Aloe Vera and its benefits

Overview

What is Aloe Vera?

Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis) is a spiky evergreen perennial (persistent) plant with fleshy and thickened parts. It grows in dry places with a hot climate, such as Africa, Asia and some parts of the United States of America. There are around 300 aloe plant species, of which aloe vera is the most beneficial plant with much goodness. ¹Overview| Researched based study from Sciencedirect.com

Facts

Facts about Aloe Vera

• Aloe Vera name is derived from the Arabic word ‘Alloeh’ (shining bitter) and the Latin word ‘Vera’ (True)
• Aloe Vera is also commonly known as elephant’s gall, burn plant, lily of the desert, Kathalai(in Ayurvedic drugs), Lu Hui(in Chinese medicines) and Ghritkumari(in the Hindi language)
• In ancient times years ago, Greeks considered Aloe Vera the remedy for all diseases.
• The Egyptian people termed Aloe Vera an immortal plant
• From eras, Aloe Vera has been identified for its goodness in skin beauty, health and medicines
• Aloe Vera is mainly cultivated on a large scale for commercial purposes
• Aloe Vera is used in commercial products such as skin lotion, medicated creams, gels and drinks and is obtainable as face creams, soaps, shampoos, body creams, medicated ointments, health supplements and herbal juice form ²Facts| Researched based study from Sciencedirect.com

Useful Parts of Aloe Vera

Aloe leaf

The plump leaves of aloe vera contain a gel-like substance that is used for preparing derma (skin) ointments, oral medicines (capsule or liquid form) and liquid drinks.

Aloe latex

Latex is the sticky substance found below the leaf surface and has a laxative (chemical to help in stool mobility) effect that can be used to treat complicated bowel movements.

Components

Active components of Aloe Vera

Aloe vera mainly comprises water (95%), and only 5% of it consists of solid compounds

Active components in Aloe Vera juice

• Folic acid
• Beta carotene
• Magnesium
• Calcium
• Vitamins A, C, and E

Nutrients in Aloe Vera plant

• Polysaccharides
• Vitamins A,B, C and E
• Iron
• Sodium
• Calcium
• Zinc
• Copper
• Manganese
• Fatty acids
• Amino acids such as saponin glycosides, leucine, and isoleucine
• Enzymes (such as alkaline phosphatase, peroxidase, and amylase) ¹⁰Components | Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Other actives present in Aloe Vera are:

Choline

• Choline is essential nutrient made in the liver and also found in foods and helps in proper heart, liver and brain functioning ¹⁰Components | Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Anthraquinones

• It is a natural phenolic compound used in some medicines ¹⁰Components | Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Acemannan

• It is a polysaccharide used for wound healing

Lectins

• It is a carbohydrate-binding protein that help fight cancer ¹⁰Components | Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Mucilage

• Mucilage is soluble fiber and helpful in losing weight ¹⁰Components | Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Germanium

• A metallic compound also found in garlic
• Enhances the body’s immunity¹⁰Components | Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Lignin

• Hydrocarbon polymer
• Help in penetrating different ingredients in the skin¹⁰Components | Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Saponin

• It is a steroid
• Has cleansing and disinfectant properties ¹⁰Components | Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Salicylic acid

• It is a natural compound
• Used to treat skin disorders

Properties

Properties of Aloe Vera

• Anti-inflammatory – it prevents swelling and redness .
• Anticancer – prevents tumor formation
• Antioxidant – enhances body to fight infections
• Antimicrobial- prevents infections
• Antiallergic – prevents hypersensitive reactions
• Enhances the body’s immune response against infections ²Properties| Researched based study from Sciencedirect.com

Benefits

Benefits of Aloe Vera

Improves digestion

• It cures stomach problems like abdominal pain, stomach gas, and constipation.
• Help prevent the growth of harmful bacteria (viz; H. Pylori bacteria) that cause boils in the alimentary canal.

Enhances oral health

• Aloe Vera containing toothpaste has shown positive mouth effects .
• Lowers levels of candida (fungus infection), gingivitis (gum disease) and plague (bacterial infection)³Benefits| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Treats acne

• It helps clear acne
• It lessens skin irritation
• It lowers swelling, redness and pain of the boils ⁴Benefits| Researched based study from Tandfonline.com

Cures burn

• It has cooling and hydrating properties
• It helps give comfort and relieves the pain in the burn area

Relieves sun-burn inflammation

• Aloe vera has anti-inflammatory and cooling properties
• The Glucomannan component of aloe vera has renewal properties and helps reduce sunburn

Treats anal fissure (small cut in the anal canal lining)

• Relieves pain caused due bleeding after defecation
• It restores the cut area ⁵Benefits| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Controls blood sugar

• It maintains the optimum serum glucose in diabetic-prone individuals
• Reduces glucose absorption in the alimentary tract
• Lessens the glucose production ⁶Benefits| Researched based study from Wiley.com .

Lowers blood pressure

• Aloe vera has anti-oxidant anti-inflammatory components (aloin and emodin)
• Reduces the systolic and diastolic blood pressures ⁷Benefits| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Delays skin ageing

• Aloe vera has mucopolysaccharides having anti-ageing and hydrating properties.
• It also has fibroblast connective tissue that increases elastin fibre production.⁷Benefits| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov
• Thus, it helps give a compact and youthful look and prevents premature thin lines formation in the face.

Soothes heartburn

• Aloe vera relieves the symptoms of acid reflux ( Stomach acid travelling back to the oesophagus)

Relieves skin irritation

• Aloe Vera has antifungal, antibacterial and hydrating properties
• It helps control red itchy skin conditions of eczema disease (skin disease)⁷Benefits| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov .

Improves irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

• Irritable bowel syndrome causes intestinal infection with pain and changes in bowel movement.
• The anti-inflammatory properties of aloe vera improve the symptoms of IBS

Relieves constipation

• Aloe vera has anthraquinones which act as a natural laxative
• It improves bowel irregularities

Medical benefits of aloe vera (in gel form)

• Surgical wounds
• Skin blisters
• Mouth abscess (sores)
• Skin rashes ( swelling and redness)
• Bedsores(painful damage to the skin due to prolonged bed rest)
• Psoriasis (skin disorder causing rash and itching)
• Herpes(viral infection that causes boils) in the genitals(private parts)
• Cold sores
• Eczema ⁷Benefits| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Adverse effects

Adverse effects of Aloe Vera

• Skin irritation
• Nausea and vomiting
• Lowering of potassium level in blood
• Imbalances of electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium
• Kidney malfunctioning
• Diarrhea (passing of watery stool)
• Weakness in muscles

Interaction

Interaction of Aloe Vera with medicines

Medicines that can be affected by Aloe Vera use :

Anticoagulant drugs

• Aloe prolongs the blood clotting process. So consuming aloe with other anticoagulants may further delay the clotting process leading to increased bleeding risk.

Medicines treating diabetes

• Consuming aloe gel reduces the sugar level.
• So consuming aloe gel with antidiabetic medicines may further lower the glucose level in our body, causing hypoglycemia (low body glucose)

Corticosteroids

• Aloe consumption may increase the risk of side effects of corticosteroid drugs.

Lanoxin

• Aloe latex consumed orally
• can cause diarrhea
• It can decrease potassium levels in the body, and
• lower potassium can, in turn, increase other side effects of the Lanoxin medicine

Coumadin

• Aloe latex (a natural laxative) causes diarrhea raising the Coumadin effects and increasing bleeding risk.

Sevoflurane

• Aloe Vera has antiplatelet (prevent blood clotting) ability. So taking sevoflurane, also an antiplatelet drug, may further delay the blood clotting process leading to profuse bleeding.

Laxatives

• Aloe latex is a natural laxative, so consuming it with other laxatives can cause
• Increased diarrhea
• Decreased level of potassium

Diuretic medicines

• Aloe latex, a laxative, causes diarrhea and lowers the potassium level in our body.
• So consuming aloe latex with diuretics further decreases the body’s potassium level.

Herbal supplements

• Like aloe vera, herbal supplements also reduce blood clotting. So consuming both together can delay the blood clotting process.

Precautions

Precautions related to Aloe Vera usage

Health conditions to avoid aloe vera consumption

• In Diabetes
• In Nephrotic syndrome (kidney disorder)
• In Cardiac issues(heart problem)
• Ulcerative Colitis (infection of the bowel that causes boils, swelling and redness)
• Crohn’s disease(a bowel disease that causes irritation and swelling of the gastrointestinal tract)
• Intestinal obstruction (blockage that prevents food and liquid passage through the intestine)
• Piles problem (painful swollen veins in the lower part of rectum and anus) ⁸Precautions| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov .
• People allergic to tulips, garlic, and onions are more likely to be allergic to aloe vera.
• Avoid aloe vera application on severe burns and extensive cut
• Aloe vera stains the colon, so it should be avoided before undergoing a colonoscopy
• Aloin containing aloe vera gel for topical or oral use can irritate the digestive tract and can cause diarrhea and stomach pain
• Pregnant and nursing mothers should avoid aloe vera supplements due to lack of evidence on their safety ⁹Precautions| Researched based study from Sciencedirect.com .