Those of us who live year-round in the desert recognize and admire the aloe vera plant for its beauty and resilience as well as its long history in natural healing. It is a familiar sight in the back garden or kitchen windowsill: a sturdy, bright green succulent, displaying fleshy spear-like leaves with a tough, smooth texture and delicately serrated edges. Many people share stories of an elder family member who would always have an aloe vera plant handy. They would slice off a section of the juice-filled leaf to take the sting out of a sunburn or treat a scrape, cut or burn. Almost miraculously, the aloe’s watery gel would ease the pain, disinfect the damaged skin and promote healing, usually restoring the skin to its normal state, with no scarring or discoloration, in a remarkably short period of time.
The name aloe vera (‘true aloe’) originates from the Arabic word alloeh, which translates as ‘shining, bitter substance.’ The genus Aloe is only found in warm, fertile regions which experience long periods of drought. The aloe family is related to the lily family, and also to onion, garlic and asparagus. Of more than 500 species of aloe, the plant with the longest history of therapeutic medicinal use is Aloe barbadensis (Miller,) so named for the botanist who discovered it in 1768. It is this particular aloe which has been the subject of extensive research over the past few decades. The oldest evidence of the historical use of aloe for healing was discovered on a Mesopotamian clay tablet from 2100 BCE depicting the plant. References to aloe vera can be found in many cultures, including the ancient Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Indian, Chinese and Arab civilizations. Traders first brought aloe vera to Britain in the 17th. century, and in the 200 years that followed, formulas containing ‘aloes’ and ‘bitter aloes’ became some of the most popular apothecary medicines.
What are the attributes of aloe vera that give it the name ‘miracle plant?’ Like the human body, the aloe plant is primarily water. It has a pH of 4.5 and contains more than 200 beneficial phytonutrients, including vitamins, minerals, enzymes, glycoproteins, polysaccharides (sugars), anthraquinones, lignin, saponins, plant sterols, salicylic acid and amino acids. If an aloe plant is crushed or damaged in its living state, it immediately ‘seals’ itself against water and nutrient loss, protecting its contents from bacterial contamination. Within a few minutes, a rubber-like protective coating covers the damaged area, and within a few days, the plant wound heals completely. It is believed that this natural mechanism gives aloe vera its healing power in treating pain, skin traumas and intestinal ailments. Natural health professionals recommend taking aloe vera juice or gel internally for effective treatment of acid reflux, ulcers, colitis, irritable bowel syndrome and other painful conditions of the gastrointestinal tract. Diabetics in particular benefit from drinking aloe juice because it regulates blood sugar and lipid levels. Studies conducted at the University of San Antonio, Texas showed no negative effects when lab animals ingested aloin-free (latex-free) aloe vera, even in large quantities. In fact, the group given aloe had significantly lower levels of blood cancers, heart disease and kidney disease, and even had 25% longer lifespans!
In the 1970’s, Dr. Robert H. Davis, professor emeritus at the Pennsylvania College of Podiatric Medicine, began researching natural anti-inflammatory agents as alternatives to steroid drugs, and used aloe vera gel as the control substance. He found that the control group experienced the most dramatic anti-inflammatory response he had ever seen. In a 1994 article in the journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, Dr. Davis revealed that three plant sterols in aloe vera (lupeol, campesterol and beta-sitosterol) provided remarkable anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects when applied to arthritic joints. In fact, the aloe vera even helped stop the auto-immune reaction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) where the body attacks its own tissue. Dr. Davis studied the enzymes in aloe vera and found that one particular enzyme, carboxypeptidase N, inactivates bradykinin in the body. Bradykinin is a peptide generated when the body experiences trauma or shock and then creates a reaction of allergy or inflammation, resulting in acute or chronic pain.
Dr. Davis and other scientific researchers also studied other ingredients in aloe vera which act in synergy to provide pain relief. These include the antioxidant vitamins A, C and E, vitamin B complex, the amino acids phenylalanine and tyrosine, the minerals calcium, magnesium and zinc, the polysaccharides, which have an immunomodulatory effect, and salicylic acid, a natural aspirin-like compound which provides analgesic and anti-inflammatory benefits. Salicylic acid affects prostaglandin pathways in the body, acting as a cyclooxygenase (COX-2) inhibitor. It also reduces the effects of histamine on the vascular system, regulating both inflammatory and immune response. Magnesium lactate in aloe vera also reduces the amount of histamine formed in the body’s mast cells. Since histamine is involved in many painful allergic conditions, aloe vera can play an important role in easing pain and inflammation naturally.
Aromatherapists often use pure aloe vera in liquid, gel or cream form because of its cooling and soothing nature and its remarkable healing benefits in skincare and pain relief. Lignin, another important component of aloe vera, endows topical preparations with dramatic transdermal ability, enabling aloe to sink into the skin easily. The anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of aloe vera are the perfect counterpart to therapeutic essential oils and are a natural alternative to conventional drugstore offerings. Aloe vera is one of our most valuable tools to help those who suffer from acute or chronic pain.
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