Introduction: Aloe! Not Just for Burns!
For years many of us have kept little aloe plants in the kitchen for treating burns. But did you know this great useful plant has MANY other wonderful uses that are often overlooked?
Aloe fights heartburn. Specifically the juice of an aloe plant.
Aloe, when applied to surface infections, helps them heal faster.
Aloe is a natural skin moisturizer. You’ll see it in the ingredients of natural lotions a lot. Simply apply a bit of aloe to your dry skin.
The gel from the aloe plant is proven capable of relieving constipation naturally. While laxatives make you really need to go, aloe helps you pass it gently and naturally.
Aloe has also been shown to help regulate blood sugar for those with type 2 diabetes!
For these uses and more, Read on!
Step 1: Aloe for Skin Conditions
Aloe Vera is a natural treatment that works, With a list of scientific facts and studies to back it up.
1) Psoriasis vulgaris (common psoriasis) is a skin disorder characterized by hyperactive skin cell production. People with psoriasis produce new skin cells and shed old ones at a rate of about 10 times faster than most people, which leads to persistently dry, irritated skin. (definition from Web Md)
Studies of aloe vera treatments for psoriasis yield positive results. A study in North Carolina tested a topical hydrophilic cream containing just 0.5 percent aloe gel. After using the cream three times daily for four weeks, 83 percent of the participants didn't report any more psoriasis symptoms, compared to 6 percent of participants who were given a placebo.
(Source : Syed, Tanweer A., et al. "Management of psoriasis with Aloe vera
extract in a hydrophilic cream: a placebo-controlled, double-blind study." Tropical Medicine and International Health. August 1996.)
2) Seborrheic Dermatitis. This disorder affects the oily areas of the skin, turning them red, itchy and dry, and produces dandruff when it affects the scalp [source: Mayo Clinic].
Study participants were given an emulsion with 30 percent aloe to use twice daily over four to six weeks. The mixture cured 62 percent of the group using aloe, while 25 percent of the placebo group noticed some improvement.
(Source : Vardy, DA, et al. "A Double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of an Aloe vera (A. barbadensis) emulsion in the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis." Journal of Dermatological Treatment. 1999.
3) Premature Signs Of Aging As your skin ages, it gets drier and loses its elasticity. This
makes it more susceptible to wrinkles and fine lines. Aloe moisturizes the skin, and it removes dead cells. Research has proven that aloe vera improves the elasticity of skin and makes it smoother and more supple. (Source : US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC35698... )
4) Moisturizes Skin. Aloe vera increases the water content in your skin, leaving it hydrated without making it greasy. (Source : US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17026654
5) Helps With Sunburns Aloe vera, because of its anti-inflammatory properties, reduces the redness brought on by exposure to UV rays and soothes the skin. ( Source : US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18253066
Step 2: Aloe for Diabetes
Research suggests that intake of aloe vera juice can help improve blood glucose levels and may be useful in treating people with type 2 diabetes.
In a two-month study, published in 2012 in Planta Medica, researchers treated diabetic patients with 300 mg. of aloe vera extract, in capsule form – every 12 hours, and found that aloe was significantly superior to placebo in reducing blood sugar levels and harmful LDL cholesterol, with no adverse effects reported. Blue Shield Complementary and Alternative Health concurs that aloe vera has been shown to lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels in both animal and human studies, and lists the usual dosage of aloe vera juice as 5 to 15 ml., taken twice a day.
Aloe vera has strong hypoglycemic ability, and it is beneficial for patients diagnosed with both IDDM (insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus) and NIDDM (non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus).
Here are some of the reasons why aloe vera is one of the most efficient natural treatments for diabetes:
Aloe vera is packed with glucomannan, a soluble dietary fiber (polysachharide), and thus reduces glucose levels.
To be more precise, this hemicellulose component acts as a hypoglycemic substance and reduces blood sugar efficiently.
Anthraquinones, organic phenols with distinctive aroma, and lectins, proteins that bind carbohydrates together, are some of the compounds found in aloe vera that reduce blood glucose and regulate its level.
Aloe vera can reduce blood sugar by 50 % within 2 months.
It cleanses the body and eliminates excess glucose in the bloodstream.
Aloe vera has strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that keep us safe from ulcers, wounds, infections and other diabetes-related conditions.
It stimulates the secretion of insuline, and thus alleviates the symptoms of diabetes.
Aloe vera is all-natural, meaning it causes no side-effects in the treatment of diabetes.
Sources : http://www.healthyfoodteam.com/7-reasons-to-use-a...
https://www.blueshieldca.com/bsca/health-wellness/...
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14987320
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22198821
Step 3: Aloe for Heartburn
Acid reflux is common, but it can be serious. Over time, regurgitation of acidic stomach contents can wear away the esophagus, eroding the delicate tissue, and causing inflammation and scarring. It can sometimes even lead to erosion of tooth enamel and, in extreme cases, to esophageal cancer. In fact, one in ten people with GERD go on to develop dangerous changes in the esophagus (known as Barrett’s esophagus) that can increase their chances of esophageal cancer.
The aloe gel is soothing in the digestive tract. It helps promote healing in all burns, even those from Acid. It also contains a special polysaccharide that makes nutrients more bioavailable in the stomach (it coats the lining). It slows gastric emptying and also reduces hydrochloric acid production. For a person with digestive issues and/or nutrient absorption impairment, this is great news! It helps the body digest foods more effectively without producing excess acid.
(Source : http://www.thrive-style.com/2012/04/aloe-vera-for... )
Step 4: Aloe for Constipation
The use of aloe latex as a laxative is well-researched; the anthraquinones present in the latex create a potent laxative that increases intestinal water content, stimulates mucus secretion and increases intestinal peristalsis, which are contractions that break down food and mix the chyme. In a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial of 28 healthy adults, aloe vera latex was reported to have a laxative effect compared to a placebo that was stronger than the stimulant laxative phenolphthalein — making aloe vera a natural constipation relief remedy.
(Source : The National Center for Biotechnology Information.
Step 5: Disclaimer
For any and all medical conditions, Please consult your doctor to make sure treatment with Aloe is right for you!
I hope you enjoyed this Instructable, And I look forward to writing MANY more!!
Until next time, Enjoy!