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The following information is extracted from "Aloe Vera - The Facts" written by Dr Peter Atherton, MB. ChB. D.Obst. RCOG. MRCGP.
What is Aloe Vera?
Aloe Vera, often called the Miracle Plant, the Natural Healer, the Burn Plant, goes by many names which have survived the 4000 or so years during which this amazing medicinal herb has benefited mankind.
Although there are over 200 species of aloe, there are probably only three or four with medicinal properties. Of these, Aloe Vera Barbadensis (Miller), which is also known as Aloe Vera (Linne), is the most potent.
Aloe Vera Barbadensis is a succulent, looking rather like a cactus but is in fact a member of the lily family related to onions, garlic and asparagus. It reaches maturity in four years when the content of its leaves, a mixture of inner gel and outer sap can be harvested, preserved and bottled to produce a product that is as near to the natural plant juice as we can get.
To benefit from Aloe Vera, the gel can be taken internally for its nutritional effect or it can be combined with other ingredients to produce topical creams and lotions to nourish and improve the quality of the skin.
Why does it work?
It works by providing a rich cocktail of nutritional elements whose combined action and balance produce a more powerful effect together than would be expected from the addition of individual components. This is because they work as a team, enhancing each other's effect - known as synergism. It also has adaptogenic properties which means it is a substance which increases non-specific resistance of an organism to adverse influences such as infection or stress.
Where does it work?
Aloe Vera, because of its nutritional qualities and antioxidant properties, helps firstly to prevent injury to epithelial tissues*, and when they are damaged, it promotes healing. Antioxidants fight the destructive "free radicals", the unstable compounds produced by our metabolism and found in environmental pollutants. They are thought to cause various ailments including some cancers as well as contributing towards the ageing process.
* An epithelium is an anatomical term defined as "A layer of cells that covers the body or lines a cavity that connects it".
Our largest epithelium is our skin but also included are the lining of the gut, the bronchial tubes and the genital tract. No wonder that aloe works just as well on damaged skin as it does, say, on an inflamed bowel or in asthma.
How does it work?
Its natural anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial action combined within its nutritional constituents promote cell growth and therefore healing. However, it is not only helpful for people with problems; most people taking it report a greater sense of well being - they just feel 'better' or they report feeling calmer and less anxious. I believe this last comment is due to aloe's second effect on the immune system which you may say becomes balanced or fine-tuned and therefore more efficient at defending the body from attack.
Inside an Aloe Vera leaf
Aloe Vera gel contains over 75 known ingredients which can be divided into the following groups:-
Vitamins
It contains a wide range, but the most important ones are the antioxidant vitamins C and E and Beta Carotene, the precurser of Vitamin A. It is also one of the few plant sources in the world of Vitamin B12.
Minerals
These include magnesium, manganese, zinc, copper, chromium, calcium, sodium, potassium and iron.
Amino Acids
The human body requires 22 amino acids, the building blocks of proteins and Aloe Vera gel provides 20 of them. More importantly, it provides seven of the eight essential amino acids that cannot be manufactured by the body and which, therefore, have to be consumed as food.
Sugars
These include the important long chain polysacchorides which act on the immune system to boost its effects.
Enzymes
Lipases and proteases which break down food and aid digestion as well as carboxpeptidase that is involved in the inflammatory process.
Plant Sterols
The three main types act as powerful anti-inflammatory agents.
Lignin
This woody substance bestows on Aloe Vera its penetrative ability to reach deep into the skin.
Saponins
These are soapy substances that exert a powerful anti-microbial effect against bacteria, viruses, fungi and yeasts such as candida and thrush.
Anthraquinones
The most important ones being aloin and emodin, but altogether they are strong painkillers, and are acknowledged to possess anti-bacterial and viruscidal activity. In their pure form, they are very powerful laxatives.
Salycylic Acid
This asprin-like compound is anti-inflammatory and topically helps to break down dead tissue.
Which type of aloe
There is no real evidence to suggest that whole leaf aloe, which includes the rind but is filtered and usually concentrated, is any more effective than just the inner leaf gel and sap alone. However, what is most important is the quality and quantity of aloe in the product being sold. Unfortunately, many products on the market labelled as "Aloe Vera juice" may contain only a small amount or proportion of the actual inner leaf gel. If in doubt, look for the Seal of Approval of the International Aloe Science Council. This is an independent American regulatory body which monitors the quality and quantity of aloe products. If their Seal of Approval actually appears on the container (not simply a claim), it is bona fide.
In Conclusion
Aloe Vera is not a panacea for all ills and there is no magic about it. I believe it works primarily in the two areas mentioned previously - epithelial tissue and the immune system. This is largely backed up by anecdotal evidence, as many thousands of people over the centuries have reported benefit for various skin complaints such as eczema, psoriasis, ulcers, burns, acne; even stings and bites. They have found relief for bowel disorders such as colitis, diverticulitis and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Other conditions resulting from a disordered immune system such as arthritis, asthma and ME (post viral fatique syndrome) and LE (lupus) have improved after a regular ingestion of Aloe Vera gel.
Aloe Vera therefore has a complementary role to play in the management of various conditions. It is very important, however, that people should always seek advice of their doctor when diagnosis is in doubt or where a condition does not improve. Self diagnosis can be extremely dangerous as many serious conditions can mimic more simple ones.
About the author
Dr Peter Atherton, MB.ChB.D.Obst.RCOG.MRCGP.
Qualified in 1968 at Leeds University and after six years in the Royal Army Medical Corps, he became a General Practitioner. He is currently the Senior Partner of a training practice with a special interest in dermatology, having spent 3 years working in a dermatology department of a district hospital. This interest combined with an understanding of the power of herbal remedies gained whilst serving in the Far East and India led to his fascination with Aloe Vera. He lectures extensively on the medical aspects of Aloe Vera and is the author of "The Essential Aloe Vera", the definitive work on the subject. He is a Research Fellow of GIFTS of Health and is also currently a Visiting Research Fellow at Green College, University of Oxford.
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