Can Aloe Vera Helps Heal Wounds?
Yes! Applied to wounds, Aloe gel is a mild anesthetic, relieving itching, swelling, and pain: it also is antibacterial and
antifungal, increases blood flow to wounded areas, and stimulates fibroblasts, the skin cells responsible for wound healing.
The bulk of the Aloe leaf is filled with gel, 96% water with the other 4% containing 75 known substances. [1]
An animal-based study in the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association found that both oral and topical Aloe
preparations speed wound healing. Animals were given either Aloe (100mg/kg body weight) in their drinking water for two
months or 25% Aloe Vera cream applied directly to wounds for six days. Aloe had positive effects in both cases. The size of wounds decreased 62% in the animals taking oral Aloe compared to a 51% in the control group. Topical Aloe produced a 51% decrease in wound size compared to a 33% in the control group. [1]
Soothes Burns
In a study in the Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand, 27 patients with moderate burn wounds were treated with gauze
coated in either Aloe gel or Vaseline™ (petroleum jelly). The burns healed more quickly in the Aloe group, with an aVerage healing
time of 12 days compared to 18 days for the group using Vaseline. [1]
Supports Surgical Recovery
Aloe decreases surgical recovery time, according to a report in the Journal of Dermatologic Surgery and Oncology.
Eighteen acne patients underwent facial dermabrasion surgery, in which lesions are scraped away.
Dressings were applied to their faces, with half of each person's face receiving the standard dressing coated with surgical gel,
and the other half with Aloe added to this dressing. The half of the face treated with Aloe healed approximately 72 hours faster
than the other side.
Dermatologist James Fulton, M.D., of Newport Beach, California, principal author of the report, uses topical Aloe in his
practice to speed wound healing. "Any wound we treat, whether it's suturing a cut or removing a skin cancer, heals better
with Aloe Vera on it," he states. [1]
Screens Out Radiation
Aloe protects against skin damage from X rays, according to researchers at Hoshi University in Japan publishing in the
journal Yakugaku Zasshi. They found that Aloe was an effective antioxidant, mopping up the free radicals caused by radiation,
and that it protected two of the body's healing substances, superoxide dismutase (SOD- an antioxidant enzyme) and glutathione
(an amino acid which stimulates the immune system). [1]
Heals Psoriasis Lesions
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in Tropical Medicine and International Health, 60 patients with chronic
psoriasis were given a 0.5% Aloe Vera extract in a mineral oil cream. The ointment was applied three times daily for five
consecutive days (15 applications total per week) for four weeks.
When patients were checked after eight months, far more psoriasis skin lesions had healed in the Aloe group (82.8%)
than in the placebo group (7.7%). Further, 83.3% of the Aloe group were considered cured of their psoriasis compared
to only 6.6% of the placebo group. [1]
Eases Intestinal Problems
Aloe Vera juice can be effective for treating inflammatory bowel disease, according to a study in the Journal of Alternative Medicine. Ten patients were given two ounces of Aloe juice, three times daily, for seven days. After one week, all patients were cured of diarrhea, four had improved bowel regularity, and three reported increased energy.
Researchers concluded that Aloe was able to rebalance the intestines by "regulating gastrointestinal pH while improving gastrointestinal motility, increasing stool specific gravity, and reducing populations of certain fecal microorganisms, including yeast." Other studies have shown that Aloe Vera juice helps to detoxify the bowel, neutralize stomach acidity, and relieve constipation and gastric ulcers. 1
Reduces Blood Sugar in Diabetes
Aloe reduced the blood sugar levels in diabetics, as reported in Hormone Research. Five patients with adult (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes were given 1/2 teaspoon of Aloe extract daily for up to 14 weeks. Blood sugar levels were reduced in all patients by an aVerage of 45%, with no change in their total weight. 1
Reduces Arthritic Swelling
Aloe can help prevent arthritis and reduce the inflammation in joints already affected by arthritis, according to the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association. Aloe can also inhibit the autoimmune reaction associated with certain forms of arthritis, in which the body attacks its own tissues.
Animals were injected with a bacterium to cause arthritic symptoms, namely inflammation and swelling. To determine if it could prevent arthritis, Aloe (150mg/kg body weight) was injected under the skin daily for 13 days. Physical measurements were taken daily to determine the amount of swelling and inflammation.
SeVeral compounds from Aloe showed antiarthritic activity, according to the researchers. One organic acid in Aloe reduced inflammation by 79.7% and suppressed the autoimmune response by 42.4%. Another Aloe compound (anthraquinone) reduced inflammation by 67.3% but had no effect on the autoimmune response. 1
Curtailing HIV Infection
An extract of mannose, one of the sugars in Aloe, can inhibit HIV-1 (the virus associated with AIDS). In a 1991 study in Molecular Biotherapy, HIV-1 cells were treated in vitro (outside the body) with a mannose extract. Aloe slowed virus reproduction by as much as 30%, reduced viral load (total amount of the virus), suppressed the spread of the virus from infected cells, and increased the viability (chance of survival) of infected cells. 1
Stimulates Immune Response Against Cancer
Aloe may help prolong survival time and stimulate the immune system of cancer patients, according to recent research.
In a 1994 study in the Japanese medical journal Yakhak Hoeji, mice with cancerous tumors were given Aloe orally for 14 days. While the Aloe did not suppress tumor growth, the aVerage life span of the mice was prolonged by 22% for those given 50mg Aloe/kg body weight and by 32% for those given 100mg/kg daily. A simultaneous experiment on human cancer cells (outside the body) found that high doses of Aloe significantly suppressed the growth of these cancer cells.
Researchers writing in Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy found that a compound (lectin) from Aloe, when injected directly into tumors, activated the immune system to attack the cancer. Killer T cells, white blood cells that bind to invading cells and destroy them, began to attack the tumor cells injected with lectin.
Aloe turns on the immune system by activating macrophages (white blood cells which "swallow" antigens), causing the release of immune-activating (and anticancer) substances such as interferons, interleukines, and tumor necrosis factor. In addition, Aloe promotes the growth of normal (non-cancerous) cells, researchers said. 1
Benefits Lung Cancer
Aloe's protective effect was confirmed in a study of 673 lung cancer patients in Okinawa, Japan, published in the Japanese Journal of Cancer Research. This survey looked at the connection between smoking, comparative amounts of 17 plant foods in the diet, and the occurrence of lung cancer over a five-year period.
Aloe was the only one of the plant foods that was protective against cancer. "The results of plant epidemiology suggests that Aloe prevents human pulmonary carcinogenesis [lung cancer]," stated the researchers. Further, Aloe is "widely preventive or suppressive against various human cancers."1
Aids in Collagen formation
Professor of Physiology (University of Texas) and chief of the Research Laboratory of North Texas, Ivan Danhof, showed (1984) that the application of Aloe gel to the skin accelerates firboblasts. Fibroblasts aid in the manufacture of collagen, which is the protein that controls the aging process of the skin and wrinkling. (As one ages, collagen starts to disappear from the skin, causing slackening and wrinkling.) Aloe gel helps to protect the outer layers of the skin by helping it to reorganize skin cells. He further showed the moisturizing properties of Aloe by demonstrating that the skin absorbs moisture from Aloe gel three to four times faster than water. 1
Anti-Viral
One report ("Clinical Review" 1987) shows that a compound—acemannon—found in Aloe Vera seems to have some remarkable anti-viral properties. Even where HIV (the virus that often leads to AIDS) is concerned, Dr. Reg McDanial stated, "It appears that carrisyn [editor's note: Carrisyn is the commercial name of acemannon patented by Carrington Laboratories] neutralizes the [AIDS] virus by transforming it's protein envelope thus preventing it from attaching itself to the T4 cells." 1
HIV and AIDS
Clinical Review, 1987
Clinical trials on people living with AIDS ("PLWA") have shown that acemannon re-enforces the body's natural defense (immune) system of thus may stop the progression of HIV. Such studies have been corraborated by others, showing not only the nutrition value of ingesting Aloe Vera (in drink form), but also it's potential for providing significant benefits to boost the immune system. Of course, how the Aloe drink is processed is a determining factor in the degree of potential benefit.
Please keep in mind, there is no known method of curing AIDS—so people living with AIDS should not view this as a cure, but rather as another option in possibly arresting or slowing down HIV. Aloe has not been scientifically proven to completely remove HIV from the body. Anybody who says that it—or anything else, has been shown to cure AIDS (cancer, etc.) is either misinformed or intentionally deceiving for their own purposes (usually financial). Aloe is; however, a bright hope in the battle of many illnesses—and certainly in strengthening the immune system.1
Arthritis
Dr. Robert H. Davis (Physiologist at the University of Pennsylvania College of Podiatric Medicine) conducted Aloe research since the early 1970's.
In laboratory tests on animals his findings included the results that Aloe can prevent and arrest arthritis, improve wound healing, inhibit pain, block inflammation, restore bone growth, and act as a vehicle for the delivery of nutrients to the body. Dr. Davis stated, "Aloe Vera contains the greatest number of active substances of any plant I've looked at."
Aloe is also known to help unblock and keep clean the receptors inside the lining of the intestines—facilitating the absorption into the bloodstream of vitamins and other nutrients.1
Speeds Healing of Burns
Aloe Vera gel is excellent for relieving first-degree burns (including sunburns) and some minor second-degree burns. Applying Aloe Vera after the burn has cooled will relieve pain and inflammation, as well as accelerate healing. A study was done on 27 people with moderately severe burns. Those who applied Aloe Vera healed in an aVerage of 12 days. The control group covered their affected areas with a regular gauze dressing. They took 18 days to heal. 1
Soothes Healing of Cuts, Scrapes, and Other Minor Wounds and Skin Irritations
Aloe Vera gel contains substances known to help relieve pain, reduce swelling, stop itching, and increase blood flow to an injured area. Research indicates that Aloe Vera has antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties. 1
What is the history of Aloe Vera use and effectiveness?
From: Alternative Medicine, The Voice of Alternative Medicine® (Issue 28, March 1999)
Known to herbalists and medical folklorists for centuries as the "medical plant" or "the potted physician", this cactus-like plant with green dagger-shaped leaves filled with a clear, viscous gel was brought from Africa to North America in the sixteenth century. But long before this, Aloe, whose name means "shining bitter substance," was widely regarded as a master healing plant. The ancient Egyptians referred to Aloe as the "plant of immortality" and included it among the funerary gifts buried with the pharaohs. In recent decades, medical research has confirmed and extended many of the health claims for the shining bitter substance (used topically or consumed as a liquid) that is the heart of Aloe.
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