Aloe vera is a popular treatment for soothing sunburns, dry skin and contact with poisonous plants, according to the Mayo Clinic. Oils extracted from the plant and converted into gel form, creating a topical remedy. Aloe vera's impact reaches beyond the skin. When the oils are converted to a liquid and ingested, the aloe plant possesses laxative, anti-inflammatory and, potentially, anti-cancerous properties.
Irritable Bowel and Constipation Treatments
Aloe vera drinks are primarily used to treat conditions related to an irritated colon. The Queen Mary School of Medicine and Dentistry in London enrolled 48 people to receive an oral aloe vera treatment or placebo to relieve symptoms of ulcerative colitis. The research team reported in a 2004 issue of "Ailment Pharmacology and Therapeutics" found that physical improvement and perceptions of effectiveness was higher among those in the treatment group than the placebo group.
A small study conducted at Israel's Soroka Medical Center tested the laxative properties of aloe vera against psyllium fiber and celandin. Results published in a 1991 edition of the journal "Digestion" showed that aloe vera was as effective as the other over-the-counter laxatives. This particular study was cited in the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology's recommendations for chronic constipation.
Reduces Inflammation
Most diseases of the body can be traced to inflamed tissue in the body. Oral lichen planus is inflammation linked to gum, lip and mouth tissues, resulting in white patches that lead to open sores or pain, according to the Mayo Clinic. Patients in a study conducted at Khon Khaen University in Thailand were given an aloe vera gel to consume and treat the breakout. Of the 27 people in the treatment group, 22 responded to the aloe vera with either a reduction in appearance or pain. The results of the study were revealed in the March 2008 issue of "The British Journal of Dermatology."
Antitumor and Antimetastatic Treatment
Multiple trials support aloe vera as a potential cancer treatment. Japanese researchers induced laboratory mice with cancer and treated them with different concentrations of cassialoin, the active ingredient in aloe vera. The result, which was published in the November 2008 issue of the journal "Cancer Science," was increased cell health and immunity, generating T cells in the small intestine and spleen. Doctors monitored the blood and digestive tract of the mice and found positive results, leading them to conclude that aloe vera may prevent tumor growth and metastasis.
A supplemental study published in the May 2000 edition of the "Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology" and conducted by Konkuk University in South Korea examined aloe vera's impact on cells linked to the growth of leukemia. When introduced at a strength of 100 microg milliliters, aloe vera inhibited growth. The team concluded that the compound di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate in aloe vera prevented tumor development and growth. This supports a conclusion published by Russian scientists in "Voprosy Onkologii." This 1986 report showed that aloe juice reduced "tumor mass, metastatic foci and metastatis frequency" in mice during the tumor's lifespan.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Aloe Vera
- Ailmentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial...
- Digestion: A double-blind trial of a celandin, aloevera and psyllium...
- Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology: Recommendations on chronic constipation
- Mayo Clinic: Oral lichen planus
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