When you start reading about the healing powers of aloe vera, it sounds like it must be too good to be true. And then you read words like “powerful cathartic” and you truly start to wonder.

According to proponents, aloe vera is a wonder food. It stimulates your immune system and protects you from disease. It reduces the inflammation in all types of arthritis. It is a digestive aid, and good for both irritable bowel syndrome and constipation. It prevents heart disease, detoxifies your liver, prevents cancer and heals AIDS. It prevents aging inside and out-renewing your cells on the inside, and reducing wrinkles on the outside.

Interestingly, many of these claims may be at least partially true. Although doctors have expressed a lot of skepticism, scientifically controlled studies are shedding new light on the benefits of aloe vera.

Topical

Applied topically to the skin, aloe has soothing and healing properties. It is used in many moisturizers and skin care products. The best way to use aloe topically is to slice open a leaf and apply the gel directly to the skin. It soothes and heals burns, cuts and other skin lesions.

Taken Internally

Aloe vera is taken internally as a supplement or as a juice or gel. 1-2 ounces a day is the usual amount. It seems to soothe digestion, stimulate your immune system and to generally stimulate your body cells to function better. There is, indeed, some evidence that aloe vera gel helps prevent opportunistic infections in people who are HIV positive.

Applied to the skin, aloe vera lives up to its reputation. Drinking aloe vera juice may have health benefits, too. Maybe it’s a miracle food; maybe it’s not. Drinking a couple of ounces a day probably will improve your health, though.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 22nd, 2006 at 2:59 pm and is filed under Phytotherapy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.