Aloe is a meaty plant, relative to the cactus. The leaves produce two sticky substances, gel and latex. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, aloe can be traced back 6,000 years to Egypt, where pharaohs used it as a burial gift. Today, aloe is used widely for its many health benefits.
Diabetes
Aloe is explored for possible treatment of type 2 diabetes. Results are promising. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, preliminary studies show aloe juice helped lower blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. UMMC warns not to take aloe in combination with diabetes medications, it can lower blood sugar too much.
Digestive System
In the digestive system, aloe latex acts as a stimulant laxative by increasing bowel speed. It also soothes the digestive system and calms inflammation. The National Institutes of Health warn not to combine aloe with other stimulant laxatives. This can increase bowel speed too much, causing dehydration from loss of minerals.
Skin
You'd be hard pressed to read the ingredient list of lotions and not find aloe these days. It's in everything from face cream and shampoo to toothpaste. If you have ever burned yourself and used a commercial burn cream, chances are it contained aloe. Aloe is used to soothe burns, facilitate healing of cuts, and reduce inflammation.
Precautions
Topically, aloe is recognized as safe. If you are considering taking aloe orally, there are precautions. Because aloe decreases potassium levels in the body, you should not take aloe orally if you are prescribed digoxin, a medication used to regulate heart rhythm as this drug lowers potassium, too. Aloe can cause uterine contractions, you should not take aloe orally if you are pregnant. As with all supplements, consult your doctor before supplementing aloe orally.
Member Comments