Health: Aloe Vera - A Detailed Review of it's Health Benefits, Past and PresentsteemCreated with Sketch.

in #health6 years ago (edited)

Historical Background

Aloe Vera is a succulent plant, similar to cacti, that grows all year round. While the earliest records tracked it’s origin back to the Arabian Peninsula, it is an extremely hardy plant that can thrive well in the wild around the world in temperate and tropical regions.

It’s modern name “Aloe vera” is derived from the Arabic word “Alloeh” meaning “shining bitter substance,” while “vera” in Latin means “true.”

Traditional Uses

Aloe Vera is traditionally used to treat the following skin conditions

  • skin burns,
  • scalds,
  • scrapes,
  • sunburn
  • wounds
  • psoriasis and others

Aloe Vera juice or the fleshy leaf is applied directly to the affected skin, providing relief and believed to improve healing.

Egypt

The oldest records of the Aloe Vera is found in Egyptian stone carvings which dates back as far as 6000 years! It was called “The Plant of Immortality” and was presented to Pharoahs as a burial gift.

The anti-inflammatory and pain soothing effects are recorded in an ancient Egypt manuscripts - Ebers Papyrus, which is a medical papyrus of herbal knowledge dating to circa 1550 BC.

And legend has it that Egyptian queens Nefertiti and Cleopatra used it as part of their regular beauty regimes.

China

From the Arab regions, Aloe Vera made it’s way into China via the ancient Silk Road. It’s mentions was found in The “Compendium of Materia Medica” (本草纲目). This literature most complete and comprehensive medical book ever written in the history of traditional Chinese medicine.

It was compiled by Ming Dynasty medical genius and polymath, Li Shizhen, after researching 800 other medical reference books and carrying out 30 years of field study.

According to Dr. Mao Shing Ni, a 38th-generation Chinese medicine physician:

In traditional Chinese medicine, aloe juice is used internally to promote healthy function of the stomach, to treat chronic constipation, and to help with childhood nutritional disorders due to roundworm and ringworm. Aloe juice is generally used internally. In high doses, aloe is used as a laxative to empty the bowels. It is used in low doses to help heal ulcers and other irritations of the gastrointestinal tract.
Aloe has antiseptic and antibiotic properties that make it very effective topically for treating cuts and abrasions. Aloe is commonly used to treat first- and second-degree burns, sunburns, eczema, as well as poison oak, poison ivy, and poison sumac infections.


India

Aloe Vera, ghrita kumara or kumari in Sanskrit, is a widely used ingredient in traditional Indian Ayurveda. According to Ayurvedic principles, it normalizes kapha & pitta and also a very good aphrodisiac. It is diuretic, sooths skin, and anti inflammatory and is widely used in conditions of sun burn, dry skin conditions, burns, scars

Nutritional Contents

Active components with its properties: Aloe vera contains 75 potentially active constituents as shown below

1) Vitamins:

Vitamins are organic compounds that living organisms need in small amounts to sustain life. Most vitamins need to come from food.

Aloe Vera is rich in vitamins A (beta-carotene), C and E, which are antioxidants to neutralizes free radicals. It also contains vitamin B12, folic acid, and choline.

2) Enzymes:

Enzymes are proteins that help accelerate chemical reactions in the human body to enable it to perform functions such as respiration, digestion, neuromuscular functions, and thousands of other.

For a more detailed explanation, you can refer to this article:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/add_aqa_pre_2011/enzymes/enzymes1.shtml

Aloe Vera contains 9 enzymes:

  1. Aliiase
  2. Alkaline phosphatase
  3. Amylase
  4. Bradykinase
  5. Carboxypeptidase
  6. Catalase
  7. Cellulase
  8. Lipase
  9. Peroxidase.

Bradykinase reduces inflammation when applied to the skin directly, while others help to digest carbohydrates and fats.

3) Minerals:

Minerals are elements required by the body to build our body structures and also for various other functions like:

  • Energy Production
  • Nerve and Muscle Function
  • Immune Health
  • Making enzymes and hormones
  • Antioxidation
  • etc

Aloe vera has evolved a symbiosis relationship a special type of fungus that allows the plant better access to mineral nutrients in soil.

These are minerals found Aloe Vera. calcium, chromium, copper, selenium, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium and zinc.


4) Carbohydrates:

Carbohydrates, also known as saccharides or carbs, are sugars or starches. They are a major food source and a key form of energy for most organisms.

There are 3 types of Carbohydrates:

  1. Monosaccharides (Simple sugar)
    - These are primarily good sources for quick energy as they breaks down most easily
  2. Disaccharides (Complex sugar consisting of 2 simple sugar)
    - These are also mostly energy giving. However, they do not break down as fast and energy is released over a sustained period of time. They keep us feeling “full” for longer duration.
  3. Polysaccharides (Long chain complex sugar)
    - In addition to supply energy, some forms of polysaccharides also serve as dietary fibre that keeps the digestive tracts healthy

The prominent sugars found are:

  1. monosaccharides (glucose and fructose)
  2. polysaccharides: (glucomannans/polymannose)

Recently research also unveiled, Alprogen that has antiallergic properties, and an anti-inflammatory compound, C-glucosyl chromone.

 

5) Anthraquinones:

These are compounds traditionally used as laxatives.

It provides 12 anthraquinones of such compounds. They include Aloin and Emodin act as analgesics, antibacterials and antivirals.

However, due to their toxicity nature, they need to taken with caution!
Read the side effects section below!!

 

6) Fatty acids:

Fatty acids are the basic compounds used to build fats. Some specialized fats are important in the normal functioning of all tissues of the body.

Aloe contains 4 plant-based fatty acids, namely; cholesterol, campesterol, β-sisosterol and lupeol. All these have anti-inflammatory action. In addition, lupeol also possesses antiseptic and analgesic properties.


7) Hormones:

Hormones are special chemical messengers that control most major bodily functions.

In Aloe Vera the 2 important hormones are Auxins and gibberellins that help in wound healing and have anti-inflammatory action.

8) Amino Acids:

Amino Acids serves 2 major functions in human nutrition. Primarily it is used to build proteins that are essential growth and maintenance. Although most of us know importance of proteins for our muscles, they are actually major structural component of ALL cells in the body!

While our body is able to synthesise most of required amino acids, there are a few that need to supplement through our food intake. These are called Essential Amino Acids.

Aloe Vera contains 20 of the 22 human required amino acids and 7 of the 8 essential amino acids.


9) Other Compounds:

It also contains salicylic acid that possesses anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Lignin, an inert substance, when included in topical preparations, enhances penetrative effect of the other ingredients into the skin. Saponins that are the soapy substances form about 3% of the gel and have cleansing and antiseptic properties.


Side Effects

While Aloe Vera is generally safe, it does have some side effects. In a article reviewed by Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Dr Natalie Butler, RDN, LD.

What are the side effects of drinking aloe vera juice?
Decolorized (purified, low anthraquinone) whole leaf aloe vera is considered safe. A recent study in mice fed various concentrations of purified aloe vera for three months, in fact, showed no adverse effects at all from the juice.
Colored vs. decolorized aloe juice
On the other hand, nondecolorized, unpurified aloe vera juice can have many unpleasant side effects, including:
Diarrhea can lead to severe pain, dehydration, and electrolyte imbalances.
Researchers have concluded that the side effects caused by unpurified aloe vera juice are a result of the presence of anthraquinone, which is considered a laxative. Though anthraquinone is an organic compound naturally found in the leaf of the aloe vera plant, it’s considered toxic and should be avoided.
Studies show that purified and decolorized juice is a safer option when compared to colored aloe vera. When shopping, look for the following statements on the label:
  • purified
  • decolorized
  • organic
  • safety tested
Drug interactions with aloe vera juice
Aloe juice has been shown to interact with certain medications. If you are taking any drug that is considered a substrate of Cytochrome P450 3A4 and CYP2D6, do not drink aloe vera juice. Aloe vera juice may increase the risk of side effects of these drugs.
Aloe may also add to the effects of sevoflurane, causing excessive bleeding during surgery. If you are taking sevoflurane, check with your doctor before drinking aloe juice.


Further Readings

If you are interested to learn more amazing plant, please refer to these following links:

WebMD
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-607/aloe

U.S. National Library of Medicine (Scientific Studies)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=aloe+vera

Aloe Medical Group International
https://www.aloe-medical-group.com/en/aloe-vera/history.html

The School of Natural Healings
http://online.snh.cc/files/2100/HTML/100hs_aloe_vera__aloe_vera.htm

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