Aloe (between 100 and 200 species) are liliaceae without bulb and sometimes looking like a tree.
Aloe vera or common aloe or Barbados aloe or true aloe, is a succulent plant originates from the southern Mediterranean basin or Arabian peninsula.
It forms tight tufts of thick greenish leaves with irregular whitish patches, with soft spines on their margins.
The leaves are gathered in a rosette on a very short trunk and do not reach more than 50 to 80 cm high.
The flowers form a rather dense cluster at the end of a single, upright floral stem (50 cm to 1 m);
Aloe vera has yellow flowers but they are red-orange in A. ferox and A. arborescens.
Aloe vera is very widespread, it grows as well in temperate countries in full sun or houseplant (its size is reduced) as in hot tropico-equatorial countries.
Aloe vera is grown industrially in many countries (including the USA), the plant is full size in 4 years and lives 12 years, producing many ofshoots.
ALOE VERA TRUE ALOE BARBADOS ALOE SOOTHING MOISTURIZING HEALING IMMUNOSTIMULANT MUCILAGE GEL SAP LAXATIVE CONSTIPATION
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND PROPERTIES
ALOE VERA EXSUDATE ( OR SAP) AND ALOE VERA GEL
ALOE EXSUDATE or sap flows spontaneously from the cut leaves, it comes from the cellular structures underlying the epidermis.
It is thickened by evaporation until a green-brown solid is obtained: the aloe of pharmacists.
It is a very bitter potentially toxic substance that contains between 20 and 40% of anthracene compounds: aloin and its derivatives.
These are heterosides (glucosides) derived from the anthrone that are powerfully laxative, very similar in their mode of action to sennosides of senna.
They act by increasing the peristalsis of the large intestine associated with an increase in the volume of the feces by inhibition of the resorption of water.
The anthrone (the effective substance) is released by colonic bacteria (by hydrolysis), so the action of the aloe is delayed 8 to 12 hours after absorption.
ALOE GEL is constituted by the mucilage of the cells of the central part of the leaf.
It contains :
- 99% water at a slightly acid pH (4.5),
- polymers of mannose (glucomannan and acemannan)
- amino acids, enzymes, fatty acids, sterols, salicylic acid.
Glucomannans have a moisturizing, softening and protective effect on the skin and integuments.
Acemannans accelerate the healing of wounds, are anti-inflammatory and immunostimulants with corollary antitumor (anticancer) and antiviral capabilities.
The HEALING PROPERTIES of acemannans were verified by animal experiments.
Wound healing is promoted by stimulation of fibroblasts with accelerated connective tissue formation.
IMMUNOSTIMULATORY PROPERTIES were tested in vitro: an increase in the activity of macrophages, the cytotoxicity of killer lymphocytes (K lymphocytes), and in parallel the macrophages would increase their release of interleukins, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and gamma interferon.
The ANTIVIRAL ACTION, due to acemannans, has been verified in vitro on the AIDS virus and in vivo in cats.
Feline leukemia (a very serious viral disease with mortality between 70% and 80%) was treated with 2mg / kg / week for 6 weeks with reduction of mortality to 29% (71% cure)
ANTITUMOR PROPERTIES have been studied in rats, mice or dogs; with acemannan, there are signs of necrosis of solid tumors and even tumor regressions.
Efficacy seems more important in soft tissue sarcomas.
In humans it is still in the test stage.
USES
Aloe is a very ancient remedy, already known from ancient times in the Middle East, Egypt, Greece, India, China. Tablets of Mesopotamian origin describe the use of aloe to treat skin infections and constipation.
Cleopatra, it seems, incorporated aloe gel in her ointments of beauty.
ALOE SAP is an energetic laxative to use with caution even if it is present in many phytomedicines, it has POTENTIAL TOXICITY and is banned in several countries .
Its use is not recommended for children under 12, pregnant women or breastfeeding and when constipation is accompanied by significant digestive pain. In any case, treatment is limited to 8-10 days.
Average dosage: 100 to 200 mg / day of aloe powder. It is always preferable to regulate the intestinal transit by a suitable dietary.
ALOE GEL is incorporated in many cosmetic products, sun creams, repair creams for its moisturizing and protective power.
Aloe gel is useful on burns, radiodermatitis (sunburn or X-ray radiodermatitis) and also frostbite.
It is applied without limitation (except for signs of skin intolerance).
It is always useful to have an aloe vera plant at home in case of burns : cut a leaf immediately, peel it, crush it and apply it directly on the burn.
Aloe gel is antibacterial and antifungal (in vitro) and appears to bethe same in vivo.
Even in good health it may be good to reinforce the immune defense : 1 to 2 glasses of pure gel per day for a few days; avoid contaminating the gel with bitter and laxative juice.
Pure acemannan in synergy with other antivirals specific drugs helps to fight against the AIDS virus : pure acemannan 1000 to 1500 mg / day .
Clinical trials have shown that taking acemannan has a favorable effect on the progression of the disease, less infection, less
diarrhea, generally a better general condition.
ALOE VERA CULTIVATION
There is large-scale agricultural production of Aloe vera mainly to provide the cosmetic industry in many countries with suitable climate.
It is a succulent plant resistant to drough and that can grow in poor soil.
Aloe vera is also been widely grown as an ornamental plant in garden but also in terra cotta pots
ABSTRACT
A SUCCULENT PLANT IMMUNOSTIMULATING and TO HEAL BURNS
Wen cut aloe leaf lets flow a very bitter exsudate with powerful laxative properties, the gel inside the leave is cosmetic, anti-inflammatory.
It is wonderful to reduce inflammation of the burns, In addition, the gel contains immunostimulatory compounds. .
Copyright 2019 : Dr Jean-Michel Hurtel
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