The aloe vera plant is a perennial that grows in tropic and sub-tropical climates. The plant can grow to heights of four feet and is characterized by spike-like leaves. The leaves of the aloe vera plant are made of 90 percent water and include glycoproteins and polysaccharides. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, the aloe vera plant has been used for health reasons for thousands of years.
Uses
The aloe vera plant has many uses. It can be used both topically and taken orally to treat various conditions. Topically, aloe vera is predominantly used to help heal burns and medical research shows that aloe speeds up the healing process for burn victims. Aloe is used to calm skin inflammations, as well as treat psoriasis and herpes. Internally, aloe can be used as a laxative and a treatment for diabetes and high blood pressure.
Inner Leaf Aloe
The inside of an aloe vera spike has the consistency of a water-based gel. The gel inside of the leaf is considered "inner leaf aloe." This substance can be scraped off of the leaf and used topically on the skin or added to juices and smoothies as a digestive tonic. Products labeled "inner leaf" are gentler on the stomach and digestive system and should not have a laxative effect. Products containing inner leaf aloe vera go through minimal processing, so are as close to the plant as possible.
Whole Leaf Aloe
According to World Wide Health, whole leaf aloe products contain both the gel, latex and rind of the aloe vera plant. Often whole leaf products are found in capsules and supplement form. The inner leaf of the plant contains the majority of health-promoting nutrients, so the addition of the whole leaf does little to add to the healing effects. Pollution and impurities from the atmosphere surrounding the plant can be found in the outside rind and the plant must go through a carbon filtration process that may filter the good qualities along with the bad.
Aloe Latex
Aloe latex is a yellow substance found between the rind and gel of the plant. The latex has powerful laxative properties and is found in herbal laxative supplements. Less frequently, aloe latex is used to treat menstrual conditions, multiple sclerosis, asthma and epilepsy, among others. Aloe latex comes with severe side effects and health professionals warn against taking aloe vera latex for constipation or other conditions. The body may develop of tolerance for aloe latex, prompting some individuals to take higher dosages of latex in order to achieve a laxative effect. After a few days of taking aloe latex the body may develop a dependence on it and will struggle to produce a bowel movement.
Considerations
Never consume an aloe vera product if you are pregnant or nursing, as the laxative effect of some aloe products may cause contractions in the uterine walls and cause a miscarriage. Check the back of your aloe product to make sure that aloe vera is the number one ingredient, if water is the first ingredient it may mean the aloe was reconstituted from a powder form. Aloe used as close to the source as possible has the greatest constitution of nutrients and healing properties.
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