Herbal Medicine - Aloe Vera

 

What is Herbal Medicine?

 

According to Wikipedia Herbal medicine (also known as herbalism) is the study of pharmacognosy and the use of medicinal plants. There are many types of herbal plants and medicine treatments. Plants and plant products are the basis of all herbal medicines, but treatments differ depending on how the plants are used. Herbal medicines may be ingested, inhaled, applied directly to the skin, or inserted into an opening in the body, depending on the condition being treated. There are also many variations as to duration of treatment, dosage, and combinations of herbs to be used. Today I’ll be discussing three main facts I’ve learnt about one of the oldest herbal medicines known to mankind (Aloe Vera) that can be traced back in ancient Egypt. These include where Aloe Vera can be found, its use, warnings and side effects.

           Aloe Plant          

 

Where Aloe Vera Can Be Found

 

Aloe Vera is not found in the wild. It is the result of human cultivation. The African continent, however, is said to be the hometown of this spiky plant, as Northern Africa has some naturally-growing species of aloe that resemble the domesticated aloe vera (Davies, 2000). Although most botanists trace aloe vera back to the dry soil of Africa, some voice another theory.  Aloe Vera is no longer an African treasure, as the plant has been introduced to new environments. It grows in warm climates and is widely distributed in Philippines, India, and Africa. Aloe Vera is widely used as traditional herbal medicine in China, Japan, Russia, South Africa, the United States, Jamaica, and Latin America. It is a herb that grows up to 35 cm in height with green leaves. Aloe Vera leaves are about 6 cm wide that grows up tapering with spiny margins. Its flower grows erect from the herb to as much as twice the height of the plant. Aloe Vera flowers are yellow to red yellow in color that grows to about 2cm.

                                         

                   Aloe plant with flower                         Aloe Vera as Gel

Uses of Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera has several active constituents and most of them have therapeutic implications for disease prevention and treatment through the modulation of various biological and genetic activities. The possible mechanisms of actions of Aloe Vera are described as follows:

Aloe Vera has aloe emodin (AE), aloin (barbaloin), anthracene, and emodin found to be relevant to cancer prevention owing to the activation and inactivation of molecular pathways associated with them.

Aloe Vera function as an antioxidant through free radical and superoxide radical-scavenging activities and anti-inflammatory activities via inhibition of prostaglandin E2 production from arachidonic acid and also inhibition of various transcription factors and the activities of enzymes including lypoxygenase and cyclooxygenase.

Aloe Vera was historically used to heal wounds and treat various skin conditions.  It is widely used as traditional herbal medicine and is frequently cited as being used in herbal medicine for its anti-inflammatory, regenerative, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal and healing properties.  Aloe Vera was also taken orally as a laxative. Nowadays, aloe extract is still popularly used as a home remedy for skin problems such as psoriasis, burns, sunburns, insect bites, scalds, scrapes, wounds and others.  

·         It can be found in many skin products such as lotions, gels and sunblocks. Other folkloric uses include treatment of arthritis, asthma, diabetes, epilepsy and osteoarthritis.  Aloe Vera juice or the fleshy leaf is applied directly to the affected skin, providing relief and believed to improve healing.

·         Aloe Vera is also used for treatment of hair related problems such as: - dandruff, thinning and falling hair, baldness.  Fresh Aloe Vera juice or sap are massaged to the affected scalp and let it stay for a few minutes before washing.

·         Aloe Vera, Herbal Medicine for Conjunctivitis, Stomachic, Hemorrhoids and Diabetes.  Persons suffering from conjunctivitis uses aloe leaf juice, and applied it to the outer eyelid

·         In small doses, Aloe Vera is considered stomachic tonic; in large doses, as purgative.

·         For hemorrhoids, Aloe Vera cuticle from its leaves is used as suppository for hemorrhoids

·         In some Arabian regions, Aloe Vera is used to treat diabetes.

               

Aloe Vera Risks

Talk to your doctor before using it. Researchers warn against the chronic use of aloe vera, but if the aloe product is free of aloin -- an extract of the plant that has been found to cause colorectal cancer in rats -- it may be OK as a topical remedy for sunburn. Aloin is found between the outer leaf of the aloe plant and the gooey stuff inside.

 

• Side effects                                   

Tropical aloe Vera might irritate your skin. Oral aloe, which has a laxative effect, can cause cramping and diarrhea. This may cause electrolyte imbalances in the blood of people who ingest aloe for more than a few days. It can also stain the colon, making it hard to get a good look at the colon during a colonoscopy.  So, avoid it for a month before having a colonoscopy. Aloe gel, for topical or oral use, should be free of aloin, which can irritate the gastrointestinal tract.

 

• Risks

Do not apply topical aloe vera to deep cuts or severe burns. People allergic to garlic, onions, and tulips are more likely to be allergic to aloe. High doses of oral aloe are dangerous. Don’t take oral aloe if you have intestinal problems, heart disease, hemorrhoids, kidney problems, diabetes, or electrolyte imbalances.

 

 

• Interactions

     If you take any drugs regularly, talk to your doctor before you start using                 

     aloe supplements. They could interact with medicines and supplements like diabetes                         

          drugs, heart drugs, laxatives, steroids, and licorice root. The oral use of aloe vera gel

          may also block the absorption of medicines taken at the same time.

          Given the lack of evidence about its safety, aloe vera supplements should not be  

          used orally by children and by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

 

By: Chance Johnson/Kissoon

 

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