ALOE VERA IS INSPIRING NEW DISCOVERIES

The very first record of the aloe vera plant in history was written by Dioscorides, a famous Greek physician from the first century AD. He wrote that aloe vera had the power of “including sleep and the thickening the body… it helps loosen be belly and cleanses the stomach when drunk with warm milk or cold water”.
By the 2nd century AD, aloe vera had become indispensable to Roman physicians – the most notable of which was Galen, the personal physician of the Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Galen was said to have drawn his knowledge from the writings of Aristotles and Hippocrates, who got their knowledge of aloe vera from India and Egyptian “Medical Winters”.
Most botanies agree – and historical evidence – suggests – that the aloe vera plant originated in the warm, dry climates of Africa. But, in the East, Chinese physicians were already writing about how aloe vera helps treat sinusitis, skin disorders and internal problem such as convulsions in children and worm fever.
In a Smith and Stenhaus (1851) review, it was said that aloin or anthraquinone glycosides was the principal ingredient responsible for aloe’s laxative effects and an ever – increasing number of biologically active compounds have been identified.
To date, research has proven that aloe vera contains a unique spectrum of micronutrients and the natural chemical constituents of aloe vera can be categorised in the following main areas:
• Amino acids;
• Anthraquinones
• Enzymes;
• Lignin;
• Mono and polysaccharides;
• Salicylic acids;
• Saponins;
• Sterols;
• Vitamins

Multiple Applications
The aloe vera plant is characterised by long, hard, sword – shaped, fleshy, green leaves with sharp points and an array of barbed spikes on each leaf edge. Each plant can have between 20 and 30 leaves and these leaves grow in a rosette pattern straight out the ground.
When the plant blooms, it’s bright flowers appear on the central leafless steam high above the gel – bearing parts. In fact, the fresh leaf gel and latex are used for many purposes. Aloe latex is the sticky residue left over after the liquid from cut aloe leaves has evaporated.
Moders research has proven aloe vera to be beneficial for many conditions. It has been used effectively for treating radiation burns, skin disorders, wounds, sunburn and dermatitis. Clinical trials have proven aloe vera helps with inflammation and ulcers. Test tube studies suggested polysaccharides such as acemannon, help promote skin healing by anti – inflammatory, antimicrobial, and immune – stimulating actions.
Aloe’s effects on the skin may also be enhanced by its high concentration of amino acids, as well as vitamin E, vitamin C, zinc and essential fatty acids. Modern research found that, when applied externally, aloe vera helps speed up healing in the case of wounds, frostbite and burns; and restore skin tissue.
The healing of burns may be due the moisturising effect of aloe. It is easily absorbed into the skin, preventing the air from dryung the damaged skin. Older case studies report that aloe gel applied topically can help heal radiation burns; and a small clinical trial found it more effective than a topical petroleum jelly in treating burns.
However, a large, modern, placebo – controlled trial did not find aloe effective for treating minor burns when stabilised aloe gel was applied thinly to the affected area of skin three to five times per day. Hence, treatment of more serious burns should only be done under the supervision of a healthcare professional.
For intestinal use of aloe gel, two tablespoons (30ml) should be taken three times per day for patients with inflammatory bowel conditions such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. But, it is very important to remember that the latex form of aloe should not be used by anyone with inflammatory intestinal disease – including Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis or appendicitis.
Aloe is known to help increase movement in the intestines, relieve constipation, promote menstruation and aid digestion. Anthraquinone glycosides are split by the normal bacteria in the large intestines to form other molecules (aglycones), which exert the laxative actions.
Since aloe is such a powerful laxative, other plant laxatives such as senna or cascara are often recommended. For constipation, a single 50 – 200 mg capsule of aloe latex can be taken each day for a maximum of 10 days.
Beyond that, aloe latex intake may lead to dependency and fluid loss. Extensive fluid loss may then lead to depletion of important electrolytes in the body such as potassium.

Preventive Powers
Aloe vera has also been found to help prevent the formation of kidney stones and to help reduce the size of the stones. It can help clean, soothe and relieve pain on contact. It rapidly penetrates through all three layers of the skin to promote healing. It contains salicylic acid and magnesium, which work together to produce an aspirin – like analgesic effect.
Two small controlled human trial have found that aloe, either alone or in combination with the oral hypogycemic drug glibenclamide, effectively lowers blood sugars in people with type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes.
In these clinical trials, one tea tablespoon of aloe juice (15ml) is taken orally twice daily. Note that treatment of diabetes with aloe should only be done under the supervision of a qualified healthcare professional.
Okyar A, et. al. (2001) reported in journal of Phytother res, aloe vera leaf pulp and gel extracts were ineffective in lowering the blood sugar level of ND rats. Aloe vera leaf pulp extract showed hypoglycaemic activity on IDDM and NIDDM rats, the effectiveness being enhanced for type II diabetes in comparison with glibenclamide.
On the contrary, aloe vera leaf gel extract showed hyperglycaemic activity on NIDDM rats. It may be concluded therefore that the pulps of aloe vera leaves devoid of the gel could be useful in the treatment of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Aloe vera also been used as a treatment for viral diseases such as AIDS and may help prevent the virus from moving one cell to the other.
According to Dr. Pulse’s published report in the Journal of Advancement in Medicine : “No adverse effects attributable to the essential fatty acid capsules were obsseved nor any side effects of the nutritional supplementation powder nor of the aloe vera juice.
“Most patients – who were symptomatic – reported that within three to five days, their energy levels improved, fever disappeared, night sweats stopped, cough decreased or stopped altogether, shortness of breath decreased, lymph nodes decreased in size, diarrhoea stopped, strength improved, and the only measurable side effect of this particular study was weight gain, which is a desirable effect.”
Aloe vera therefore has a complementary role to play in the management of various conditions. It is very important however that people should always seek the advice of their medical professional when the diagnosis is in doubt or where a condition does not improve.
Self – diagnosis can be extremely dangerous as many serious conditions can mimic more simple ones.

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