Uses of Aloe Vera Juice

Dating back to the ancient Egyptians, folk healers have valued aloe vera for both medicinal and cosmetic purposes. Aloe vera juice is a liquid extract obtained from the green pulp of the aloe leaves; it is one form in which this herb is prescribed for internal use. There are a number of reasons for taking aloe vera juice.

Burns and Wounds

In her book "Prescription for Herbal Healing," Phyllis A. Balch notes that aloe vera juice helps to speed up healing of burns and wounds by increasing the supply of oxygen delivered to cells in the affected area. The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that it contains active compounds called Glycoproteins that help to speed up the healing process by relieving pain and inflammation. It also contains polysaccharides that stimulate skin growth and repair. Aloe vera is also useful for treating psoriasis, eczema and seborrheic dermatitis, or dandruff.

Constipation

Aloe vera juice has traditionally been prescribed as an herbal laxative to alleviate constipation. According to the National Institutes of Health, there is strong scientific evidence that it has potent laxative properties. The NIH notes that these properties result from a group of compounds called anthroquinone glycosides, one of the active chemical constituents in this herbal drink. It also cautions that taking aloe vera juice in large amounts may cause cramping or diarrhea.

Peptic Ulcers

Drinking aloe vera juice may be useful in the treatment of peptic ulcers. Phyllis A. Balch cites studies indicating that aloe vera juice is so effective in treating ulcers, that researchers recommend taking it instead of Tagamet, or cimetidine, a widely used prescription medication. She states that aloe vera soothes peptic ulcer inflammation that is results from excess stomach acids, alcohol, aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDS. Aloe vera juice helps increase nutrient absorption in people suffering from AIDS by soothing the lining of the digestive tract.

Diabetes

Akira Yagi et al. reports on a number of studies showing that aloe vera juice has hypoglycemic properties that are beneficial in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. In these studies, aloe vera juice was shown to have a significant hypoglycemic effect in decreasing blood sugar levels over the long term. Furthermore, it was also shown to lower levels of triglycerides in the blood, which tend to be high in some diabetic patients.