Aloe vera juice is a staple of many health and natural food stores. Fans of the juice suggest that it's good for many different conditions, including autism. However, there's no scientific evidence to suggest that this is so. As such, there's no reason to give aloe vera juice to children with autism unless it's purely because the child enjoys the taste. Consult with your physician or pediatrician if considering any supplement to treat your child's autism.
Aloe Vera
The aloe vera plant produces juice that is popular in alternative and herbal medicine. While mainstream uses of aloe vera include as a cooling agent on sunburns and other skin conditions, its uses in alternative medicine involve consuming the juice to help control blood sugar in diabetics and to treat or prevent genital herpes. Because the juice gels easily, it's also popular in cooking as a vegetarian alternative to agar and other animal-based gels.
Autism
According to MayoClinic.com, autism is a disorder that affects a child's ability to interact in a normal social manner. Autism typically shows up in the early toddler years, around the time a child should be developing spoken language. Toddlers with autism fail to develop language normally, and may even lose ability to use language that they've already acquired. Other symptoms include shying away from physical contact and engaging in behaviors like hand waving and rocking.
Aloe Vera for Autism
There is no scientific evidence to support the use of aloe vera juice in children with autism. According to MayoClinic.com, there are actually no components of diet that have been proved to reduce autism symptoms -- or to exacerbate them. Further, an article published in 1999 in the "British Journal of General Practice" by B. Vogler and colleagues notes that while there are some very preliminary studies that suggest aloe very juice may have some medicinal properties, none of these are yet conclusive, and no studies show an effect on autism.
Guidelines
If you want more information about aloe vera juice or its relationship to autism, talk with your health care provider. Your child's pediatrician can recommend a specialist to test your child for autism. If you child is, in fact, autistic, a specialist can recommend appropriate therapies that will help her develop more normal social behavior and learn to communicate through language. Many autistic children are able to lead very normal lives with appropriate therapy.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Autism
- MayoClinic.com: Autism and Food
- "British Journal of General Practice"; Aloe Vera: a Systematic Review of Its Clinical Effectiveness; B. Vogler et al; 1999
Member Comments