Effects and benefits of Aloe Vera
The health benefits of aloe vera (Barbadensis Mill.) are numerous, thanks to the following properties of the plant:
- Anti-inflammatory:
The hormones auxin and gibberellin, found in aloe vera, are active anti-inflammatory ingredients.
- Anti-allergenic:
Aloe vera alleviates the symptoms of allergic reactions from certain insect bites and food stuffs, such as rashes, burning and swelling.
- Anti-biotic:
Aloe Vera has a unique mixture of antibiotic, analgesic, growth stimulating and astringent properties which makes it effective for treatment of sun burns, burn injuries, Scarring of the skin, and also for healing of cuts, wounds and scratches, and skin diseases such as eczema, dry skin diseases, and other allergic conditions.
- Anti-microbial:
A recent study (2009) at the University of Yuzuncu Yil confirms that aloe vera has an inhibitory effect against pathogenic bacteria that causes food poisoning and other diseases in humans, especially Gram-positive bacteria.
- Anti-viral:
Polysaccharides in aloe vera possess significant immune enhancing and anti-viral activity.
- Anti-fungal:
In their low concentrations within aloe vera, anthraquinones namely aloe emodin, aloetic acid, aloin, anthracene, anthranol, barbaloin, chrysophanic acid, emodin, ethereal oil, ester of cinnamonic acid, isobarbaloin and resistannol provide anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral activity.
- Anti-septic:
The glycosides is a substance in aloe vera that has a cleansing and antiseptic effect.
- Pain inhibitor:
Another very useful property of aloe vera is salicylic acid which has analgesic effect and which makes it a natural pain inhibitor.
- Blood sugar balancing:
Several studies have shown that aloe vera can reduce blood sugar levels. In a study of five thousand patients taking aloe vera, two thirds of which were diabetic but not yet requiring insulin treatment, promising results for diabetics were shown. More than 93% of the diabetics stopped taking hypoglycemic drugs after two months and continued with the aloe treatment only because their blood sugar levels were reduced to the point that they did not need any medications to control their diabetes. More than 90% of those studied also saw a marked improvement in heart function and blood cholesterol levels.
- pH balancing:
Aloe Vera naturally helps pH balance through its 20 amino acids, assorted peptides and alkaloids. Good pH balance can help prevent urinary tract and yeast infections, ensure proper digestion, and stave off acne, just to start. Hormone balance is also involved with proper pH.
- Free radical scavenging:
Vitamins A, C, E, B, choline, B12, and folic acid in aloe vera are responsible for the anti-oxidative function of neutralising free radicals.
- Immune modulating:
Aloe Vera stimulates macrophages which helps the immune system to recognise dangerous micro-organisms and tumour cells, and assist in their destruction. Certain long chain polysaccharides (B1-3 and B1-4 Glucomannans) have direct immune enhancing and immune-modulating properties that help increase immune cell production.
