11/06/2016
APPENDIX
The Contents and Properties of Aloe Vera Gel
Aloe Vera naturally contains 75 known active ingredients (and probably many more) which can be divided into the following groups:
Vitamins
Aloe contains a wide range, but the most common ones are the antioxidant vitamins C and E and the beta carotene, the precursor of vitamin A. it is also one of the few plant sources in the world of vitamin B12 – albeit a very small amount.
Minerals
These include magnesium, manganese, zinc, copper, chromium, calcium, sodium and potassium, essential elements in the chemistry and processes of a healthy body.
Amino Acids
The human body requires 20 amino acids, the building blocks of the protein and Aloe Vera Gel provides 19 of them. More importantly, it provides seven of the eight essential amino acids that cannot be manufactured by the body and which have to be consumed as food.
Polysaccharides
These include the important natural sugars which act on the immune system.
Digestive Enzymes
Lipases and proteases break down food and aid digestion.
Anti-inflammatory Enzymes
These reduce inflammation
Plant Sterols
The three main types act as a powerful anti-inflammatory agent. Helps lower cholesterol.
Lignin
This gives topical Aloe Vera its penetrative ability, to reach deep into the skin.
Saponins
These are soapy substances that exert a powerful anti-microbial effect against bacteria, viruses, fungi and yeasts such as candida or “thrush”.
Anthraquinones
The most important ones being aloin and emodin, but although present in only minute amounts they are strong painkillers, and are acknowledged to possess antibacterial and virucidal activity.
Why does it work?
It works by providing a rich cocktail micro-nutritional elements whose combined action and balance produce a more powerful effect together that would be expected from the addition of the individual components. This is because they work as a team, enhancing each other’s effect – known as synergism. It also has adaptogenic properties which means that different individuals take from it what they need, therefore the benefits vary from person to person.
Where does it work?
Aloe Vera, because of its nutritional and immunomodulating properties, helps firstly to prevent injury to epithelial tissues, and when they are damaged, it promotes healing. Antioxidants fight the destructive “free radicals”, the unstable compounds produced by our metabolism and found in environmental pollutants. Free radicals are thought to cause the ageing process. Polysaccharides in Aloe Vera on the immune system to help regulate and balance its activity.
An epithelium is an anatomical terms defines as follows: “a layer of cells that covers t he body or lines a cavity that connects with it”.
Our largest epithelium is our skin but also included is the lining of the gut, the bronchial rubes and the ge***al tract. No wonder Aloe works just as well on damaged skin as it does, say, on an inflamed bowel or in asthma.
Its natural anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial action, combined within its nutritional constituents, promote healthy cell growth, and therefore healing. However, it is not only helpful for people with problems; most people taking it report feeling calmer and less anxious. This could be due to Aloe’s effect on their immune system which, you may say, becomes balanced or fine-tuned, and therefore, more efficient at defending the body from attack. Promotes better absorption of vitamins and boosts energy.
For further information please see “The Essential Aloe Vera” by Dr. Peter Atherton (Advisory Board Member) available to purchase from FLP.
Stabilized Aloe Vera Gel (when taken as a drink or applied externally to the skin and hair) has the following benefits.
How does it work?
• It is natural cleanser due to the presence of saponins
• It penetrates tissue due to its lignin content
• It eneasthetises the tissue in the area to which it is applied, relieving pain deep beneath the surface, including pain associated with joints and sore muscles
• It is a bactericidal when held in high concentration for several hours direct contact with bacteria, whereas antibiotics kill bacteria when highly diluted
• It is virucidal and fungicidal when held in direct contact in high concentration for a long period
• It is anti-inflammatory. It acts like a steroid, but with no side effects
• It is antiprutitic – reducing itching and burning
• It is a natural moisturizer to all layers of the skin
• It stimulates cell replication
• The proteolytic enzyme break down dead tissue – cleansing a wound (topical products).
• It helps to increase blood flow in the skin by capillary dilation
• It is healthy giving to the skin and the body by proving a wide range of vitamins, minerals, sugars, enzymes and amino acids, essential and secondary
• Safety – each of the above benefits can be achieved with one or more drugs. Usually these are expensive and have numerous side effects. Alow Vera can produce benefits in high concentration with virtually no side effects.
Aloe Vera is not a panacea to all ills and there is no magic about it. It works only in the two areas mentioned previously – epithelial tissue and immune system. This is largely backed by anecdotal evidence, as many thousands of people over the centuries have reported benefit for various skin complains such as eczema, psoriasis, ulcers, burns, acne, even stings and bites.
They have found relief for bowel disorders such as diverticulitis and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Other conditioned resulting from a disorder immune system such as arthritis, asthma and ME (Post viral fatigue syndrome) and LE (lupus) have improved after regular ingestion of the Aloe Vera Gel.
Aloe Vera therefore has a complementary role to play in the management of various conditioned. It is very important, however, that people always seek the advice of their doctor, when diagnosis is in doubt, or where a condition does not improve. Self diagnosis can be extremenly dangerous as many serious conditioned can mimic simpler ones.
