Aloe vera is a perennial herb that has been used for cosmetic and therapeutic purposes for thousands of years. Aloe vera juice, a drink that is derived from the succulent leaves of the aloe plant, is an herbal preparation that can be taken by mouth. There are a number of benefits that can be obtained from drinking aloe vera.
Anti-diabetic Benefits
Drinking aloe vera juice may be beneficial in the management of type 2 diabetes. Citing results from preliminary studies on aloe vera, the University of Maryland Medical Center reports that it may help to lower blood glucose levels in people who suffer from type 2 diabetes. Butler Hospital Health Encyclopedia reports that in two single-blind, placebo-controlled human trials, oral aloe vera was found to cause improvements in blood sugar levels. Further research is needed to determine the efficacy of this juice in the treatment of diabetes.
Laxative Benefits
According to The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, aloe vera juice contains compounds that have laxative properties. It has traditionally been drunk to treat or prevent constipation. In a monograph on aloe vera, NCCAM notes that the Food and Drug Administration regulated products containing three of these compounds--aloe-emodin, aloin and barbaloin--as over-the-counter laxatives until 2002.
Anti-carcinogenic Benefits
Drinking Aloe vera juice may help to treat and prevent cancer. The International Journal of Toxicology reports that aloe vera juice contains active chemical constituents that inhibit the growth of malignant tumors. Among these is a compound called aloe-emodin, which has anticarcinogenic properties. In a June 2000 PubMed abstract of a clinical study on aloe vera, R. P. Singh, et al. report that it was shown to be beneficial in detoxifying chemical carcinogens in the liver, lungs, kidney and fore-stomach of lab mice.
Ulcerative Colitis
Drinking aloe vera may be an useful treatment for ulcerative colitis, according to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. It cites the results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled study in which oral aloe vera was administered to patients suffering from this condition. This treatment appeared to alleviate the symptoms and severity of ulcerative colitis among these patients after four weeks, and about 30 percent of them experienced a full remission.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Aloe
- Butler Hospital Health Encyclopedia: Aloe
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Aloe Vera
- PubMed.gov: Chemomodulatory action of Aloe vera
- International Journal of Toxicology: Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Aloe Andongensis Extract
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