What is Aloe Vera?

Often called the ‘Miracle Plant’ or the ‘Natural Healer’, Aloe Vera is a plant of many surprises.

It flourishes in warm and dry climates, and many people mistake it for a cactus, but , in fact, it is a member of the Lily family. Ancient records show that the benefits of Aloe Vera have been known for centuries. Its therapeutic advantages and healing properties have survived more than 5,000 years.

Today the reputation of this remarkable plant continues to grow. It is used by millions of people around the world for both external applications and internal use, many of which are documented in Magazines & Newspapers.

Ingredients in the Aloe vera Leaf:

Vitamins - It contains a wide range - but most important are the anti oxidants C and E and Beta Carotene. It also has one of the few plant sources in the world of vitamin B12

Minerals - These include magnesium, manganese, zinc, copper, chromium, calcium, sodium, potassium and iron

Amino Acids - The human body requires 22 amino acids, the building blocks of protein and Aloe Vera Gel provides 20 of them.

Sugars - These include the important long chain polysaccharides which boost the effect of the immune system. Enzymes - Lipases and proteases which break down food and the aid digestion as well as carboxypepidase that is involved in the nflammatory process.

Plant Sterols - The tree main types act as powerful anti-inflammatory agents.
Lignin - This woody substance bestows on Aloe Vera its penetrative ability to reach deep into the skin.

Saponins - These are soapy substance 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 altogether they are strong pain killers. In their pure form, they are powerful laxatives.
Salicylic Acid - This asprin-like compound is anti-inflammatory and topically helps to break down dead tissue.
 
Polysaccharide
The long chain polysaccharide in Aloe Vera “Acemannan” is very delicate and therefore the manufacturing process should be as gentle as possible. Our patented cold stabilisation process, which does not involve either excessive filtration, concentration or excessive heat, leaves the sugar in the same state as it was in the plant.

It is not broken up by these processes which often occur in the whole leaf method of extraction and therefore if taken on an empty stomach first thing in the morning it will not be exposed to the enzymes and acid in the stomach as it passes through very quickly into the small bowel where specialised cells lining the wall of the gut are able to absorb it whole. These cells are limited in number and therefore they can only absorb a certain amount of polysaccharide at any one time and so it is pointless to have too much of this sugar in any product; yet this is often put forward as a major selling point.

The ideal range of polysaccharide in any product should be 1200-1400mg/litre and Forever Living Products gel certainly covers this range so that the maximum amount of the sugar can be absorbed.   

Whole Leaf compared with Filleted Aloe Vera

The whole leaf manufacturing process involves harvesting the whole plant rather than individual leaves and the process starts macerating the leaves including the rind and then requires increasing levels of filtration to remove the unwanted rind and the sap of the plant, often called the latex or aloin.

Towards the end of the process the material is passed through a charcoal (carbon) filter, which is extremely efficient at extracting the aloin but I wonder what else maybe extracted along with it, possibly even substances that we have not yet identified?

The important long chain sugars are often broken up by this process, which also often involves considerable heat again potentially damaging them.

Their disruption always reduces their beneficial actions. Occasionally whole leaf products are produced as tablets in which there is even more interference producing an ultimate product, which is far removed from the natural plant, as now the material has to be dried and compacted. They maybe cheap but they are certainly not as effective.

ARTHRITIS ~  Osteo-arthritis is commonly known as the ‘wear and tear’ condition of the joints and the damage to the cartilage-cushioning between the joints and vertebrates. The main areas being the knees, hips and spine causing inflammation varying degrees of pain is experienced. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic progressive disease causing inflammation and stiffening joints. In extreme cases, deformity occurs in the finger joints.   Aloe vera can help in reducing the inflammation therefore helping to reduce pain, and addresses the immune system to help the body help itself.

CANCER ~  Aloe vera will often be used as a complementary addition to the ongoing medical treatment. Aloe vera can often help in alleviating some of the side effects, improving the immune system, and with radiation, helps prevent little or no scarring to occur.

COLITIS/ CROHN'S DISEASE ~ Inflammatory digestive disease, which can be anywhere between mouth and bowel.  Mostly commonly found at the conjuncture of the large and small intestine.  There is no known cause or cure so it is a chronic decease.  Symptoms can include abdominal pain, frequent visits to the bathroom and bleeding.  When a flare-up is severe often steroids or surgery is needed.  However, a great deal can be done naturally with i.e. diets, reducing stress.  Aloe vera can help by cleansing the digestive system and greatly reduces the inflammation.  Over a period of time, the Aloe Vera also helps the body to repair epithelial damage.

I.B.S. ~ Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a condition of the bowel that shows as either constipation or diarrhoea and often with excruciating pain. No known reason or cure for this condition.   Aloe vera detoxifies the digestive system and helps to repair the lining of the bowel therefore reducing inflammation. Can be very helpful for Colitis.

PSORIASIS ~ A chronic skin disease which can be stress related – characterized by an inflammatory condition with slight elevated patches and can have reddy to grey scales.   Aloe vera calms the topical inflammation and internally balances out the immune system.