AloeVera - health benefits, ayurvedic remedies, application, chemical constituents and many more

AloeVera

Aloe vera, commonly known as Barbados or Curacao Aloe, is an herbal medicine with a long tradition of use by a variety of cultures. It is a succulent plant grows in arid and subtropical climates and is best known for 2 distinct preparations: the clear mucilaginous gel and the thick sap of the leaves. It is cultivated for agricultural and medicinal uses. The species is also used for decorative purposes and grows successfully indoors as a potted plant. Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller, family Xanthorrhoeaceae) is a perennial green herb with bright yellow tubular flowers. It shows antibacterial, anti-oxidant, antiviral, antitumor, antiarthritic, antirheumatoid, anticancer, and antidiabetic, antifungal property.

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It has different names in different languages such as Hindi name(Gheekuvar), Marathi name(korfad), English Name(Indian Aloe), Telugu Name(Kalabanda), Kannada name(Lolisara, Lolesara), Malayalam Name(Kumari, Kattar Vazha), Tamil Name(Kathaazhai), Bengali Name(Ghrita Kumari).

Vitamin and mineral content

• Vitamins : A, C, E, B12, B complex, Choline

• Minerals : calcium, copper, selenium, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium, zinc, chromium. 

• Enzymes : aliiase, alkaline phosphatase, amylase, bradykinase, carboxypeptidase, catalase, cellulase, lipase, and peroxidase.

                 - Bradykinase helps to reduce excessive inflammation when applied to the skin topically, while others help in the breakdown of sugars and fats.

• Anthraquinones : It provides 12 anthraquinones, which are phenolic compounds traditionally known as laxatives. 

                 - Aloin and emodin act as analgesics, antibacterials and antivirals.

• Fatty acids : It provides 4 plant steroids; cholesterol, campesterol, β-sisosterol and lupeol. 

                 - All these fatty acids have anti-inflammatory action and lupeol also possesses antiseptic and analgesic properties.

• Hormones : Auxins and gibberellins that help in wound healing and have anti-inflammatory action.

• Sugars : It provides monosaccharides (glucose and fructose) and polysaccharides (glucomannans/polymannose). These are derived from the mucilage layer of the plant and are known as mucopolysaccharides. 

                  - mannose-6-phosphate(most prominent monosaccharide), beta-(1,4)-acetylated mannan(most common polysaccharides), Acemannan(prominent glucomannan)

                  - Recently, a glycoprotein with antiallergic properties, called alprogen and novel anti-inflammatory compound, C-glucosyl chromone, has been isolated from Aloe vera gel.

        > Many of the medicinal effects of Aloe leaf extracts have been attributed to the polysaccharides found in the inner leaf parenchymatous tissue.

• It provides 20 of the 22 human required amino acids and 7 of the 8 essential amino acids. 

• It also contains salicylic acid that possesses anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. 

• Lignin, an inert substance, when included in topical preparations, enhances penetrative effect of the other ingredients into the skin. 

• Saponins that are the soapy substances form about 3% of the gel and have cleansing and antiseptic properties.

Aloevera plant is its high water content, ranging from 99–99.5%.4 The remaining 0.5–1.0% solid material is reported to contain over 75 different potentially active compounds including water- and fat-soluble vitamins, minerals, enzymes, simple/complex polysaccharides, phenolic compounds and organic acids. 

Properties and benefits 

Properties

• Taste – bitter
• Qualities – Guru (heaviness), Snigdha (oily, unctuous), Picchila (sticky, slimy)
• Taste conversion after digestion – Katu(pungent)
• Potency – Shetala(Cold)
• Effect on Tridosha – Balances all the three Doshas.

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Benefits 

• Bhavani – Useful in constipation
• Kapha Jwarahara  – useful in fever
• Granthihara – useful in small tumors, fibroids, lymphadenitis
• Balya – improves strength and immunity
• Agnidagdha – useful in treating burn wounds
• Vrushya – aphrodisiac, improves vigor
• Visphotahara – relieves boils, blisters
• Raktapittahara – Useful in bleeding disorders such as nasal bleeding, heavy periods, etc
• Tvak Roga – useful in skin disorders, psoriasis.
• Chakshushya – improves vision, good for eyes, useful in eye disorders
• Vishahara – Anti toxic
• Vatahara – useful in treating disorders of Vata Dosha imbalance  such as neuralgia, paralysis, constipation, bloating, etc
• Gulmahara – useful in abdominal tumors
• Pleehahara – useful in spleen disorders, splenomegaly
• Yakrut Vruddhihara – useful in hepatitis, hepatomegaly
• Rasayana – anti aging, causes cell and tissue rejuvenation
• Pittaja Kasahara – useful in cough and cold of Pitta origin
• Shwasahara – useful in treatment of asthma and chronic respiratory disorders.

Uses, application and benefits 

1) Blood thinning action of Aloevera is very useful against cholesterol. So, it is very useful in treating atherosclerosis (blood vessels clogged with clot and fat deposition).

2) For constipation, 10 gram pulp of aloevera paste is made with rock salt, mixed well and then boiled(to evaporate the water content). Take this once a day.

3) Aloe Vera leaf is heated on burning charcoal, cuticle is removed and pulp is scraped and squeezed in cloth to get the juice. One teaspoon of this juice is added with two drops of ghee and 4 drops of honey and licked hourly to relieve attacks of breathlessness and wheezing.

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4) Healing effect : polysaccharide, and gibberellin, a growth hormone, interacts with growth factor receptors on the fibroblast, thereby stimulating its activity and proliferation, which in turn significantly increases collagen synthesis after topical and oral Aloe vera. Aloe gel not only increased collagen content of the wound but also changed collagen composition (more type III) and increased the degree of collagen cross linking. Due to this, it accelerated wound contraction and increased the breaking strength of resulting scar tissue. An increased synthesis of hyaluronic acid and dermatan sulfate in the granulation tissue of a healing wound following oral or topical treatment.

            > Wound healing is a dynamic process, occurring in 3 phases. The first phase is inflammation, hyperaemia and leukocyte infiltration. The second phase consists of re-moval of dead tissue. The third phase of proliferation consisting of epithelial regeneration and formation of fibrous tissue.

            - The leaf pulp is useful to heal burn wounds, boils, acne, blisters, allergic skin disorders.

            - Its pulp is added with turmeric powder and heated for a minute and this is applied externally(acne, wound, allergic skin) and internally on mouth ulcer(2-3 times a day).

               Click here for more information about Turmeric (Haldi).

5) Oil prepared with Aloe Vera in sesame oil base is very useful against diaper rashes.

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6) Skin protection effect from uv and gmma ray exposure : Aloe vera gel has been reported to have a protective effect against radiation damage to the skin. An antioxidant protein, metallothionein, is generated in the skin, which scavenges hydroxyl radicals and prevents suppression of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in the skin. It reduces the production and release of skin keratinocyte-derived immunosuppressive cytokines such as interleukin-10 (IL-10) and hence prevents UV-induced suppression of delayed type hypersensitivity.

                 - Aloe Vera juice is good for stomach, skin diseases.

7) Anti-inflammatory action : Aloe vera inhibits the cyclooxygenase pathway and reduces prostaglandin E2 production from arachidonic acid. With this, the novel anti-inflammatory compound called C-glucosyl chromone was isolated from gel extracts.

8) Laxative effects : Anthraquinones present in latex are a potent laxative. It increases intestinal water content, stomach upset, stimulates mucus secretion and increases intestinal peristalsis.

Intake : Take Aloevera juice regularly in early morning on empty stomach.

9) Moisturizing and anti-aging effect : Mucopolysaccharides help in binding moisture into the skin. Aloe stimulates fibroblast which produces the collagen and elastin fibers making the skin more elastic and less wrinkled. It also has cohesive effects on the superficial flaking epidermal cells by sticking them together, which softens the skin. The amino acids also soften hardened skin cells and zinc acts as an astringent to tighten pores.

Application - you should apply it externally and internally (juice / slimy gel).

10) Antiseptic effect : Aloe vera contains 6 antiseptic agents: Lupeol, salicylic acid, urea nitrogen, cinnamonic acid, phenols and sulfur. They all have inhibitory action on fungi, bacteria and viruses.

11) Regular intake of mild doses of aloe vera in the form of capsule or juice, is very beneficial in hemorrhoids treatment. Because of it's mild laxative action and wound healing property.

12) Five phytosterols(lophenol, 24-methyl-lophenol, 24-ethyl-lophenol, cycloartanol and 24-methy-lenecycloartanol) of Aloe Vera have been identified with anti-diabetic activity. It is a good anti oxidant and it maintains healthy structure of the blood vessels. Both these are very vital in diabetic care. Hence it is very useful in diabetic management.   (Pls consult ayurvedic practitioner before use).

13) It helps to protect the sensitive tissue in the mouth, dry mouth and enhances the taste buds

                  - Drink aloevera juice once a day in morning after you wake up.

14) Because of its antidandruff property, it(pulp/powder) is used in antidandruff hair oil and shampoo.

15) For weight loss : Take half teaspoon of aloevera. Heat it a little. Add a teaspoon of honey to it. Take it at night after food. OR you should add triphala to it. This is also good for kapha imbalance and asthma.

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16) Laxative effect of aloevera can be increased by using it along with cardamom or cumin seed powder.

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17) Aloe latex contains anthraquinones compounds that actively heal and reduce pain through natural anti-inflammatory effects.

18) In western societies, especially in the USA, Aloevera has been grown mainly to supply the latex component of the leaf to the pharmaceutical industry.

19) Aloe material has been used for drug absorption enhancement for drugs with low bioavailability due to extensive efflux.

20) Aloin and its gel are used as skin tonic against pimples. Aloe vera is also used for soothing the skin, and keeping the skin moist to help avoid flaky scalp and skin in harsh and dry weather. The Aloe sugars are also used in mois-turizing preparations.  Mixed with selected essential oils, it makes an excellent skin smoothening moisturizer, sun block lotion plus a whole range of beauty products.

21) Aloe juice is helpful in smooth functioning of the body machinery. It reduces cell-damaging process during stress condition and minimizes biochemical and physio-logical changes in the body.

22) Application of Aloe Vera pulp to the scalp reduces dandruff and nourishes the hair follicles.

23) It is best to avoid it during pregnancy.

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