All About Aloe Vera

Aloe barbedensis or just Aloe to most people, is a species of succulent plant that probably originated in Northern Africa, Madagascar and the Arabian Peninsula.  Most of us know aloe as the plant to run to after burning yourself, but Aloe has a plethora of uses beyond treating burns.  It is non-toxic, with no known side effects, and is used widely in the traditional herbal medicine of China, Japan, Russia, South Africa, The United States, Jamaica and India.

Though the actual research on using aloe for burns has shown mixed results, a more recent review has concluded that the cumulative evidence supports the use of Aloe vera for the healing of first to second degree burns.  The plant’s juice has also been traditionally used internally for healing and soothing of digestive conditions like heartburn and irritable bowel syndrome and preliminary studies have suggested oral A. vera gel may reduce symptoms and inflammation in patients with ulcerative colitis. It has also been linked with improved blood glucose levels in diabetics, and with lower blood lipids in hyper-lipidemic patients.  In addition, compounds extracted from Aloe vera have been used as an immunostimulant that aids in fighting cancers in cats and dogs; but this treatment has not been scientifically tested in humans.

Topical application of Aloe vera may be effective to treat  genital herpes and psoriasis and check this out: a double-blind clinical trial found that the group using an Aloe vera containing dentifrice and the group using a fluoridated dentifrice both demonstrated a statistically significant reduction of gingivitis and plaque. Aloe extract also has antibacterial and antifungal activities and have been shown to inhibit the growth of fungi that cause tinea, but evidence for control beneath human skin remains to be established.  And amazingly the inner-leaf gel from A. vera has also been found to inhibit growth of Streptococcus and Shigella species in vitro.   Needless to say, it would be wise to plant an aloe plant or two around your home.  Aloe juice is also available bottled for the drinking.  Just be sure not to drink too much as it may cause diarrhea or malabsorption.