The Health Benefits of Aloe Vera
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment or services to you or to any other individual. This article is for educational purposes only. Consult your physician prior to taking any supplements or beginning an exercise regimen.
Aloe Vera is a succulent (water-retaining, like a cactus) plant that is believed to have originated in northern Africa. It has been used in medicine dating as far back as the first century, and is a part of the traditional medicines of many cultures including Japan, Russia, Jamaica, Latin America, and India. Aloe Vera is still used to treat a variety of human health ailments. Aloe is used in two popular forms, as a topical treatment, and as a dietary supplement.
The purported health benefits of Aloe Vera are thought to come from its rich phytochemical (plant-chemical) content, including acetylated mannans, polymannans, anthraquinone C-glycosides, anthrones and anthraquinones, and lectins. Unfortunately, phytochemicals research is a fairly new field of study, so long-term studies on most phytochemicals are nonexistent. However, preliminary results for many phytochemicals have shown quite promising results.
There are many claims regarding the powers of Aloe Vera when used as a topical treatment, including wound-healing effects, treating genital herpes symptoms, anti-bacterial effects, anti-fungal effects, as well as reducing psoriasis symptoms. Unfortunately, the research has been somewhat contradictory for some specific applications, such as burns and skin damage from radiation treatment. Aloe has long been thought to be an excellent topical treatment for burns, however different studies show conflicting results; one study shows that Aloe Vera speeds recovery, while another study shows that Aloe slows burn recovery. The conclusion stemming from thorough comparative literature reviews is that Aloe is, specifically, an effective treatment for first or second degree burns, and it may slow the onset of skin damage from radiation treatment, however it does not expedite the healing process of damage stemming from radiation treatments.
As a dietary supplement (administered orally), Aloe has shown a bit more promising. It has been found to be useful in diabetes treatments, reducing blood lipid levels, as an immune system booster, as a laxative, and for treating ulcerative colitis. Many of these health conditions affect people as they advance in age. Because of Aloe Vera's ability to improve so many aspects concerning quality of life, it is a popular ingredient in many dietary supplements and products; specifically aging support formulas. Many claims regarding the health benefits stemming from Aloe-supplementation are in need of additional clinical in vivo research for their substantiation.
Smooth & Radiantis a combination of today's leading popular aging-support products and vitamins believed to be effective in healing and repairing damaged skin.
Aloe Vera is a succulent (water-retaining, like a cactus) plant that is believed to have originated in northern Africa. It has been used in medicine dating as far back as the first century, and is a part of the traditional medicines of many cultures including Japan, Russia, Jamaica, Latin America, and India. Aloe Vera is still used to treat a variety of human health ailments. Aloe is used in two popular forms, as a topical treatment, and as a dietary supplement.
The purported health benefits of Aloe Vera are thought to come from its rich phytochemical (plant-chemical) content, including acetylated mannans, polymannans, anthraquinone C-glycosides, anthrones and anthraquinones, and lectins. Unfortunately, phytochemicals research is a fairly new field of study, so long-term studies on most phytochemicals are nonexistent. However, preliminary results for many phytochemicals have shown quite promising results.
There are many claims regarding the powers of Aloe Vera when used as a topical treatment, including wound-healing effects, treating genital herpes symptoms, anti-bacterial effects, anti-fungal effects, as well as reducing psoriasis symptoms. Unfortunately, the research has been somewhat contradictory for some specific applications, such as burns and skin damage from radiation treatment. Aloe has long been thought to be an excellent topical treatment for burns, however different studies show conflicting results; one study shows that Aloe Vera speeds recovery, while another study shows that Aloe slows burn recovery. The conclusion stemming from thorough comparative literature reviews is that Aloe is, specifically, an effective treatment for first or second degree burns, and it may slow the onset of skin damage from radiation treatment, however it does not expedite the healing process of damage stemming from radiation treatments.
As a dietary supplement (administered orally), Aloe has shown a bit more promising. It has been found to be useful in diabetes treatments, reducing blood lipid levels, as an immune system booster, as a laxative, and for treating ulcerative colitis. Many of these health conditions affect people as they advance in age. Because of Aloe Vera's ability to improve so many aspects concerning quality of life, it is a popular ingredient in many dietary supplements and products; specifically aging support formulas. Many claims regarding the health benefits stemming from Aloe-supplementation are in need of additional clinical in vivo research for their substantiation.
Smooth & Radiantis a combination of today's leading popular aging-support products and vitamins believed to be effective in healing and repairing damaged skin.
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