Topic: Lily of the Desert

[Ke-ke wan]

Let  food be your medicine and medicine be your food
~Hippocrates

Also known as Aloe Vera or Aloe barbadensis,  Aloe's use can be traced back 6,000 years to early Egypt, where the plant was depicted on stone carvings. Known as the "plant of immortality," aloe was presented as a burial gift to deceased pharaohs.


Aloe leaves contain a clear gel that is often used as a topical ointment.
The green part of the leaf that surrounds the gel can be used to produce a juice or a dried substance (called latex) that is taken by mouth.

Aloe has been well known for centuries for its healing properties, and both oral intake and topical dressings have been documented to facilitate healing of any kind of skin wound, burn, or scald - even speeding recovery time after surgery.  Situations to try it on include blisters, insect bites, rashes, sores, herpes, urticaria, athlete's foot, fungus, vaginal infections, conjunctivitis, sties, allergic reactions, and dry skin. The raw plant is best, but commercial preparations can also be used, especially for taking orally, as this plant tastes horrible.  Other topical uses include acne, sunburn, frostbite (it appears to prevent decreased blood flow), shingles, screening out x-ray radiation, psoriasis, preventing scarring, rosacea, warts, wrinkles from aging, and eczema. 





Internally, aloe is showing real promise in the fight against AIDS, and the virus has become undetectable in some patients who used it on a regular basis, due to its immune system stimulant properties.  It also seems to help prevent opportunistic infections in cases of HIV and AIDS. 

It appears to be of help in cancer patients (including lung cancer) by activating the white blood cells and promoting growth of non-cancerous cells.  The National Cancer Institute has included Aloe Vera in their recommendations for increased testing because of these apparent cancer fighting properties.  Recent research has shown Aloe to actually shrink cancerous stomach tumours when taken internally. 

Taken orally, aloe also appears to work on heartburn, arthritis and rheumatism pain and asthma, and studies have shown that it has an effect on lowering blood sugar levels in diabetics.  Other situations in which it appears to work when taken internally include congestion, intestinal worms, indigestion, stomach ulcers, colitis, hemorrhoids, liver problems such as cirrhosis and hepatitis, kidney infections, urinary tract infections,  prostate problems, and as a general detoxifier. Lastly, many people who take aloe internally report just feeling better overall, which is in and of itself something of a testament to its remarkable properties

[Ke-ke wan]

Commercially, aloe can be found in pills, sprays, ointments, lotions, liquids, drinks, jellies, and creams, to name a few of the thousands of products available.  Unfortunately, the aloe industry is virtually unregulated, and some products that advertise aloe content actually have little to none.  Therefore, if you are embarking on a regimen with aloe, you should become an avid reader of ingredients.  Look for the word aloe to appear near the top of the ingredient list first and foremost, then follow the guidelines below:

Sunburn treatments - 20% or more aloe content

Creams & Ointments - 20% or more aloe content

Juices - 95% or more aloe content

Beverages - 50% or more aloe content

Drinks - 10% or more aloe content

Capsules - 5-10% or more aloe content

 

As far as dosages are concerned, start small and work your way up to a therapeutic dose.  Juices are a good way to start, and pills are probably the worst way to go with aloe.  Aloe pulp is 95% water, and if you consider the process of drying this, then sticking it back together into a pill form, you can see why pills are probably not the best way to go.  Also, give your regimen time to work.  Sometimes it takes a couple of months for you to see the real effects of aloe treatments, so don't give up too soon.

 

Aloe is safe when used in moderation, but there are a few contraindications.  If you have a heart problem and use any kind of digitalis medication, consult your doctor before using any aloe product internally, as the interaction may cause irregular heartbeat.  Avoid aloe preparations if you are pregnant, breast feeding, or menstruating, as it can cause uterine contractions.

[Firestarter]

Aloe also grows quite easily too, at least in the desert.

[Ke-ke wan]

Aloe vera just may be the most impressive medicinal herb easily available to us  (Garlic and ginger would be a close second and third in my opinion)

There is nothing we know of on this planet that offers the amazing variety of healing benefits granted by aloe vera.   In a single plant, aloe vera offers potent, natural medicine that:

• Halts the growth of cancer tumors.
• Lowers high cholesterol.
• Repairs "sludge blood" and reverses "sticky blood".
• Boosts the oxygenation of your blood.
• Eases inflammation and soothes arthritis pain.
• Protects the body from oxidative stress.
• Prevents kidney stones and protects the body from oxalates in coffee and tea.
• Alkalizes the body, helping to balance overly acidic dietary habits.
• Cures ulcers, IBS, Crohn's disease and other digestive disorders.
• Reduces high blood pressure natural, by treating the cause, not just the symptoms.
• Nourishes the body with minerals, vitamins, enzymes and glyconutrients.
• Accelerates healing from physical burns and radiation burns.
• Replaces dozens of first aid products, makes bandages and antibacterial sprays obsolete.
• Halts colon cancer, heals the intestines and lubricates the digestive tract.
• Ends constipation.
• Stabilizes blood sugar and reduces triglycerides in diabetics.
• Prevents and treats candida infections.
• Protects the kidneys from disease.




It could be said that it works because the Aloe Vera plant produces at least 6 antiseptic agents: Lupeol, salicylic acid, urea nitrogen, cinnamonic acid, phenols, and sulphur. All of these substances are recognized as antiseptics because they kill or control mold, bacteria, fungus, and viruses, explaining why the plant has the ability to eliminate many internal and external infections. The Lupeol and salicylic acid in the juice explains why it is a very effective pain-killer.

Next, it could be said that Aloe Vera contains at least three anti-inflammatory fatty acids, cholesterol, campersterol and B-sitosterol (plant sterols) which explains why it is a highly effective treatment for burns, cuts, scrapes, abrasions, allergic reactions, rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatic fever, acid indigestion, ulcers, plus many inflammatory conditions of the digestive system and other internal organs, including the stomach, small intestine, colon, liver, kidney, and pancreas. B-sitosterol is also a powerful anti-cholestromatic which helps to lower harmful cholesterol levels, helping to explain its many benefits for heart patents.

If we add that Aloe contains at least 23 polypeptids (immune stimulators), then we understand why Aloe juice helps control a broad spectrum of immune system diseases and disorders, including HIV and AIDS. The polypeptids, plus the anti-tumor agents Aloe emodin and Aloe lectins, explains its ability to control cancer.

If the SYNERGISTIC RELATIONSHIP between the elements found in the sap, gel, and throughout the entire plant does not explain why whole leaf Aloe works, then NOTHING DOES! All of which explains why "Across Time" lay persons and physicians alike, have proclaimed that Aloe has the ability to heal, alleviate, eliminate, or even cure a monumental list of human diseases and disorders. Therefore it truly deserves the name, "Medicine Plant".

[Ke-ke wan]

Aloe also grows quite easily too, at least in the desert.

In the home as well. 

[Nichi]

L, if one was consuming it to reduce tumors. what would one do? Drain a little of the liquid into a spoon or some tea on a regular basis?  (?)

I haven't had an aloe plant in years, but I remember worrying about killing the plant, using it too much.

[Ke-ke wan]

L, if one was consuming it to reduce tumors. what would one do? Drain a little of the liquid into a spoon or some tea on a regular basis?  (?)

I haven't had an aloe plant in years, but I remember worrying about killing the plant, using it too much.

I've got a beautiful plant at home that has taken quite the banging up and bruising.   They seem quite difficult to kill.   

To take Aloe internally,  the advice is to take a 5-10 cm leaf and let the brown juice drip out of it for 3 days (this is the laxative part that causes diarrhea). Next slit it in half and -- keeping away from the leaf-- scoop out the gel. Mix the gel with lemon juice and whisk. Then drink right away or store for use later.   


Most people use aloe simply by cutting off a piece of leaf and squeezing the liquid onto their skin. This works, but it wastes the inner gel, which is the most potent part of the plant. To use the gel, you'll need to "fillet" the leaves rather than merely squeezing them. The filleting process also reaps much more aloe gel/juice. When properly prepared and refrigerated, this final product can last a year or more!   Of course fresh is always best!

Don't forget to store your aloe juice in the refrigerator. Preferably,  use a glass container. Brown or dark green glass is best to block out excess light.  To make it last even longer and to prevent discoloration as it will eventually turn brown, add a drop of vitamin E and a drop of grapefruit seed extract, or mix in some citric acid powder.   The gel or gel/lemon juice mixture can also be frozen.    Try putting it in ice-cube trays and then popping them out one at a time as needed to be added to smoothies or juices. 

You can incorporate aloe vera into your herbal tea by simply adding 1 teaspoon of aloe vera gel (pure, not cosmetic grade) to the herbal tea of your choosing.

[Nichi]

Thanks, L!

[Ke-ke wan]

Thanks, L!

My pleasure!

(I wish I could somehow do this for a living!  Wouldn't that be fun?  Like an herbal medicine reporter or soemthing.)