Inside an Aloe Vera leaf
Aloe Vera gel contains over
75 known ingredients which can be devided into the following group:
Vitamins
It contains a wide range,
but the most important ones are the antioxidant vitamins C and E and
BetaCarotene, the precursor of Vitamin A. It is aslo 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.
Aminos 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 eight of the eight essential
amino acids that cannot be manufactured by the body and which therefor
have to be consumed as food.
Sugars
These include the important
long chain polysaccharides which act on the immune system to boost its
effect.
Enzymes
Lipases and proteates which
break down food and aid digestion as well as carboxypeptidase that is
involved in the inflammatory process.
Plant Sterols
The three main 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 or "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 aspirin-like compound
is anti-inflammatory and topically helps to break down dead tissue.
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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
marked labelled as "Aloe Vera juice" may contain only a small amount of
proportion of the actual inner leaf gel.
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
the individual components. This is because they works 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 resistanse 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 injuri 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
follows: - "An epithelium is a layer of cells that covers the body
or lines a cavity that connects with 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 inflammed
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
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 previosly - epithelial tissue and the immune system. This
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 fatigue 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 the advice of their doctor when
the 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.
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