist James Fulton, M.D., of Newport Beach, California, principal author of the report, uses topical aloe in his practice to speed wound healing. "Any wound we treat, whether it's suturing a cut or removing a skin cancer, heals better with aloe vera on it," he states.
Soothes Burns
In a study in the Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand, 27 patients with moderate burn wounds were treated with a gauze coated in either aloe gel or Vaseline™ (petroleum jelly). The burns healed more quickly in the aloe group, with an average healing time of 12 days compared to 18 days for the group using Vaseline.
Minimizes Frostbite Damage
A study published in the Annals of Emergency Medicine established that aloe works for frostbite as well. Researchers gave standard treatments for frostbite (antibiotics, ibuprofen, and re-warming) to 154 patients with mild to severe frostbite. Of patients who additionally received aloe vera cream, 67.9% healed without any tissue loss (amputation) compared to 32.7% in the control group. Researchers concluded that aloe prevented a decrease of blood flow to the frozen tissues, a common cause of tissue loss in frostbite.
Screens Out Radiation
Aloe protects against skin damage from X rays, according to researchers at Hoshi University in Japan publishing in the journal Yakugaku Zasshi. They found that aloe was an effective antioxidant, mopping up the free radicals caused by radiation, and that it protected two of the body's healing substances, superoxide dismutase (an antioxidant enzyme) and glutathione (an amino acid which stimulates the immune system).
Heals Psoriasis Lesions
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in Tropical Medicine and International Health, 60 patients with chronic psoriasis were given a 0.5% aloe vera extract in a mineral oil creme. The ointment was applied three times daily for five consecutive days (15 applications total per week) for four weeks.
When patients were checked after eight months, far more psoriasis skin lesions had healed in the aloe group (82.8%) than in the placebo group (7.7%). Further, 83.3% of the aloe group were considered cured of their psoriasis compared to only 6.6% of the placebo group.
Eases Intestinal Problems
Aloe vera juice can be effective for treating inflammatory bowel disease, according to a study in the Journal of Alternative Medicine. Ten patients were given two ounces of aloe juice, three times daily, for seven days. After one week, all patients were cured of diarrhea, four had improved bowel regularity, and three reported increased energy.
Researchers concluded that aloe was able to rebalance the intestines by "regulating gastrointestinal pH while improving gastrointestinal motility, increasing stool specific gravity, and reducing populations of certain fecal microorganisms, including yeast." Other studies have shown that aloe vera juice helps to detoxify the bowel, neutralize stomach acidity, and relieve constipation and gastric ulcers.
Reduces Blood Sugar in Diabetes
Aloe reduced the blood sugar levels in diabetics, as reported in Hormone Research. Five patients with adult (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes were given 1/2 teaspoon of aloe extract daily for up to 14 weeks. Blood sugar levels were reduced in all patients by an average of 45%, with no change in their total weight.
Reduces Arthritic Swelling
Aloe can help prevent arthritis and reduce the inflammation in joints already affected by arthritis, according to the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association. Aloe can also inhibit the autoimmune reaction associated with certain forms of arthritis, in which the body attacks its own tissues.
Animals were injected with a bacterium to cause arthritic symptoms, namely inflammation and swelling. To determine if it could prevent arthritis, aloe (150mg/kg body weight) was injected under the skin daily for 13 days. Physical measurements were taken daily to determine the amount of swelling and inflammation.
Several compounds from aloe showed antiarthritic activity, according to the researchers. One organic acid in aloe reduced inflammation by 79.7% and suppressed the autoimmune response by 42.4%. Another aloe compound (anthraquinone) reduced inflammation by 67.3% but had no effect on the autoimmune response.
Curtailing HIV Infection
An extract of mannose, one of the sugars in aloe, can inhibit HIV-1 (the virus associated with AIDS). In a 1991 study in Molecular Biotherapy, HIV-1 cells were treated in vitro (outside the body) with a mannose extract. Aloe slowed virus reproduction by as much as 30%, reduced viral load (total amount of the virus), suppressed the spread of the virus from infected cells, and increased the viability (chance of survival) of infected cells.
Nutritional Support for HIV Patients
Aloe vera juice proved to be an effective part of a nutritional support program for HIV+ patients according to the Journal of Advancement in Medicine. For four months, 29 patients were given 100% pure aloe vera juice (five ounces, four times daily) along with an essential fatty acid supplement and another supplement containing vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. Patients were told to continue with their normal diet and not to take other supplements.
After 90 days, all of the patients had fewer occurrences of opportunistic infections, thrush, fatigue, and diarrhea, as well as increased white blood cell counts (meaning their immune systems were responding positively). Their assessment of overall quality of health also improved. In 25% of the patients, aloe apparently knocked out the virus's ability to reproduce. Researchers found that aloe (the mannose extract and perhaps other compounds) stimulates the body's immune system, particularly T4 helper cells, white blood cells that activate the immune response to infection.
Stimulates Immune Response Against Cancer
Aloe may help prolong survival time and stimulate the immune system of cancer patients, according to recent research.
In a 1994 study in the Japanese medical journal Yakhak Hoeji, mice with cancerous tumors were given aloe orally for 14 days. While the aloe did not suppress tumor growth, the average life span of the mice was prolonged by 22% for those given 50mg aloe/kg body weight and by 32% for those given 100mg/kg daily. A simultaneous experiment on human cancer cells (outside the body) found that high doses of aloe significantly suppressed the growth of these cancer cells.
Researchers writing in Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy found that a compound (lectin) from aloe, when injected directly into tumors, activated the immune system to attack the cancer. Killer T cells, white blood cells that bind to invading cells and destroy them, began to attack the tumor cells injected with lectin.
Aloe turns on the immune system by activating macrophages (white blood cells which "swallow" antigens), causing the release of immune-activating (and anticancer) substances such as interferons, interleukines, and tumor necrosis factor. In addition, aloe promotes the growth of normal (non-cancerous) cells, researchers said.
Benefits Lung Cancer
Aloe's protective effect was confirmed in a study of 673 lung cancer patients in Okinawa, Japan, published in the Japanese Journal of Cancer Research. This survey looked at the connection between smoking, comparative amounts of 17 plant foods in the diet, and the occurrence of lung cancer over a five-year period.
Aloe was the only one of the plant foods that was protective against cancer. "The results of plant epidemiology suggests that aloe prevents human pulmonary carcinogenesis [lung cancer]," stated the researchers. Further, aloe is "widely preventive or suppressive against various human cancers."
IF U ARE INTREST IN A FREE MEMBERSHIP TO FOREVER LIVING PRODUCTS PLEASE SEND US A MAIL WITH YOUR BIO-DATA AT THE BELOW E-MAIL
SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, FEEL FREE E-MAIL US AT: - kanti.choudhary@yahoo.in / shambhu_choudhary@yahoo.com
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