Let's take a detour with ALOE

Ok, so here I am totally in a Fall mood, but I had to detour just a bit and talk about ALOE…

In addition to being an attractive tropical plant, aloe (also known as aloe vera) is a potent topical medicine. As of 2010, it is also the most commonly used plant for medicinal purposes in the United States. It can be readily grown in warmer climates, including the southern U.S., and its medicinal gel can be extracted and processed with simple tools.

Habitat

Aloe vera is native to northern Africa and flourishes in similar climates throughout the world. It is commercially grown in Latin America, the Caribbean, and the southern United States and in Africa. Although it cannot withstand cold weather for long, it can nevertheless survive in cities with gentle winters.

Parts

Above ground, the aloe vera plant has three main parts. The exterior is a tough rind that protects it from insects and larger herbivores. Immediately beneath the rind is sap, known as aloe latex. It's bitter taste and laxative properties are a further defense. Beneath the sap, however, is the pulp of the aloe plant, which when pulverized produces aloe vera gel.

Medicinal Uses

Aloe vera gel is a potent topical medicine. It soothes burns while also promoting the growth of new skin. It can also ease the pain of certain skin diseases such as herpes. It has natural anti-inflammatory properties. Meanwhile, aloe latex can be ingested to induce bowel movement. Side effects include cramping, which make aloe latex less-than-ideal for ingestion.

Active Components

Although aloe vera gel is primarily made of water, it has two active ingredients which account for its healing properties. The first are glycoproteins, which alleviate pain and inflammation. The second are polysaccharides, which promote the growth of new skin.

Available Forms:

You can get aloe by simply breaking off leaves of the plant (which can be grown as a houseplant), but it is also available commercially in ointments, creams, and lotions. Aloe gel is often included in cosmetic and over the counter skin care products as well. You can purchase aloe in the form of capsules, tablets, juice, gel, ointment, cream, and lotion.

Precautions:

The use of herbs is a time honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease. Herbs, however, can trigger side effects and can interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, you should take herbs with care, under the supervision of a health care provider. Aloe gel is considered safe when applied to the surface of the skin, but should not be applied to open or deep wounds. In rare cases, it may cause an allergic reaction, mainly a skin rash. If you develop a rash, stop using the gel. Taking aloe latex orally may cause severe intestinal cramps or diarrhea and is not recommended. Pregnant women should never take aloe latex because it may cause uterine contractions and trigger miscarriage. Nursing mothers should not take aloe latex either because the effects and safety for infants and children are not known.

Possible Interactions: If you are currently being treated with any of the following medications, you should not use aloe vera without first talking to your doctor. Do not take aloe for 2 weeks prior to any surgical procedure as it may cause increased bleeding during surgery.

Medications for diabetes: The combination of aloe vera and glyburide, a medication used to treat type 2 diabetes, may help control blood sugar and triglyceride (fat) levels in the blood. People with diabetes who use aloe either alone or in combination with other medications must be monitored closely by their doctor to make sure blood sugar levels don't fall too low (a condition called hypoglycemia).

Digoxin and diuretics:  Because taking oral aloe can decrease levels of potassium in the body, aloe latex should not be used by people taking diuretics (water pills) or digoxin (a medication used to treat irregular heart rhythms and congestive heart failure). These drugs also lower potassium levels in the body, so a combination of aloe and digoxin or diuretics could cause potassium levels to fall too low.

Source: University of Maryland Medical Center

As a child I shudder at the thought of my grandmother using aloe to create a drink and would wait anxiously until she leave the room so that I could hurriedly pour it out the window. Now, as an adult who can respect and appreciate the benefits of aloe, I am grateful that my eldest, Adrian show none of my reluctance when presented with a drink with aloe in it.

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