One thing I like about it is that when I
get a burn it takes away the pain!
There are more than
300 species of Aloe vera, with four of
those having medicinal value. According to
British researcher Dr. Peter Atherton,
"Aloe vera's use as an aid to beauty and
skin health is certainly not new and
mankind has benefited from its internal
and topical effects for at least 4,000
years.
Most noted for its external benefits, Aloe
vera has been used successfully for a
variety of skin conditions including
eczema, psoriasis, acne, chronic itching,
skin ulcers, and burns. In addition, aloe
can be used internally for asthma, sinus
congestion, arthritis and gastrointestinal
disorders like gastritis, diverticulitis,
and inflammatory bowel syndrome.
Acemannan, an active ingredient in aloe,
has been shown to be a powerful immune
stimulant providing anti-cancer and
anti-viral effects. IN one study, aloe gel
was shown to have direct anti-
inflammatory activity. "As well as being
used on it's own, aloe gel had been
successfully tested as a potentiating,
biologically active vehicle for
hydrocortisone," according to author and
medical herbalist Rowan Hamilton,
M.N.I.M.H.
Some cases of hypersensitivity to aloe
have been reported. Some adverse reaction
can be traced to inferior, poor-quality
products. While aloe taken orally on its
own can cause severe abdominal cramping,
most oral aloe products contain fennel or
other compounds to eliminate cramping.
