NATURAL-HEALTH-HAPPINESS

ALOES

ALOE VERA =
A. VULGARIS =
A. Barbadensis

Aloe Ferox
ALOE ARBORESCENS

LILIACEAE

The aloe or rather the aloe (between 100 and 200 species) are Liliaceae (for generalities on this family see "garlic") without bulb and sometimes port tree.

The common aloes or Barbados is from southern Mediterranean basin;

It forms tight clumps of thick green leaves with irregular white spots, with their fringes of spines flexible.

The leaves are gathered in a rosette on a very short trunk show and do not absent more than 50 to 80 cm high.

The flowers form a dense cluster at the end of a flowering stem erect, single (50 cm to 1 m);
in A. vera flowers are yellow and orange-red instead of A. and A. ferox arborescens.


Aloe vera is widespread, it also grows well in temperate countries in direct sunlight or as houseplant (its size is reduced) than in hot countries. Aloe is grown commercially in many countries (including the USA), the adult plant is 4 years old and lives 12 years, producing many plants rejected by girls.

COMPOSITION AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

We distinguish the aloe juice and aloe gel.

The aloe juice flows spontaneously cut leaves, it comes from cellular structures underlying the skin, bundles of conductors surrounded epidermal cells. It is thickened by evaporation to obtain a greenish-brown solid: aloe pharmacists.
It is a very bitter substance that contains between 20 and 40% of anthracene compounds: aloin or granadilla and its derivatives. They are glycosides (glycosides) anthrone derivatives are powerful laxatives, very similar in their mode of action of sennosides in senna (Senna see or snack). They act by increasing peristalsis of the large intestine associated with an increased volume of feces by inhibiting the reabsorption of water.
The anthrone (effective substance) is released by colonic bacteria (by hydrolysis), the action of aloe is delayed for 8 to 12 h after intake.

The aloe gel is formed by the mucilage cells of the central part of the leaf (on the peel generously). It contains 99% water has a slightly acidic pH (4.5), polymers of mannose
(Glucomannan and acemannan) amino acids, enzymes, fatty acids, sterols, salicylic acid.
Glucomannans have power moisturizing, soothing and protective to the skin.
The acemannan accelerate wound healing, are anti-inflammatory and immunostimulating with the resultant capacity antitumor (anticancer) and antiviral.
The healing properties have been checked by animal experiments and immunostimulatory properties in vitro were: there is an increased activity of macrophages, the cytotoxicity of killer cells (K cells) and macrophages parallel increase their release of interleukins, the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interferon gamma (INF gamma).
The wound healing is promoted by stimulation of fibroblasts accelerated the formation of connective tissue.
The antiviral activity due to acemannan, has been tested in vitro against the AIDS virus and in vivo in cats.
We could treat feline leukemia (very serious viral disease whose mortality varies between 70 and 80%) with 2mg/kg/semaine for 6 weeks with my mortality reduction to 29% (71% cure)

The antitumor capacities were studied in rats, mice or dogs, we observed after the use of acemannan signs of necrosis of solid tumors and even tumor regression.
The efficiency seems higher on soft tissue sarcomas.
Humans is still in testing.


USES

The aloe is a very old remedy, already known from antiquity to the Middle East, Egypt, Greece, India, China. The Mesopotamian tablets describe the use of aloe to treat skin infections and constipation. Cleopatra, it seems, incorporating the aloe gel ointments in its beauty.

Aloe is a powerful laxative use with caution even if it is present in many specialties or herbal medicines. Its use is not recommended for children under 12 years old, pregnant women or nursing mothers and when constipation is accompanied by significant gastrointestinal pain. We limit anyway treatment to 8-10 days.
An average dose: 100 to 200 mg / day of powdered aloe. It is always better to regulate the bowel by an appropriate diet.

The aloe gel is incorporated in many cosmetics, sunscreens, creams or repair or uses its moisturizing and protective. The aloe gel is useful for burns, even with wounds, radiodermatitis (sunburn or dermatitis x-ray) and also frostbite. It applies without limitation (except as a sign of intolerance skin). It is always useful to have an aloe foot home when burning, they immediately cut a leaf on the peel, bruised and applied directly on the burn. The aloe gel is antibacterial and antifungal (in vitro) and seems to be in vivo.

Even in good health may want to strengthen his immune defense in this case be a cure aloe: 1 to 2 glasses of pure gel daily for a few days to avoid contamination by freezing the juice bitter and laxative.
The acemannan pure synergy with other antiviral drugs to help fight against the AIDS virus, rather than using the plant are used for pure acemannan from 1000 to 1500 mg / day (equivalent to 1 liter of juice ).
Clinical trials have shown that taking acemannan had a favorable effect on disease progression, fewer infections, less diarrhea, overall better general health.