Aloe:

Aloe:  Soothe those Wounds

      Warning: The aloe gel is not normally taken internally.

Botanical name: Aloe vera (syn. A. barbadensis Mill., A. vulgaris Lam.) and an estimated 500 other Aloe species Wikipedia.org

Chinese Botanical name:

This is a clear statement from the book:

“The Healing Herbs – The Ultimate Guide to the Curative Power of Nature's Medicines” by – Michael Castleman; Medical Reviewer:  Sheldon Saul Hendler, M.D., Ph.D.; Biochemist, Researcher, and Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of California San Diego; Copyright 1991; ISBN: 0-87857-934-6; Page 42-43

 —Description— #

·        Family of Liliaceae:  other members include lily, tulip, and garlic. Also known as Cape, Barbados, Curaiao, Cocotrine, or Zanaibar aloe. Parts used:  the jellylike gel found in the leaves, and the bitter, yellow juice (latex) extracted from specialized cells of the leaves' inner skin.

—Food Preservative—  #

This is from Wikipedia.org:

Researchers at the University of Miguel Hernandez in Alicante, Spain, have developed a gel based on A. vera that prolongs the conservation of fresh produce, such as fresh fruit and legumes. This gel is tasteless, colorless and odorless. This natural product is a safe and environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic preservatives such as sulfur dioxide. The study showed that grapes at 1°C coated with this gel could be preserved for 35 days against 7 days for untreated grapes. According to the researchers, this gel operates through a combination of mechanics (Serrano et al., 2006), forming a protective layer against the oxygen and moisture of the air and inhibiting, through its various antibiotic and antifungal compounds, the action of micro-organisms that cause foodborne illnesses.

—Medicinal Action and Uses— #

·        WOUNDS, BURNS, SCALDS, SCRAPES, SUNBURN: A 1935 American medical journal reported the case of a woman whose x-ray burns were successfully treated with aloe gel.  Since then, several studies have supported the herb's ability to spur the healing of first- and second-degree burns and other wounds.

·        INFECTION FIGHTER:  Aloe gel may help wounds heal and may also prevent infection in injured skin.  Several studies show aloe effective against many different bacteria that can invade wounds.

·        SKIN CREAMS:  Aloe gel has been in use at least since Cleopatra massaged aloe gel into her skin to make it shine.  If using the gel for this purpose it is best to use the fresh leaf as opposed to the “stabilized” (preserved) gel used in commercial shampoos and skin products.  Stabilized aloe has none of the fresh herb's skin-healing benefits.

—INTRIGUING POSSIBILITIES— 

       Studies show that aloe may kill the fungus (Candida albicans) that causes vaginal yeast infections.  However, there are no studies which indicate it can wipe out the infection in the human body.  The FDA advisory panel found insufficient evidence to recommend aloe as a yeast treatment.

       In laboratory tests, one chemical (aloe-emodin) in aloe has shown promise against leukemia, but the National Cancer Institute say experimental preparations are still toxic to give to leukemia sufferers.  However, aloe has been used externally in folk medicine as a treatment for skin cancer.  There are no studies to confirm aloe's effectiveness against skin cancer.

       A European study suggests aloe gel reduces blood sugar (glucose) levels in experimental animals and humans with diabetes.  The aloe gel is not normally taken internally.

—Nutrient Source—

—Side Effects or Negative Effects—

·        Aloe latex contains laxative chemicals (anthraquinones) with such powerful purgative action that they are called cathartics.  Other laxative herbs (senna, rhubarb, buckhorn, and cascara sagrada) also contain anthraquinones, but aloe's action is considered the most drastic and can cause severe intestinal cramps and diarrhea.  Therefore it is the least recommended for laxative qualities.

·        Aloe latex should not be ingested by pregnant women. Its cathartic nature may stimulate uterine contractions and trigger a miscarriage.  It should not be used by nursing mothers,  as the latex can enter the mother's milk and may cause stomach cramps and violent catharsis in infants.

·        Aloe's cathartic power may also aggravate ulcers, hemorrhoids, diverticulosis, diverticulitis, colitis, or irritable bowel syndrome.

·        Anyone with gastrointestinal illness should not use aloe latex as a laxative.

·        One case study reported eczema-like welts in a man who had used aloe for several years.

—Deterrent—

—References—

Collins, C. E. and C.  Collins. 1935.

·        American Journal of Roentgenology and Radiation Therapy 33:396.

Ghannam, N. et al. 1986.  Hormone Research 24:288.

Haggers, J.P. et al. 1979.  American Journa of Medical Technology 41:293.

Kupchan, G. and S. Karmin.  1976.  Journal of Natural Products 39:223.

Marrow, D.M. et al.  1980.  Archives of Dermatology  116:1064.

Rodriguez-Bigas, M. et al.  1988. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 81:386.

Winters, W.D. et al.  1981.  Economic Botony 35:89.

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