Although it's a commonly used herb today, humans have known about the benefits of aloe for centuries. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, early Egyptians depicted aloe vera on stone carvings thousands of years ago. The leaves of the aloe vera plant contain a gel, which is used as a common ingredient in lotions, creams and cosmetics. Some people also take the juice of the aloe vera plant orally to treat conditions such as diabetes, asthma, epilepsy and arthritis.
Speak with your physician before employing aloe vera as a remedy for any health condition.
Burn Treatment
Aloe vera concentrate effectively treats minor skin burns, cuts and sunburns. Aloe soothes skin by decreasing inflammation and pain and stimulating skin cell repair. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, clinical research evidence indicates that applying aloe vera to minor burns helped patients' wounds heal an average of nine days faster than those who did not use aloe. However, people with severe burns or deep wounds should avoid using aloe---according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, aloe actually inhibits healing of deep surgical wounds. Aloe also does not relieve skin inflammation and redness due to radiation therapy.
Skin and Joint Relief
People suffering from genital herpes may find symptom relief by applying aloe to their sores, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Aloe also proved superior to hydrocortisone cream or placebo in relieving the skin inflammation associated with the autoimmune disorder psoriasis. Some people also apply aloe topically to relieve inflammation caused by osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Constipation Cure
Taking aloe juice, sometimes referred to as aloe latex, orally relieves constipation, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. However, the laxative effect of aloe causes strong, painful cramping and diarrhea, and as a result, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration removed all laxative products containing aloe compounds in 2002, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Taking aloe as a laxative also could interfere with the absorption of certain medicines. If you plan to use aloe juice as a laxative, talk to your doctor about potential side effects.
Blood Sugar Levels
Consuming aloe vera concentrate by mouth could lower blood sugar levels, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. If you take diabetes medications to lower your blood sugar levels, exercise caution with oral aloe vera, as the combination of medications and aloe could cause blood sugar levels to drop too low.
Member Comments