The benefits of aloe vera or aloe They are numerous: it has healing properties for the hair, improves acne and even helps to lose weight, being described on many occasions as a "miracle plant", which is why scientific studies about its properties have increased in recent years.
Aloe -also known as aloe vera- is made up of 96% water, some organic and inorganic compounds, a type of protein that contains 18 of the 20 amino acids found in the body and, finally, vitamins A, B, C and E. Another part of the aloe plant that is used is the "SAP", a yellow liquid stuck to the skin inside the plant.
Its incredible potential ranges from its effectiveness in dermatological diseases, to being a possible ally against cancer. For something in Ancient Egypt it was known as "the plant of immortality".
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The oldest records on the use of aloe vera in humans appear in the Ebers Papyrus (Egyptian medical papyrus) from the 16th century BC, and they called it "the plant of immortality".
This plant has been used therapeutically for many centuries in China, Japan, India, Greece, Egypt, Mexico, and Japan. Cleopatra and Nefertiti, two queens of Egypt, used aloe vera to keep their skin soft.
In the time of Alexander the Great, soldiers used it to heal their wounds. Dioscorides (40-90 AD), a Greek physician, mentioned the therapeutic qualities of aloe in “From Mataria Medica", A 5-volume encyclopedia on medicinal substances and herbal medicines. It was widely read for more than 1,500 years.
Gaius Pliny Segundo (23-79 AD), better known as Pliny the Elder, a Roman author, naturalist, and philosopher, mentioned the therapeutic benefits of aloe in “Natural History", An early encyclopedia that has survived from the Roman Empire.
A study by the Institute of Chemistry of the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, confirmed the remarkable protection capacity of aloe vera against cell death produced by UVA rays, which makes it a great candidate as a supplement in protective dermatological formulations..
An article published in 2010 by the journal "Alternative and Complementary Therapies" suggests that consuming 1 to 3 ounces (30-90 grams) of aloe gel before meals could reduce the severity of gastroesophageal reflux disease ( GERD), a digestive disorder that often leads to heartburn.
Many studies have been published on the benefits of aloe in facilitating digestion. The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, recommends using it to relieve constipation but in moderation, since the dose should not exceed 0.04 to 0.17 grams of dry juice.
A publication from the Department of Life Sciences of National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan, evidenced the therapeutic properties of aloe vera in slowing the growth of breast cancer. However, more studies are needed to back it up..
A team of plastic surgeons from the Department of Plastic Surgery at Nishtar Hospital in Multan, Pakistan, conducted a study to verify the efficacy of Aloe Vera gel in healing and relieving pain from second degree burn wounds, concluding that the cream is highly effective in healing these injuries.
A study from the Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Preventive Dentistry at Tamil Nadu Dental University, India, ensures that aloe may play an important role in dentistry as an adjunct in the treatment of lichen planus, oral submucosal fibrosis, recurrent aphthous stomatitis, alveolar osteitis, periodontitis, among other conditions.
The Public Health Department of Dentistry in Lansdowne, India conducted a study on the use of aloe vera as a mouthwash. The results showed that it was effective in reducing plaque and also there were no side effects.
On the other hand, a study published in General Dentistry reported that aloe vera in dental gels is as effective as toothpaste in fighting cavities..
Due to the amount of water that the plant stores and in combination with its special compounds, aloe is effective as a skin moisturizer. This was confirmed by a study by Dal'Belo et al, in 2006.
Research published by the University of Cambridge showed that aloe vera coating blocked the growth of many types of harmful bacteria in vegetables..
Similar results were also found in a study with apples, meaning that aloe vera gel helps keep fruits and vegetables fresh, which could fill the need for dangerous chemicals to extend the shelf life of products..
A study carried out by the University of Naples, Italy, verified the efficacy of five topical creams in protecting the skin of patients receiving radiotherapy.
During six weeks, the participants underwent evaluations, and all the moisturizers in the study were effective, including the one containing aloe vera..
As published by the University of Maryland, evidence suggests that aloe vera gel can improve the symptoms of genital herpes and some skin conditions such as psoriasis.
In a 1985 study by Agarwal, improvements were observed after 2 weeks of applying an aloe vera gel in combination with seed bread..
A team from the Department of Dermatology of the Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran, conducted a study to see if combination therapy with natural preparations such as aloe vera could be effective in treating and reducing the common acne.
They concluded that the applications were well tolerated and significantly effective.
An investigation carried out by Dermatol Surg Oncol, in 1990, showed that wound healing is approximately 72 hours faster with the application of aloe vera than with a standard gel.
According to the author, this acceleration in wound healing is important to reduce bacterial contamination, subsequent keloid formation, and / or pigmentation changes..
The Division of Radiation Oncology of the San Gerardo Hospital in Milan, Italy, conducted a study with patients with untreatable metastatic solid tumors, to evaluate whether the simultaneous administration of aloe vera and pineal indole melatonin (MLT) could improve therapeutic results..
The study included 50 patients suffering from lung cancer, gastrointestinal tract tumors, breast cancer, or brain glioblastoma..
The 1-year survival rate was significantly higher in patients treated with MLT and aloe vera, so this preliminary study suggests that this treatment may produce therapeutic benefits, at least in terms of disease stabilization and survival..
Aloe vera appears to be safe and has been well tolerated in most studies to date. However, there are contraindications that must be taken into account.
The use of aloe vera preparations should be avoided in people with known allergies to plants of the lily family (garlic, onion, and tulips)..
The use of aloe as a laxative during pregnancy may pose potential teratogenic and toxicological effects on the embryo and fetus..
Long-term use of aloe has been associated with watery diarrhea resulting in electrolyte imbalance, and reports suggest that increased potassium loss can lead to hypokalemia. Therefore, it is contraindicated in patients with a history of kidney or heart disorders..
There is a clinical case of a 35-year-old woman who lost 5 liters of blood during surgery as a result of a possible interaction with aloe vera and sevoflurane..
There are also other interactions that can be dangerous, so you should always consult your doctor before starting any treatment..
Use a sharp knife to extract a leaf from the plant at its base, near the ground. Better select one of the outer sheets, since they contain the greatest amount of gel.
With the knife, carefully cut the thorny edges from the end of the blade. If you use all the gel from the leaf, wrap the remaining leaf in a plastic bag and store it in the refrigerator until you need it again..
The natural flavor of aloe is so bitter that you will not be able to drink it alone. The solution is to take pieces of the gel and mix them with another fruit or vegetable juice that is preferably sweet, then add honey and a little lemon.
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