Juices and gels made from the aloe vera plant have been used for thousands of years to heal many health conditions. Traditionally, gel from the aloe plant is used to treat skin problems, while aloe juice is used for gastrointestinal complaints. Aloe juice contains a number of medicinally interesting compounds that may help to heal and prevent certain chronic conditions, but more research needs to be done to confirm the healing benefits of aloe vera juice. Always consult your physician before using any alternative remedy to treat a serious health condition.
Traditional Uses
The University of Michigan explains that aloe vera juice been used traditionally to heal acute and chronic gastrointestinal ailments, including heartburn, gastrointestinal reflux and inflammatory bowel disease. Despite its traditional use and thousands of anecdotal reports, there is almost no scientific evidence confirming that aloe juice benefits these conditions.
Constipation Relief
Aloe juice can provide relief from constipation if it contains aloe latex. The National College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine explains that aloe latex has very powerful laxative compounds. It takes about 10 hours for these compounds to cause a bowel movement after you drink the juice. If aloe latex is used for an extended period of time, however, your intestines may become depleted of potassium, making it more and more difficult to have bowel movements. If you take aloe to relieve constipation, do not use it for extended periods of time. Talk to your doctor to learn more about the laxative properties of aloe.
Regulation of Blood Sugar
Some limited scientific evidence suggests that aloe juice may help to balance blood sugar levels and have a healing effect in people with type 2 diabetes. According to MedlinePlus, two studies have shown that, when taken orally, aloe juice can lower blood sugar levels in women with diabetes. Other follow-up studies, however, failed to reproduce these results.
Cancer Benefits
Recent studies suggest that aloe juice can both kill and prevent cancer. Researchers have shown that aloe juice may specifically prevent lung cancer, MayoClinic.com explains. The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center lists a number of potential anti-cancer compounds that are found in the aloe plant. The compounds acemannan, aloeride, and DEHP have been proven to kill cancer cells and may help to increase the healing effects of chemotherapy drugs. More research needs to be conducted to confirm the anti-cancer properties of aloe juice.
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