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Research on Aloe Vera
Leading Journals Praise Aloe Vera for
Healing
How
Aloe can Help
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Dr Atherton's article
on uses of Aloe Vera in Positive Health Magazine
Research on Aloe Vera
The last several years have witnessed a boom in research on Aloe Vera and
its applications for humans and animals. The following are just a couple:
Professor of Physiology (University of Texas) and chief of the Research
Laboratory of North Texas, Ivan Danhof, showed (1984) that the application
of Aloe gel to the skin accelerates fibroblasts. Fibroblasts aid in the
manufacture of collagen, which is the protein that controls the aging
process of the skin and wrinkling. (As one ages, collagen starts to
disappear from the skin, causing slackening and wrinkling.) Aloe gel helps
to protect the outer layers of the skin by helping it to reorganize skin
cells. He further showed the moisturizing properties of Aloe by
demonstrating that the skin absorbs moisture from Aloe gel three to four
times faster than water.
One report ("Clinical Review" 1987) shows that a compound -
acemannon - found in Aloe Vera seems to have some remarkable anti-viral
properties. Even where HIV (the virus that often leads to AIDS) is
concerned, Dr. Reg McDanial stated, "It appears that carrisyn
[editor's note: Carrisyn is the commercial name of acemannon patented by
Carrington Laboratories] neutralizes the [AIDS] virus by transforming it's
protein envelope thus preventing it from attaching itself to the T4
cells."
Around the same time researchers in Canada isolated acemannon for their
own studies. Since then, clinical trials on people living with AIDS
("PLWA") have shown that acemannon re-enforces the body's
natural defense (immune) system of thus may stop the progression of HIV.
Such studies have been corroborated by others, showing not only the
nutrition value of ingesting Aloe Vera (in drink form), but also it's
potential for providing significant benefits to boost the immune system.
Of course, how the Aloe drink is processed is a determining factor in the
degree of potential benefit.
Please keep in mind, there is no known method of curing AIDS - so PLWA
should not view this as a cure, but rather as another option in possibly
arresting or slowing down HIV. Aloe has not been scientifically proven to
completely remove HIV from the body. Anybody who says that it - or
anything else, has been shown to cure AIDS (cancer, etc.) is either
misinformed or intentionally deceiving for their own purposes (usually
financial). Aloe is; however, a bright hope in the battle of many
illnesses - and certainly in strengthening the immune system.
Dr. Lee Cowden (Dallas, Texas) observed that several conditions benefit
when treated by oral consumption of Aloe Vera. They include: irritable
bowl syndrome, ulcerative colitis, esophagitis, peptic ulcer, rheumatoid
arthritis, osteoarthritis, mouth lesions, sore throat, and lupus.
Dr. Robert H. Davis (Physiologist at the University of Pennsylvania
College of Podiatric Medicine) conducted Aloe research since the early
1970's.
In laboratory tests on animals his findings included the results that Aloe
can prevent and arrest arthritis, improve wound healing, inhibit pain,
block inflammation, restore bone growth, and act as a vehicle for the
delivery of nutrients to the body. Dr. Davis stated, "Aloe vera
contains the greatest number of active substances of any plant I've looked
at."
Aloe is also known to help unblock and keep clean the receptors inside the
lining of the intestines - facilitating the absorption into the
bloodstream of vitamins and other nutrients.
Dr. B. Frielander, (San Diego, CA) a Nutritionist, noted that patients
with chronic colon problems including constipation, hemorrhoids, colitis
and Crohn's disease, benefit from drinking aloe vera juice as a part of a
nutritional program. He noted that even their complexions looked better!
Not all doctors will agree with the use of Aloe Vera (indeed, some don't
accept it as of any benefit at all), its growing acceptance and increased
use in the medical profession (or at least a nod in its direction) has
given more optimism to those who seek non-toxic alternatives to drugs.
And, where modern drugs may not be helping the individual, Aloe Vera and
other options (chiropractic, herbs, meditation, etc.) are growing in
popularity.
Certainly the use of Aloe Vera for so many centuries and so many scattered
and varied cultures and locations of the world must give occasion to at
least further look into its potential for the benefit of humankind.
But, as with all things, wisdom must be followed. Aloe Vera can be used
externally (on the skin), and internally (drinks)
While Aloe is shown in studies to benefit in many ways, no reputable study
nor scientist has claimed that Aloe will work the same for everybody - nor
are results universally applied.
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Leading Journals Praise Aloe Vera for Healing
The health benefits of Aloe Vera are well established with many relevant
scientific studies. Drinking Aloe Vera juice "helps to seal the
intestinal wall much in the same way aloe gel seals a wound or sooths a
burn when applied to the skin," as reported by Jeffery Bland in
Country Living Magazine. Even the Journal of the America Podiatric Medical
Association in 1987 and 1994 cited Aloe Vera as helpful on wound healing
and anti inflammation.
The most well known health benefit of Aloe Vera is its usefulness in
healing burns and other wounds. One scientific study termed Aloe Vera
"The most powerful, nontoxic, plant-derived treatment of both
inflammation and would healing." Aloe Vera has produced confirmed
results in healing surface injuries, including radiation-induced skin
reactions, burn wounds, and frostbite. Its wound-healing capabilities have
been traced to its ability to dilate the capillaries, thereby increasing
blood flow to injured areas.
Just as Aloe Vera aids healing of external injuries by just rubbing it on
the affected area, taking Aloe Vera by mouth has been shown to reduce
inflammation in the intestines, improve protein digestion and strengthen
the body's immune system. Its anti-inflammatory effect is attributable, at
least in part, to three fatty acids: lupeol, camperesterol, and B-sitoserol.
This effect may also lead to the reduction of swelling and arthritic-like
pain.
Studies show that oral ingestion of Aloe Vera can have many other medical
benefits. Aloe Vera has exhibited significant calming effects on the
gastric process by cleansing the system, normalizing bowel habits,
relieving colitis and diverticulitis (inflammation of the walls of the
colon), promoting the favorable balance of digestive bacteria, and
otherwise reducing indigestion.
Aloe Vera has been reported to assist in kidney problems, and studies have
confirmed its anti-bacterial and antiviral effects. Other reported
benefits include its pain-killing attributes, traced to aspirin-like
compounds contained in aloe extract, like salicylic acid.
Aloe Vera counteracts inflammatory agents such as bradykinin, which
produces pain in inflamed tissue. Such pain-killing capabilities explain
Aloe Vera's benefits for sufferers of migraine headaches and joint pain.
Karen Barr, reporting in Natural Health magazine in 1995, credits Walter
Crinnion, M.D., with saying "Aloe is very soothing and effective at
promoting healing in the intestines. I've also used it successfully in
patients with chronic kidney problems - people with kidney damage who
consistently show protein in their urine." Excessive protein in the
urine is a sign that the kidneys are not functioning properly. "I've
had patents drink a cup or two of aloe vera juice once a day, and the
protein secretion stops," Crinnion says.
Yes, Aloe Vera confers a number of scientifically confirmed or reported
benefits. It assists in healing wounds and strengthening the immune
system. It operates as an anti-inflammatory, reducing the symptoms
associated with diseases such as arthritis. It stabilizes gastrointestinal
functions and aids in digestion, thereby cleansing the body and relieving
indigestion, colitis, and diverticulitis. The list may not end there, as
scientific research continues to uncover additional health benefits.
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How
Aloe Can Help
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
(such as the use of "dried" or "powdered" aloe over
aloe in it's more natural, more bio-available, liquid state), it is felt
that the article contains valuable information for you.
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 was 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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