Aloe

Aloe

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Latin name: Aloe barbadensis
Other names: Aloe Vera, Barbados Aloe, Cape Aloe, Curacao Aloe, Socotrine Aloe, Zanzibar Aloe

A Remedy For

• Constipation
• Skin inflammation

Two totally different medicines are derived from the Aloe plant. From just below the surface of the leaves comes a juice with potent laxative properties. At the core of each leaf is a colorless gel that soothes the skin.

What It Is; Why It Works
Aloe has played a role in medicine since the 4th century B.C., when ancient Greek doctors obtained it from the island of Socotra in the Indian Ocean. In the 10th century A.D., its remedial powers were recommended to the British king Alfred the Great by the Patriarch of Jerusalem. Muslims who have made the pilgrimage to Mecca are entitled to hang an Aloe plant over their doors as a talisman against evil.
Aloe is a lily-like, succulent shrub with little if any stem. It produces about 25 fleshy, gray-green leaves in an upright, dense rosette. In Europe, Aloe is used almost exclusively as a digestive aid and laxative. Elsewhere, the gel from the inner leaf is a popular ingredient in many skin preparations and cosmetics.
The laxative component of the plant works by preventing the absorption of water from the bowel, thus increasing the volume of its contents and hastening their passage. This component of Aloe also kills bacteria and is active against a variety of viruses, including herpes, chickenpox, and flu.
The gel from the inner leaf, usually called Aloe Vera, has anti-inflammatory and pain-killing properties. However, tests of its medicinal value has been quite contradictory. Some researchers have found that it speeds wound healing, others have reported that it actually interferes with healing. It seems to protect skin from the effects of frostbite, and has been proven effective against common psoriasis.

Avoid If...
Because of its effect on the bowels, you should avoid taking Aloe internally if you have an intestinal obstruction, an acute inflammatory intestinal disorder such as Crohn's Disease, ulcerative colitis, appendicitis, or any abdominal pain of unknown origin. Not for children under 12.

Special Cautions
When used as a laxative, Aloe can cause abdominal pain or discomfort. If it does, reduce the dosage. Swelling, kidney disorders, heart irregularities, and bone loss are potential--but rare--side effects.
Do not take Aloe for more than 1 to 2 weeks without consulting a doctor. Long-term use can lead to potassium deficiency and has been linked to an increased risk of colon cancer.

Possible Drug Interactions
Avoid combining Aloe with other medications that flush water and potassium from the body, including diuretics such as Diuril and Lasix, steroid drugs such as prednisone, and licorice root.
Potassium plays an important role in regulating the heart, so depleting it through long-term use of laxatives can affect the action of certain heart medications. The effects of drugs such as digitalis and digoxin (Lanoxin) may be increased. Drugs taken to steady the heartbeat could also be affected.

Special Information If You Are Pregnant or Breastfeeding
Do not take Aloe during pregnancy. Use caution when breastfeeding.

How to Prepare
The laxative form of Aloe is supplied in powder, liquid, and capsule forms.

Typical Dosage
When taken orally for constipation, the usual daily dosage is 20 to 30 milligrams. Use the smallest dose necessary to produce a soft stool. Allow 9 hours for the medicine to take effect.

Store away from light and moisture.

Overdosage
No information on overdosage is available.