Psoriasis is a rather
common autoimmune disease that results in a scaly build-up of skin on the
elbows, knees, and scalp. These thick, dry patches of skin are caused by
excessive skin cell multiplication which is believed to be triggered by the
body’s immune system. It is an inherited disease, and while harmless, it does
leave the sufferer with dry, itchy, unsightly patches.
Thankfully, for those who suffer from this ailment, there is a
proven treatment
that has been used for the past four millennia as a sure-fire treatment for all
skin problems, This miracle way to cure psoriasis, this magic balm that has been passed hand to hand for
countless generations, this virtually skin problem cure all that is the is the best home remedy around is none other than Aloe Vera.
Aloe Vera is a succulent plant that hails from the Liliaceae family. You
have most likely seen it growing on your neighbor’s window sill or garden. It
is easily recognizable with its long spiny lancelets and soothing green with
faint white spot coloring. When you take break a tip off of the one of the
spikes, inside you will see a sticky clear gel that is both tasteless and
odorless.
This sticky clear goop is, to the Aloe
users, a secret weapon against cuts, burns and scrapes as well as dandruff,
acne,
and, of course, psoriasis.
The gel of the Aloe
plant contains many different compounds, vitamins and minerals that are great
for penetrating into your skin and providing instant soothing relief from burns, scrapes, scratches, and insect bites. You can even take
it internally to help sooth intestinal issues and aid indigestion.
Scientific studies done over the past two decades have shown
that Aloe Vera is a great all natural way to help cure psoriasis
- an embarrassing autoimmune disease that effect parts of the skin.
In a 1995 Belgium study, Aloe displayed an 83.3% percent cure
rate for Psoriasis in a double blind no holds barred clinical study. Patients
using the .5% aloe extract, showed measurable improvement in the reduction of psoriasis plaques as well as reduced discoloration along with
marked reduction in all the other symptoms.
The participants in the study showed no adverse side effects,
and scientists who have done multiple studies on the plant are hard pressed to
find any negative side effects for using aloe
whatsoever. In fact, in this Belgium study, not a single participant even
dropped out. It is a completely safe all natural way to combat this
embarrassing skin disease and will leave your skin feeling soft and blemish
free.
While you can get aloe gel at most health food stores, the best
way to benefit from this remarkable plant is to buy one and grow it yourself.
They are very hardy plants and it takes minimum effort to keep them alive and
happy.
To discover more about the health benefits and remedies
using aloe vera, look no further than Yulia Berry’s e-book - “Aloe: Your
Miracle Doctor”. From here, you will learn about the wide array of internal and
external uses of aloe vera.
Yulia also dishes out tips on how you can prepare aloe in
your kitchen, depending on the condition that you would like to treat. She also
shares the history of aloe, why it is a must to take care of an aloe plant in
your own home. what its chemical composition is, what the biogenic stimulation
method is, and how it can be used for 130+ home remedies to treat more than
eighty different disorders.
Chicago,
Ill. - infoZine - "There is good evidence to support
using aloe vera for oral health problems," says AGD spokesperson Kenton
A. Ross, DMD, FAGD. "I believe a number of patients will be interested in
this inexpensive alternative."
Aloe vera accelerates healing and reduces pain associated with canker sores,
which are blisters on the lips or mouth. Aloe vera does not have a bad taste or sting when applied, according to
the January/February issue of General Dentistry.
The journal article, written by Richard L. Wynn, PhD, mentions a study done on
a patient with lichen planus, a disease affecting the skin and oral mucus
membranes. The patient drank 2.0 ounces of aloe vera juice daily and topical applied aloe vera lip balm. The oral lesions cleared up in four weeks and
complete success was achieved.
Dr. Wynn cited the study as showing that oral health problems can be treated
with aloe vera. "Aloe vera can be taken both as the aloe vera juice and aloe vera gel. These are the two modes of delivery recognized by the
FDA," says Dr. Wynn.
Those interested in remedies using aloe vera for oral health problems are
encouraged to speak with a dentist for proper treatment techniques.
Treatment and use of aloe vera plants
·Aloe
vera plants are available at most plant stores and nurseries.
·Place
near a window.
·Water
when the soil is dry.
·Do
not over water.
·To
get the gel out of the plant, use scissors to snip off an inch of the leaf.
·Squeeze
the leaf that was snipped off. The gel will squeeze out.
Remedies Using
Aloe Vera - Aloe could help trauma victims, study finds
The aloe vera plant could provide a
fluid to help keep alive trauma victims such as battlefield casualties until
they can get a blood transfusion, United States researchers say.
Tests on rats show that the sticky
fluid found inside the leaves of aloe vera can help preserve organ function
after massive blood loss, the team at the University of Pittsburgh said.
Writing in the journal Shock,
they said just small injections of the substance helped counteract the more
immediate deadly effects of blood loss.
"We hope this fluid will offer a
viable solution to a significant problem, both on and off the
battlefield," Dr Mitchell Fink, a professor of critical care medicine who
led the study, said in a statement.
"Soldiers wounded in combat
often lose significant amounts of blood, and there is no practical way to
replace the necessary amount of blood fast enough on the front lines.
"When this happens, there is
inadequate perfusion of the organs which quickly leads to a cascade of
life-threatening events.
"Medics would need only to carry
a small amount of this solution, which could feasibly be administered before
the soldier is evacuated to a medical unit or facility."
The researchers, who got funding from
the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency, tested the mucilage from inside
aloe leaves.
It is rich in sugar compounds called
polysaccharides that affect the qualities of fluid.
"It may provide better diffusion
of oxygen molecules from red blood cells to tissues, because of its ability to
better mix in the plasma surrounding red blood cells," said Marina
Kameneva, an artificial blood expert who worked on the study.
They tested rats, injecting them
either with the aloe derivative or salt solution after draining them of some
blood.
Just half the 10 rats injected with
saline survived, while eight of 10 rats that got aloe did.
In a second experiment involving more
blood loss, five of 15 rats survived for two hours after getting aloe compared
to one of 14 treated with saline solution alone.
Seven animals receiving no treatment
all died within 35 minutes.
For more ideas on remedies using aloe
vera, watch the following 2 videos:
To discover more about the health benefits and remedies
using aloe vera, look no further than Yulia Berry’s e-book - “Aloe: Your Miracle
Doctor”. From here, you will learn about the wide array of internal and
external uses of aloe vera.
Yulia also dishes out tips on how you can prepare aloe in
your kitchen, depending on the condition that you would like to treat. She also
shares the history of aloe, why it is a must to take care of an aloe plant in
your own home. what its chemical composition is, what the biogenic stimulation
method is, and how it can be used for 130+ home remedies to treat more than
eighty different disorders.
Researchers
at Texas A&M University are participating in developing a medicine that is
worth sneezing about: a treatment for influenza that forms a jelly when sprayed
into the nose.
Even though trial treatments are being used to treat bird flu in humans,
technically termed the H5N1 virus, the aloe
vaccine has the potential for numerous other uses, such as for the common flu shot, says Dr. Ian Tizard, professor of pathobiology in the
College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences.
The project is funded in part by a $6 million grant from the National
Institutes of Health awarded to DelSite Biotechnologies in conjunction with the
Texas A&M teams. DelSite, an Irving-based company, has a facility in
College Station.
Tizard says the method in which the aloe
vaccine gets delivered into the body is the key to the new treatment.
"We take Aloe vera leaves and put them through a series of complex extraction
steps to produce a chemically pure powder, and then we combine the flu vaccine
with it," he explains.
"When this powder vaccine is puffed into the nose, it forms a jelly-like
substance that clings to the inside of the nose and is absorbed into the body
much more effectively. It stays longer and it has more time to do its
work."
Tizard says one or two puffs into the nose is all that's needed in most cases
to get good results. "This powder form is more effective than a liquid
spray because the nose tends to clear liquid sprays out, while the powder turns
into a sticky gel and can be a much more potent vaccine.
"Also, in this powder form, it can be stored for a long period of time,
which is great news if thousands or even millions of doses should be needed in
the case of an emergency."
Aloe vera
plants are native to North Africa but can be found worldwide. There are more
than 100 species of Aloe vera.
Tizard, who has conducted research using Aloe vera plants for many years, says the special carbohydrate in Aloe vera leaves is perfect for forming the gel-like substance needed to
act as a carrier for the vaccine.
Tests using the new aloe vaccine have been successful in animal trials, Tizard
says, and tests on humans will begin next year.
"The plan was to try this first as a vaccine for bird flu in humans
because there was an immediate concern there, and there still is the
possibility that a widespread bird flu epidemic could break out somewhere in
the world," Tizard adds.
"But there is no reason to think this method of vaccine treatment would
not work for many other diseases, too. We think it's an exciting breakthrough
that has great potential."
To discover more about the health benefits and uses of aloe
vera, look no further than Yulia Berry’s e-book - “Aloe: Your Miracle Doctor”.
From here, you will learn about the wide array of internal and external uses of
aloe vera.
Yulia also dishes out tips on how you can prepare aloe in
your kitchen, depending on the condition that you would like to treat. She also
shares the history of aloe, why it is a must to take care of an aloe plant in
your own home. what its chemical composition is, what the biogenic stimulation
method is, and how it can be used for 130+ home remedies to treat more than
eighty different disorders.
A gel made from the herb aloe vera may help to treat and prevent stomach and intestinal ulcers.
A
team from the Barts and London, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry
have carried out tests which show that the herb has a beneficial effect on the
production of substances which help boost the healing process in cases of
ulceration in the gut.
The
researchers believe aloe vera could be
particularly valuable in treating ulcers caused as a side effect of taking
anti-inflammatory NSAID drugs.
The
aloe vera gel was tested on a
culture of gastric cells at a concentration that is likely to be found in the
stomach after swallowing a dose.
Aloe
has been recognised as a painkiller, and since ancient times it has been used
to treat burns.
It
has also been used to treat other skin conditions such as scrapes, sunburns and insect bites.
Aloe is also a common
ingredient in cosmetics and lotions because it naturally balances the pH of the
skin.
Internally,
it has been used as a mild laxative. There is also some
evidence to suggest that it might enhance the functioning of the immune system.
Researchers
at Morriston Hospital, Swansea, are conducting trials to establish whether aloe
vera is an effective treatment for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Gastroenterologist
Professor John Williams told BBC News Online:
"IBS
the most common condition we see and the most difficult to treat.
"It
is entirely benign, but extremely troublesome for people who have it.
"We
have some anecdotal evidence that aloe vera may help, but we need to know if
this is genuine effect, or simply linked to the fact that the condition
improves and then relapses."
Results
on the IBS trial, in which approximately 250 people will take part, will not be
known for two years.
The
research was presented at a meeting of the British Society of Gastroenterology.
Healing Benefits of Aloe Vera -Plant's healing powers tested
Millions of people could benefit from pioneering
research at three south west Wales hospitals which are investigating the
medicinal properties of a desert plant.
Neath, Morriston and Singleton hospitals are the first to trial
aloe vera as a treatment for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which affects
around 20% of the UK population.
More than 250 IBS sufferers in the region are taking part in the
two-year study, which will cost £50,000.
One of the volunteers Glyn Stevens, from Swansea, said the
condition, which ranges from acute diarrhoea to constipation, has had a
profound effect on his life.
"The pain is really bad and affects me on a daily
basis," he said.
"It makes me cough so much it almost chokes me."
Sufferers often desperately need to go to the toilet with little warning,
which severely limits their lifestyle.
Claire Hopkins, 26, from Penclawdd, said: "I have terrible
stomach problems which have really affected my life.
"A cure would be marvellous."
So far clinical research has failed to identify the causes of IBS
or a remedy for the condition.
However, experts working on the aloe vera trials
are hopeful they can exploit the plant's healing properties.
Professor John Williams, consultant gastroenterologist, said:
"IBS is very debilitating, causing troublesome symptoms which interfere
with the social and working life of the individual.
"This is a study to look for an alternative treatment.
"There is a lot of anecdotal evidence of the beneficial
properties of aloe vera but this has never been proven."
Healing benefits of Aloe Vera - Alternative medicine
Aloe vera is not a drug but is derived from a plant which is part
of the lily family.
It has been used as a complementary treatment since the 18th
Century.
Each aloe vera plant takes about five years to mature and has a
life span of about 12 years.
The leaves are harvested between three and four years of age which
is used to make the liquid, which will be the basis of the research.
The study is being funded by the Foundation for Integrated
Medicine.
To discover more about the health benefits and uses of aloe
vera, look no further than Yulia Berry’s e-book - “Aloe: Your Miracle Doctor”.
From here, you will learn about the wide array of internal and external uses of
aloe vera.
Yulia also dishes out tips on how you can prepare aloe in
your kitchen, depending on the condition that you would like to treat. She also
shares the history of aloe, why it is a must to take care of an aloe plant in
your own home. what its chemical composition is, what the biogenic stimulation
method is, and how it can be used for 130+ home remedies to treat more than
eighty different disorders.
According
to the website www.ibsgroup.org IBS
has been reported by 10 to 20% of the adult population of the United States and
IBS symptoms are responsible for over 3 million visits each year to the doctor.
IBS
is considered one of the most common functional GI disorders with 70% of the
sufferers being women.
According to the FDA, “Nearly all people with IBS can be helped, but no single
treatment works to reverse IBS for everyone. The first step is a personal
evaluation of history, stress level and diet.
People
who can identify particular foods or types of stress that bring on the problem
should avoid them. For most, especially those who tend to be constipated,
regular physical activity helps keep the gastrointestinal tract functioning
normally.”
“A substantial number of Americans with IBS have more severe symptoms that
often do not respond to dietary or lifestyle changes alone.
Drugs
that slow the function of the gastrointestinal tract and are considered to be
antispasmodics, such as Bentyl (dicyclomine hydrochloride), are frequently
prescribed. Antidiarrheal drugs, such as Lomotil (diphenoxylate) and Imodium
(loperamide), may help people with diarrhea.”
However, with the risks of medications such as Lotronex, people have sought out
alternatives to treat their illness.
According
to the British medical journal the Lancet, “GlaxoWellcome withdrew Lotronex
from the market after the deaths of five patients taking the drug.
There
had been 49 cases of ischaemic colitis and 21 of severe constipation, including
instances of obstructed and ruptured bowel.
In
addition to the deaths, 34 patients had required admission to hospital and then
need surgery.” The same article chided the FDA for their failure to act
appropriately in reviewing and approving Lotronex accusing the FDA as being a
“servant of industry”.
Alternative therapies to reverse IBS are being studied. For example, a recent
study presented at the American College of Gastroenterology annual meeting
compared a probiotic with a placebo. The study found that those who received
the probiotic experienced significantly normalized bowel habits.
Jillian H. had suffered with IBS for a long time. “I've probably tried nearly
everything for IBS – it can be such a frustrating illness. I've had IBS for
about 10 years. It got really bad about a year ago, to the point I had to
change jobs and quit traveling altogether.”
Jillian suffered with her condition for many years and followed a variety of
orthodox treatments to improve the problem. “I went to the hospital for all the
tests, but as most of us know, there is nothing physicians can really offer for
IBS.”
Growing frustrated with little to no progress to reverse IBS following
conventional approaches, Jillian began seeking out alternatives. “After being
frustrated with the hospital experience, I decided to look into herbal
remedies, and found some that worked great for me: a herbal aloe drink and
probiotic.”
“I honestly don't have IBS symptoms anymore. I haven't had a stomach ache or
sharp pains in about 6 months now. It took me about 3 weeks – taking the aloe
and probiotic twice a day to feel better. I actually feel 'normal' now, which
is nothing short of a miracle after how sick I was. For the first time in about
10 years, I've been able to eat cheese, ice cream – things that normally would
send me in a tailspin.”
“My aunt, cousin and good friend in Chicago are all now on aloe and probiotics
– they all had IBS and have had great results too – no stomach aches and
greatly reduced pain, bloating and reflux issues. I strongly suggest these for
people who have IBS.”
By
Roman Bystrianyk
To discover more about the health benefits and uses of aloe
vera, look no further than Yulia Berry’s e-book - “Aloe: Your Miracle Doctor”.
From here, you will learn about the wide array of internal and external uses of
aloe vera.
Yulia also dishes out tips on how you can prepare aloe in
your kitchen, depending on the condition that you would like to treat. She also
shares the history of aloe, why it is a must to take care of an aloe plant in
your own home. what its chemical composition is, what the biogenic stimulation
method is, and how it can be used for 130+ home remedies to treat more than
eighty different disorders.
Although
we believe in the therapeutic and healing properties of herbs, care must be
taken in the use thereof, as they are powerful compounds.
Botanical
Classification: Family
Aloeceae
Genus and specie: Aloe vera -
Aloe barbadensis
Other names:
Barbados,
Cape, Curaiao, Socotrine, and Zanzibar aloe
Description of the
herb aloe vera:
Aloe
vera is a clump forming perennial with rosettes of thick, fleshy, spiky, grey-green
leaves, young specimens being red spotted, and the plant bears yellow tubular
flowers in summer.
Parts used:
The
slimy inside of the leave is used (also referred to as gel) as well as a juice
extracted from the pulpy inside and a yellow bitter laxative principle which is
an exudate from the leaf which is dried to a crystalline substance.
To
prevent any confusion, herewith a summary of uses:
Aloe vera gel:
This
is the naturally occurring and undiluted gel obtained by stripping away the
outer layer of the leaf.
Aloe vera concentrate
or extract:
This
is the product obtained when removing the water from the gel
Aloe vera juice:
This
is a drink for internal use that consist of at least 50% of the pulped aloe
gel.
Aloe vera latex or
bitter principle:
This
is a bitter yellow liquid derived from the pericyclic tubules of the rind of
the aloe and which primary constituent is aloin.
Properties:
It
is a bitter herb with anti-inflammatory, astringent, emollient, anti- fungal,
antibacterial and antiviral properties, and is useful in the eradication of
parasites and stimulating the uterus.
It
contains a host of compounds that are biologically active and includes
anthraquinones, saccharides and prostaglandins as well as other constituents.
Anthraquinones:
The
anthraquinones contained in aloe, which has the purging and laxative action on
the digestive system includes aloin (barbaloin), isobarloin, anthranol, aloetic
acid, anthracene, ester of cinnamic acid, aloe-emodin, emodin, chrysophanoic
acid, ethereal oil as well as resistannol.
Saccharides:
It
contains various saccharides including glycoprotein, mucopolysaccharide and
polysaccharides such as galactose, xylose, arabinose, acetylated mannose as
well as the remarkable acemannan.
Prostaglandins and
fatty acids:
The
conversion of fatty acids to prostaglandins are rare but the major unsaturated
fatty acid, gamma-linolenic acid can be converted to 1-series prostaglandins
and have a very effective influence on reducing inflammation, allergy as well
as helping platelet aggregation (blood clotting at wound sites) as well as
wound healing.
Other constituents:
It
furthermore contains enzymes (oxidase, amylase, catalase, lipase and alkaline
phosphatase) amino acids (lysine, threonine, valine, methionine, leucine,
isoleucine and phenylalanine) vitamins (vitamin b1, B2, B6, C, E, folic acid,
choline and beta carotene) minerals (calcium, sodium, manganese, magnesium,
zinc, copper and chromium as well as other miscellaneous compounds such as
cholesterol, triglycerides, steroids, uric acid, lignins, beta-sitosterol,
gibberellin and salicylic acid.
Therapeutic uses of
aloe vera:
Internal use:
The
herb is used internally to combat most digestive problems, including:
constipation,
poor appetite, colitis, irritable bowel syndrome as well as - asthma, diabetes,
immune system enhancement, peptic ulcers.
Studies
have also shown that when aloe is taken internally it can stimulate and
regulate various components of the immune system by stopping the inflammation
and blood supply of tumors. It also showed interesting results in preventing
carcinogenic compounds from entering the liver and is combined in some cancer
treatments.
The
juice of the inner leave can be used for its anti-inflammatory effect it has on
Crohn's disease, but the laxative and bitter principle of aloe must NOT be used
by people suffering from Crohn's disease as it causes griping and cramping.
It
contains aloemannan which stimulates the growth of healthy kidney cells and
helps to slow the formation of kidney stones.
The
juice can be used very successfully to treat heartburn as well as ulcers and to
sooth the lining of the digestive tract. It is not that effective to treat
stress induced ulcers. However, it can be used for peptic ulcers caused by
excess acid, aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as well as alcohol
use.
The
oral use of aloe has produced good results in patients suffering from asthma
when the asthma sufferers were not dependant on corticosteroids for treatment.
The
exude from the leaves are used as a strong purgative and stimulant laxative but
can cause griping and has an abortifacient effect and should not be used in
pregnancy.
The
bitter principle in aloe exudate which cause the laxative effect is preferable
to use than that of cascara and senna, as aloe draws less fluid into the large
intestine and are less likely to cause electrolyte imbalance than the other
two.
In
a study where volunteers ate 120 grams of parboiled aloe for lunch and supper a
marked decrease in cholesterol, triglycerides and sugar was found, while in
another test using aloe extract, it reduced fasting blood-sugar dramatically
which is probably due to the stimulating effect it has on the pancreas to
produce more insulin.
The
gel can be applied directly to the skin as a softening agent.
For
burns and other wounds aloe is particularly effective as it activates the
macrophages which fights bacterial infection while at the same time increasing
circulation to the area which results in accelerated healing.
The
enzymes - carboxypeptidase and bradykininase are both involved to reduce
swelling, itching, reducing inflammation as well as pain.
Studies
confirmed that wounds treated with aloe heal far faster than other wounds not
so treated - both for traumatic as well as surgical wounds.
This
may be because it contains not only vitamin E and C as well as zinc, but the
polysaccharides also reduce inflammation and stimulate the fibroblast and epidermal
growth and repair process.
The
juice is also effective for the treatment of minor wounds and insect bites by
forming a "natural plaster" over the wound.
It
has good astringent qualities and is usually combined with other ingredients,
to make an excellent, soothing treatments for the skin and can also be used
with great success on hemorrhoids (piles).
In
studies it also showed a marked result in producing remission in skin cancers
and its superb anti-oxidant effect is effective to help prevent skin damage
from x-rays and other forms of radiation.
When
applied regularly to psoriasis great results are achieved and relieve the pain
and inflammation of eczema.
When
people with frostbite was treated with a cream containing aloe, the incidence
of tissue loss and amputation was reduced.
Aloe-emodin
which is one of the ingredients not only has a laxative effect, but it is also
involved in killing the herpes virus which causes cold sores and shingles.
Aromatherapy and
essential oil use:
Aromatherapists
use aloe vera by infusing the plant material into a base oil, such as almond or
apricot kernel oil.
This
macerated oil exhibits astringent, emollient, anti-fungal, antibacterial, and
antiviral properties.
The
oil is combined in massage therapy for its healing and rejuvenating properties.
Safety precautions
and warnings:
Pregnant
and breast-feeding women should not use aloe latex (the laxative part)
internally, although the topical application of aloe to the skin has no effect
on pregnant or breastfeeding women.
People
suffering from problematic hemorrhoids, ulcers, diverticulosis, colitis,
Crohn's disease, or irritable bowel syndrome should consult a medical
practitioner or trusted herbalist before taking aloe internally.
Extreme
care should be taken with the administration of aloe laxatives, as this can
cause severe digestive upsets.
When
used topically, some individuals may have an allergic reaction and a skin patch
test (behind the ear or on the forearm) is advised before use.
by
Gerald Crawford, born in South Africa, studied electronics, telecommunication, eco-travel and African travel
concepts. He taught responsible tourism in South Africa.
To discover more about the health benefits and uses of aloe
vera, look no further than Yulia Berry’s e-book - “Aloe: Your Miracle Doctor”.
From here, you will learn about the wide array of internal and external uses of
aloe vera.
Yulia also dishes out tips on how you can prepare aloe in
your kitchen, depending on the condition that you would like to treat. She also
shares the history of aloe, why it is a must to take care of an aloe plant in
your own home. what its chemical composition is, what the biogenic stimulation
method is, and how it can be used for 130+ home remedies to treat more than
eighty different disorders.