ALOE VERA

Medicinal Uses

asthma

chest congestion

cough

cold

influenza

anemia

arteriosclerosis

bleeding

hemophilia

varicose veins

late menstrual period

prolapsed uterus

vaginitis

post partum

menopause

prostatitis

inflammatory skin conditions

wound healing

burns

sunburn

blisters

rashes

bedsores

diaper rash

boils

bruises

bursitis

extraction of thorns

scars

herpes

psoriasis

eczema

constipation

stomachache

indigestion

gas

gastric ulcers

peptic ulcers

irritable bowel syndrome

tenesmus

obesity

hemorrhoids

dental caries

mouth and gum disease

nasal inflammation

eye infections and inflammation

headaches

migraines

jaundice

hepatitis

gall bladder stimulant

fever

scrofula

enlarged spleen

swollen glands

cholesterol regulator

blood sugar regulator

inflammatory bowel disease

metabolic syndrome

insulin resistance

baldness

sacral pain

convulsions

irritability

dizziness

cancer

throat cancer

leukemia

intestinal parasites

ringworm

roundworm

threadworms

colic

pertussis

insomnia

venereal diseases

syphilis

painful urination

edema

lichen planus

oral submucous fibrosis

obesity

HIV/ AIDs

epilepsy

amenorrhea

colitis

glaucoma

vision problems

multiple sclerosis

burning mouth syndrome

dental plaque

frostbite

gingivitis

seborrheic dermatitis

anal fissures

canker sores

alveolar osteitis (dry socket)

insect repellent

Aloe products, which include the latex, gel, and whole leaf, are used, among other reasons as laxatives, in creams for skin ailments, and as a treatment for a wide range of diseases
One study suggests that Aloe Vera does enhance wound healing, although its mechanism of action is still unclear. For example, 60 men and women used Aloe Vera vs placebo for 4 weeks on mild to severe psoriasis. 83% were cured using Aloe Vera, compared to 6.6% using a placebo

Constituents

Aloe Vera contains 75 potentially active constituents: vitamins, enzymes, minerals, sugars, lignin, saponins, salicylic acids, and amino acids (6) and the plant has revealed the presence of more than 200 different biologically active substances.
Aloe contains as its major and active principles hydroxyanthrone derivatives, mainly of the aloe-emodin-anthrone 10-C-glucoside type. The major constituent is known as barbaloin (aloin) (15–40%). It also contains hydroxyaloin (about 3%)
1,8-dehydroxyanthraquinone, acemannan, aldopentose, aloe peptides, aloe-emodin, aloeferon, aloin (also called barbaloin), aloin derivatives, amino acids, aminoacids. anthranols, anthraquinones, anthrol, anthrones, barbaloin, benzothiazolone, calcium oxalate. campesterol, cholesterol, chrysophanic acid, cyclohexane derivatives, dehydro-abietal, emodin, enzymes, glucomannan, glucose, isocitric acid, lipids, lupeol, methyl esther of dehydro-abietic acid, organic acids, para-coumaric acid, stigmasterol, sugars

Energetics/ Organoleptics

Bitter, cold [China]; Bitter, cool [India]
Leaves: bitter hot and moist
Gel: salty cool moist
Meridians: Large intestine, stomach, liver

Contradictions

Chronic long-term toxicity
Do not use during pregnancy, menstruation, with hemorrhoids or liver / gall bladder degeneration
Long-term use can lead to loss of electrolytes, especially potassium. Long-term use can (rarely) lead to hyperaldosteronism, heart arrhythmias, nephropathies, edemas, and accelerated bone deterioration, albuminuria and hematuria
Not in rectal bleeding from cold deficiency
Not with spleen qi deficiency
Can cause potassium deficiency when used with thiazide diuretics, licorice, and corticosteroids
This can increase toxicity of digoxin.
Potentiates the hypoglycemic effects of glibenclamide, and (topically in mice) the anti-inflammatory effects of topical hydrocortisone.
Can cause a strong odor when used for radiation burns.

History

Aloe vera's medicinal use can be traced to antiquity. Mesopotamian clay tablets dated 1750 BC indicate that aloe vera was used for medicinal purposes.
Egyptian records from 550 BC mention aloe for skin infections.
The ancient Greeks also availed themselves of aloe's medicinal effects; both Pliny (23-79AD) and Dioscorides (1st century AD) note aloe's ability to treat wounds and heal skin infections.
In Ayurvedic medicine, it is called kathalai.
Early records of Aloe Vera use appear in the Ebers Papyrus from the 16th century BC and in Dioscorides’ De Materia Medica and Pliny the Elder’s Natural History – both written in the mid-first century. It is also written about in the Juliana Anicia Codex of 512 AD

Cultivation

aloe-vera-gel-has-many-medicinal-propert

Proper Use

Different parts of Aloe have different effects on the body. The yellow sap that emerges from near the skin of a sliced Aloe plant is called "bitter aloes" (luhui). It is dried, energetically cold, and used as an irritant laxative, a purgative.

The Aloe gel from the center of the leaf is much milder. The gel is used internally to soothe the digestive tract and topically for burns.

Pills powder or gel. Fresh or dried.
Gel topical as needed.
Aloe vera leaf of length 15-18 cm. Boil in water and add sugar for oral use [China].
1 leaf about 15 cm in length mashed and soaked in a cup of water for 20 minutes, then strained and drunk [Belize]

DOSAGE

Bitter aloes (luhui): 0.01-0.6 gram (laxative). 1.0 to 1.5 g (drastic).
Gel: Topical as needed
Gel internal: 2-6 oz twice a day

Formulary

Aloe Vera Lemonade Slushy

⅓ cup sugar

2 ½ cups filtered water

12 oz. BareOrganics Aloe Vera Juice

¾ cup lemon juice

Small handful of fresh mint

To make the simple syrup, combine the sugar and ½ cup of water in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from heat. Pour the simple syrup, aloe vera juice, lemon juice, and remaining 2 cups of water into your blender along with a small handful of fresh mint. Blend until smooth and taste. If you’d like your slush a bit sweeter, add another pinch of sugar. If the mixture is too sour (this will depend on how sour your lemons are), add another splash of water.
Pour the mixture through a fine mesh strainer to catch any large pieces of mint or lemon pulp.
Remove the bowl for your ice cream maker from the freezer. Set it on the base and turn it on. While the bowl is spinning, pour in the aloe vera lemonade mixture. Churn until the liquid is mostly slush; this should take about 20 minutes.
To serve, use a spoon to scoop the slush into four glasses. Drizzle with any remaining liquid and garnish each glass with a mint sprig.

Common Names

Aloi, pänini 'awa'awa [Hawai'i]; aloe [English]; lu hui, nu hui, no hui, xiang dan [China]; rokai [Japan]; rapahoe [Tahiti]; kumari, kattarvala [India]; ghui kumari [Nepal]; sink-am-bible [Creole]

Botanical Name

Aloe arborescens/ Aloe barbadensis

A. ferox, A. vulgaris, A. perfoliata, A. capensis, A. perryi, A. bainesii, A. saponaria

Family

Lilliaceae (Lily family)

Parts Used

The Aloe vera whole leaf extract (sometimes referred to as whole leaf Aloe Vera juice, Aloe juice or non decolorized whole leaf extract), is the aqueous extract of the whole leaf with lignified fibers removed. The whole leaf extract contains both the gel from the inner parenchyma leaf pulp and the latex.

Therapeutic Actions

abortifacient (A. barbadensis)

alterative

analgesic

anti-asthmatic

anti-bacterial

anti-carcinogenic

anti-fertility

anti-fungal

anti-leukopenic

anti-peptic ulcer

anti-pyretic

anti-septic (A. barbadensis)

anti-thelmintic

anti-tumor

anti-ulceration

anti-viral

aperient

aphrodisiac

bitter tonic

burn healing

cathartic (A. zebria)

CNS depressant

decoagulant (A. barbadensis)

demulcent (A. barbadensis)

diuretic (A. barbadensis)

ecbolic (A. barbadensis)

embryotoxic

emmenagogue (A. barbadensis)

emollient (A. barbadensis)

anthlemintic

hair growth

heals wounds

hypocholesterolemic

hypoglycemic

hypolipemic

insecitcidal

larvicide (A. barbadensis)

laxative (A. barbadensis)

liver sedative

liver stimulant

local anesthetic

mitogenic

promotes bile flow

promotes menstruation

purgative

refrigerant

rejuvenative

removes stagnation

sedative

stimulant (A. barbadensis)

appetite stimulant

stomachic

stops bleeding

teratogenic

tonic (A. barbadensis)

uterine stimulant

vulnerary

Research & References

Arvigo, Rosita and Nadine Epstein. 2001. Rainforest Home Remedies : The Maya Way To Heal Your Body and Replenish Your Soul. San Francisco: Harper.

Bensy, Dan, & Andrew Gamble. 1986. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica. Seattle: Eastland Press.

Brinker, Francis. 2001. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. Sandy, OR.: Eclectic Medical Publications.

Chen, John K., and Tina T. Chen. 2004. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. City of Industry CA: Art of Medicine Press, Inc.

Lewis, Walter Hepworth. 1977. Medical Botany: Plants Affecting Man's Health. New York: John Wily & Sons.

Mindell, Earl. 1992, 2000. Earl Mindell's New Herb Bible. Rev ed. New York: Fireside.

Chithra P, Sajithlal GB, et al 1998. Influence of Aloe vera on collagen turnover in healing of dermal wounds in rats. Indian J Exp Biol. Sep;36(9):896-901.

Beppu H, Koike T, et al. 2003. Radical-scavenging effects of Aloe arborescens Miller on prevention of pancreatic islet B-cell destruction in rats. J Ethnopharmacol. Nov;89(1):37-45.

Choi SW, Son BW, et al. 2001. The wound-healing effect of a glycoprotein fraction isolated from Aloe vera. Br J Dermatol. Oct;145(4):535-45.

Corsi MM, Bertelli AA, et al. 1998. The therapeutic potential of Aloe vera in tumor-bearing rats. Int J Tissue React.;20(4):115-8.

Davis RH, Leitner MG, et al. 1989(a). Anti-inflammatory activity of Aloe vera against a spectrum of irritants. J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. Jun;79(6):263-76.

Davis RH, Rosenthal KY, et al. 1989(b). Processed Aloe vera administered topically inhibits inflammation. J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. Aug;79(8):395-7.

Davis RH, Leitner MG, Russo JM, et al. 1989(c). Wound healing. Oral and topical activity of Aloe vera. J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. Nov;79(11):559-62.

Duansak D, Somboonwong J, Patumraj S. 2003. Effects of Aloe vera on leukocyte adhesion and TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels in burn wounded rats. Clin Hemorheol Microcirc.;29(3-4):239-46.

Furukawa F, Nishikawa A, et al. 2002. Chemopreventive effects of Aloe arborescens on N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine-induced pancreatic carcinogenesis in hamsters. Cancer Lett. Apr 25;178(2):117-22.

Ghannam N, Kingston M, et al. 1986. The antidiabetic activity of aloes: preliminary clinical and experimental observations. Horm Res.;24(4):288-94.

Lee CK, Han SS, et al. 1997. Prevention of ultraviolet radiation-induced suppression of accessory cell function of Langerhans cells by Aloe vera gel components. Immunopharmacology. Oct;37(2-3):153-62.

Lee KH, Hong HS, et al. 2000. Induction of apoptosis in human leukaemic cell lines K562, HL60 and U937 by diethylhexylphthalate isolated from Aloe vera Linne. J Pharm Pharmacol. Aug;52(8):1037-41.

Lee KH, Kim JH, et al. 2000. Anti-leukaemic and anti-mutagenic effects of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate isolated from Aloe vera Linne. J Pharm Pharmacol. May;52(5):593-8.

Lim BO, Seong NS, et al. 2003. Efficacy of dietary Aloe vera supplementation on hepatic cholesterol and oxidative status in aged rats. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). Aug;49(4):292-6.

Macias CA, Kameneva MV, et al. 2004. Survival in a rat model of lethal hemorrhagic shock is prolonged following resuscitation with a small volume of a solution containing a drag-reducing polymer derived from Aloe vera. Shock. Aug;22(2):151-156.

Malterud KE, Farbrot TL, et al. 1993. Antioxidant and radical scavenging effects of anthraquinones and anthrones. Pharmacology. Oct;47 Suppl 1:77-85.

Norikura T, Kennedy DO, et al. 2002. Protective effect of aloe extract against the cytotoxicity of 1,4-naphthoquinone in isolated rat hepatocytes involves modulations in cellular thiol levels. Pharmacol Toxicol. May;90(5):278-84.

Okyar A, et al. 2001. Effect of Aloe vera leaves on blood glucose level in type I and type II diabetic rat models.Phytother Res. 15(2): 157-61

Pecere T, Gazzola MV, et al. 2000. Aloe-emodin is a new type of anticancer agent with selective activity against neuroectodermal tumors. Cancer Res. Jun 1;60(11):2800-4.

Qiu Z, Jones K, et al. 2000. Modified Aloe barbadensis polysaccharide with immunoregulatory activity. Planta Med. Mar;66(2):152-6.

Saada HN, Ussama ZS, Mahdy AM. 2003. Effectiveness of Aloe vera on the antioxidant status of different tissues in irradiated rats. Pharmazie. Dec;58(12):929-31.

Shamaan NA, Kadir KA, et al. 1998. Vitamin C and Aloe vera supplementation protects from chemical hepatocarcinogenesis in the rat. Nutrition. Nov-Dec;14(11-12):846-52.

Shimpo K, Chikako T, et al. 2000. Inhibition of N-ethyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine-induced Duodenal Tumorigenesis in Mice by Whole-leaf Aloe arborescens Miller var. natalensis Berger. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev.;1(4):283-288.

Shimpo K, Ida C, et al. 2002. Aloe arborescens extract inhibits TPA-induced ear oedema, putrescine increase and tumour promotion in mouse skin. Phytother Res. Aug;16(5):491-3.

Somboonwong J, Thanamittramanee S, et al. 2000. Therapeutic effects of Aloe vera on cutaneous microcirculation and wound healing in second degree burn model in rats. J Med Assoc Thai. Apr;83(4):417-25.

Vazquez B, Avila G, et al. 1996. Antiinflammatory activity of extracts from Aloe vera gel. J Ethnopharmacol. Dec;55(1):69-75.

Visuthikosol V, Chowchuen B, et al. 1995. Effect of Aloe vera gel to healing of burn wound a clinical and histologic study. J Med Assoc Thai. Aug;78(8):403-9.

Womble D, Helderman JH. 1988. Enhancement of allo-responsiveness of human lymphocytes by acemannan (Carrisyn). Int J Immunopharmacol.;10(8):967-74.

World Health Organization. 1998. Medicinal Plants in the Pacific. WHO Regional Publications. Western Pacific Series No. 19.

Yagi A, Kabash A, et al. 2002. Antioxidant, free radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory effects of aloesin derivatives in Aloe vera. Planta Med. Nov;68(11):957-60.