Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera
What is Aloe?
Aloe is a succulent plant widely used in alternative medicine.There are at least 420 different plant species of Aloe. Aloe vera specifically refers to the Aloe barbadensis Miller plant, which is the most common form used in Aloe-based products.
How is Aloe used?
Traditionally, the clear gel from the Aloe plant is rubbed on the skin as an ointment to treat wounds and burns.The green part of the leaf can be made into a juice or dried and taken orally as a laxative. Aloe vera is used in many commercial products in various forms, including drinks, concentrates,
capsules, powders, and as a flavoring.
Benifits of Aloe Vera:
Aloe Vera contains over 200 active components including vitamins, minerals, amino acids,enzymes, polysaccharide, and fatty acids- no wonder it’s used for such a wide range of remedies.The bulk of the Aloe Vera leaf is filled with a clear gel-like substance, which is approximately 99% water.
Here is a list of the Top 12 Benefits and Medicinal Uses for Aloe Vera:
1. Aloe Vera Is High in Vitamins & Minerals:
Aloe Vera contains many vitamins including A, C, E, folic acid, choline, B1, B2, B3 (niacin),B6.Aloe Vera is also one of the few plants that contains vitamin B12.Some of the 20 minerals found in Aloe Vera include: calcium, magnesium, zinc, chromium,selenium, sodium, iron, potassium, copper, manganese.
2. Aloe Vera is High in Amino Acids & Fatty Acids . Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. There are about 22 amino acids that are necessary for the human body and it is said that 8 of these are essential. Estimates of the amino acids found in aloe range from 18-20 amino acids, with all 8 essential amino acids. Alove Vera also includes quite an impressive range of fatty acids. Aloe contains three plant sterols, which are important fatty acids- HCL cholesterol (which lowers fats in the blood), campesterol, and B-sitosterol. All are helpful in reducing symptoms of allergies and acid indigestion. Other fatty acidsinclude linoleic, linolenic, myristic, caprylic, oleic, palmitic, and stearic.
3. Aloe Vera is an Adaptogen. Aloe Vera is a well-known adaptogen. An adaptogen is something that boosts the body’s natural ability to adapt to external changes and resist illness. It is thought that aloe’s power as an adaptogen balances the body’s system, stimulating the defense and adaptive mechanisms of the body. This allows you an increased ability to cope with stress (physical, emotional and environmental stress like pollution)
4. Aloe Helps with Digestion: Poor digestion is related to many diseases. A properly functioning digestive tract is one of the keys and foundations of health. Aloe is known to soothe and cleanse the digestive tract and help improve digestion. The interesting thing about taking aloe internally is that, because it is an adaptogen, it helps with either constipation or diarrhea, helping to regulate your elimination cycles in whatever way you need. It’s been a great remedy for people with problems such as irritable bowel syndrome as well as acid reflux. Aloe also helps to decrease the amount of unfriendly bacteria and in our gut keeping your healthy intestinal flora in balance. Aloe is also a vermifuge, which means it helps to rid the body of intestinal worms.
5. Aloe Helps in Detoxification: Aloe Vera is a gelatinous plant food, just like seaweeds and chia. The main benefit to consuming gelatinous plant foods in your diet is that these gels move through the intestinal tract absorbing toxins along the way and get eliminated through the colon. This will help the proper elimination of waste from your body and help the detoxification of your body.
6.Aloe Alkalizes the Body
Disease cannot manifest in an alkaline environment. Most people are living and subsisting on mostly acidic foods. For great health, remember the 80/20 rule – 80% alkaline forming foods and 20% acidic. Aloe vera is an alkaline forming food. It alkalizes the body, helping to balance overly acidic dietary habits
7. Cardiovascular Health
There hasn’t been a lot of studies conducted in this but there has been some research to show that Aloe Vera extract injected into the blood, greatly multiplies the oxygen transportation and diffusion capabilities of the red blood cells.According to a study published in the 2000 issue of the British Medical Journal, beta sitosterol helps to lower cholesterol. By regulating blood pressure, improving circulation and oxidation of the blood,lowering cholesterol, and making blood less sticky, Aloe Vera juice may be able to help lower the risk of heart disease.
8. Aloe Helps Boost the Immune System I think given the stresses of our daily lives, every one can use a boost to their immune systems. The polysaccharides in aloe vera juice stimulate macrophages, which are the white blood cells of your immune system that fight against viruses.Aloe is also an immune enhancer because of its high level of anti-oxidants, which help combat the unstable compounds known as free-radicals, contributing to the aging process. (Free radicals are a
bi-product of life itself, it is a naturally occurring process but we can overload ourselves with unnecessary free-radicals by living an unhealthy lifestyle) Aloe is also an antipyretic which means it used to reduce or prevent fever.
9. Aloe Vera is Great for the Skin Because of aloe’s well-known healing properties for the skin, aloe is one of the primary compounds used in the cosmetic industry. It is a known vulnerary, (meaning it helps heal wounds) and is great for applying topically to burns, abrasions, psoriasis and even to bug bites. Aloe acts as an
analgesic,acting to help relieve pain of wounds. It’s feels especially good to cut a stem of aloe, place it in the fridge and rub it on sun burnt skin – the immediate soothing effect feels like an absolute lifesaver. Aloe is also an antipruritic: A substance that relieves or prevents itching. Aloe Vera is an
astringent: which causes the contraction of body tissues, typically used to reduce bleeding from minor abrasions.Due to aloe’s high water content (over 99% water) it is a great way to hydrate, moisturize and rejuvenate the skin and fits within my general guideline: “Don’t put anything on your skin that you wouldn’t eat!” Aloe increases the elasticity of the skin making it more flexible through collagen and elastin repair. Aloe is an emollient, helping to soften and soothe the skin. It helps supply oxygen to the skin cells, increasing the strength and synthesis of skin tissue and induces improved blood flow to the skin through capillary dilation.
10. Disinfectant, Anti-biotic, Anti-microbial, Germicidal, Anti-bacterial, Anti-septic, Anti-fungal & Anti-viral: Wow, I think that covers all anti- bases. Okay, I admit, that was just a sneaky way to add in another 8 good reasons why you should keep Aloe Vera handy and incorporate it into your lifestyle.Aloe Vera’s active ingredients are sulphur, lupeol, salicylic acid, cinnamic acid, urea nitrogen and
phenol which are substances that prevent the growth of disease-causing microorganisms and act as a team to provide antimicrobial activity eliminating many internal and external infections, also active against bacteria. It also helps to treat fungal and viral infections.
11. Aloe Helps Reduce Inflammation Aloe Vera contains 12 substances, including B-sisterole, which can help to slow down or inhibit inflammation. This may be able to help with painful joints due to stiffness and help improve joint flexibility.
12. Weight Loss – A Secondary effect Improving your digestion, and detoxifying your will have a secondary effect in promoting weight loss because when we start to improve our digestion we naturally eliminate more efficiently,which is a primary way they we detoxify – through our bowels. This will lighten our toxic load on the body and will give us more energy.
Aloe Vera Intake Precautions This plant is incredibly medicinal, yet there are some cautions against long-term use. Just because a little is beneficial, doesn’t mean that a lot is more beneficial. This is an incredibly potent herb and should be used with a level of respect for its potency. Long-term use can lead to loss of
electrolytes, especially potassium.Avoid taking aloe internally during pregnancy, menstruation, if you have hemorrhoids or degeneration of the liver and gall bladder.
Aloe Vera Dosage
Many people are trying to sell their aloe vera juice products. Like I always say “fresh is best”.Aloe plants can grow pretty much anywhere. When I was living in Canada, I used to have several indoor aloe plants and they did really well. Now that I live in Hawaii, aloe grows everywhere, so I don’t need to buy the juice, I just make it myself. Some companies selling Aloe juice recommend thatwe should take it ‘regularly’ but I don’t necessarily agree. We need to treat this plant as the medicinethat it is and by tuning into our bodies we can really start to notice if we’re pulled to this plant for some level of healing. Would we take medicine unnecessarily without our bodies really needing it?Probably not, and that’s the same with plant medicines. If you’re experiencing one of these digestive ailments use it for a short period of time for it’s course in treatment (1-2 weeks) and then stop andwait at least a month before starting again.When I was living in Vancouver, I bought a big jug of the aloe juice and was taking shots of it in the morning. One of the ways that we can tune into our bodies is to simply notice immediate reactions.When I first started taking it, my body was totally fine with it, the taste didn’t bother me, and I could tell it was ok for my body. After a couple of weeks, I would take a shot and I would get a bit of a gag reflex. Our bodies are incredible at communicating with us. This was my sign that the Aloe medicine had run its course in treatment and didn’t start taking it again for at least another month or two.We see something that says weight-loss on it and we just go to town on taking it without considering the potential toxic effects of over-doing a potent plant medicine like Aloe. I don’t think in any culture, aloe was used internally every single day – most traditional cultures understand that more isn’t always necessarily better and use it when it is actually needed. This way, it ensures the use of the effectiveness of the constituents of the plant when we are in need of it.
40 AMAZING USES FOR ALOE VERA
Topical Aloe Uses
1. Pamper yourself to a soothing body rub. Slice aloe leaves lengthwise and use the inner sides as a
biodegradable body scrub in the shower.
2. Treat burns from minor mishaps in the kitchen—from grease splatters or hot utensils.
3. For more major kitchen mishaps like a scald, mix some aloe gel and vitamin E oil into a little jar for a
homemade burn healer.
4. Banish black and blue bruises by swapping on the good goo.
5. Soothe and heal sunburnsthe feel-good way. Aloe contains cooling properties similar to menthol.
6. Take the sting or itch out of insect bites.
7. Reduce tissue damage from frostbite.
8. Alleviate mysterious rashes.
9. Make feet baby soft with an exfoliating foot mask by mixing together a half cup of oatmeal, a half cup
of corn meal, four tbsp. of aloe vera gel and a half cup of unscented body lotion.
10. Help heal herpes outbreaks.
11. Fight Athlete’s Foot.
12. Swab over blisters for quick relief.
13. Use as an antidote to allergic skin reactions.
14. Replace creams and lotions as a general moisturizer for dry skin. Aloe is fast absorbing!
15. Prevent pesky pimples and treat acne.
16. Soothe Psoriasis 17. Prevent scarring and stretch marks.
18. Help rid of Rosacea.
19. Shrink warts.
20. Reverse signs of aging skin and wrinkles. Cleopatra did!
21. Help eliminate Eczema.
22. Brighten skin. Aloe can decrease pigmentation and dark spots.
23. Make skin new again with an exfoliating, organic sugar scrub by mixing together two tbsp. of aloe
vera, 2 tbsp. of organic brown sugar and 1 tsp. of organic lemon juice.
24. For rougher patches mix together an organic salt skin scrub using two cups of sea salt, one cup of aloe
vera, one cup of organic coconut oil and two tbsp. of local, organic honey.
25. Speed up hair growth by massaging aloe into the scalp, letting it sit for 30 minutes, and rinsing.
26. Reduce hair dandruff by mixing aloe vera juice with coconut milk and wheat germ oil. Massage into
scalp and rinse.
27. Replace aloe with conditioner for silkier, smoother hair.
28. Remove eye makeup.
29. Treat minor vaginal irritations.
29. Treat minor vaginal irritations.
30. Drink aloe vera juice to relieve gastrointestinal disorders like indigestion.
31. Sip it to aid in elimination. Many times, it’s recommended for its laxative effects.
32. Take a swig to reduce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome including bloating and discomfort.
33. Take aloe orally to relieve heartburn, arthritis and rheumatism pain.
34. Boil leaves in a pan of water and breathe in the vapor to alleviate asthma.
35. Drink to lower blood sugar levels—especially for diabetics.
36. Strengthen gums and promote strong, healthy teeth by taking orally or use toothpaste with aloe vera
ingredients.
37. Drink to help ease congestion, stomach ulcers, colitis, hemorrhoids, urinary tract infections and
prostate problems.
38. Take orally to reduce cholesterol and triglycerides for a healthy heart.
39. Sip to minimize inflammation and infection of the eye and ear.
40. 40.Toast to its general detoxifier and health boosting qualities!
Ingrediants
Vitamins
Except for Vitamin D, Aloe Vera plants are rich in all vitamins, including the antioxidant Vitamins A
(beta-carotene), C and E. It is also one of the very few plant sources of Vitamin B12, which is particularly
important to vegetarians and vegans.
Enzymes
Enzymes are biochemical catalysts. Some that are contained in Aloe Vera plants, when taken orally, can
help digestion by breaking down fats and sugars. Aloe Vera plants also contain other enzymes such as:
• Bradykinase: It can assist in reducing excessive inflammation and thus reduces pain when
applied to the skin topically.
• Lipases and proteases: They can help breaking down foods and assist digestion.
• Some others can help digest dead tissues in wounds.
Minerals
Many important minerals are found in Aloe Vera Plants, such as Calcium, Sodium Potassium,
Manganese, Magnesium, Copper, Zinc, Chromium and the anti-oxidant Selenium. Even though our body
only needs them in very small quantities, they are essential for the proper functioning of various enzyme
systems in different metabolic pathways.
Sugars
Aloe Vera plants contain sugars that are known as mucopolysaccharides. These sugars are derived from
the mucilage layer that surrounds the inner gel. They enhance the immune system, help detoxify and thus
bring great benefits to our health.
Both mono and polysaccharides are present in Aloe Vera Plant, but the most important are the long chain
sugars involving glucose and mannose or the gluco-mannans. Unlike other sugars, these sugars do not
break down but through a process called pinocytosis, are ingested whole from the gut and appear in the
bloodstream in the same form. Once in the blood stream, they are able to exert their immuno-regulating
effect.
For those polysaccharides that are not absorbed, they will stick to certain cells lining the gut and create a
barrier that can prevent absorption of unwanted material and thus help to prevent a “leaking” gut
syndrome. These sugars can also be main moisturizers in topical preparations.
Lignin
Lignin in itself is an inert substance but when included in topical preparations it endows Aloe Vera with a
singular penetrative effect and thus helps easier absorption of other ingredients into the skin.
Saponins
Saponins are soapy substances, which form about 3% of the Aloe Vera gel. They have cleansing and
antiseptic properties and are powerful anti-microbials against bacteria, viruses, fungi and yeasts.
Fatty Acids
Aloe Vera contains four plant steroids: Cholesterol, Campesterol, b. Sisosterol and Lupeol. They are both
important anti-inflammatory agents.
Salicylic acid
This is an aspirin-like compound that has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.
Amino Acids
Aloe Vera Gel contains 20 of the 22 amino acids our body needs. In addition, out of the 8 essential amino
acids our body cannot synthesize, Aloe Vera provides .
Anthraquinones
There are twelve of these Phenolic compounds found exclusively in the sap of Aloe Vera plants. In small
quantities, they are beneficial and can assist absorption from the gastro-intestinal tract and have anti-
microbial and pain killing effects. The more important ones are Aloin and Emodin. However, they can
exert purgative effect and produce abdominal pain or diarrhea.
Because of this reason, how the gel is extracted and how much of Anthraquinones have entered into the
end products are very important for safety purpose. While many manufacturers use the whole leaf method
where the whole plant is harvested and grinded, Forever Living is one of the few, if not the only,
manufacturers that use the inner gel method to extract the gel, which only takes the inner gel within the
sap. Our process ensures that none of these compounds will enter into the gel and compromise the quality
and safety of our drinks products.