Morticia's Rabbit Hole

• Aloe vera gel
  This is the naturally occurring and undiluted gel obtained by stripping away the outer layer of the leaf.
  
• Aloe vera concentrate or extract
  This is the product obtained when removing the water from the gel
  
• Aloe vera juice
  This is a drink for internal use that consist of at least 50% of the pulped aloe gel.
  
• Aloe vera latex or bitter principle
  This is a bitter yellow liquid derived from the pericyclic tubules of the rind of the aloe and which primary constituent is aloin.

Properties
It is a bitter herb with anti-inflammatory, astringent, emollient, anti fungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties, and is useful in the eradication of parasites and stimulating the uterus.
It contains a host of compounds that are biologically active and includes anthraquinones, saccharides and prostaglandins as well as other constituents.

• Anthraquinones
  The anthraquinones contained in aloe, which has the purging and laxative action on the digestive system includes aloin (barbaloin), isobarloin, anthranol, aloetic acid, anthracene, ester of cinnamic acid, aloe-emodin, emodin, chrysophanoic acid, ethereal oil as well as resistannol.
• Saccharides
  It contains various saccharides including glycoprotein, mucopolysaccharide and polysaccharides such as galactose, xylose, arabinose, acetylated mannose as well as the remarkable acemannan.
• Prostaglandins and fatty acids
  The conversion of fatty acids to prostaglandins are rare but the major unsaturated fatty acid, gamma-linolenic acid can be converted to 1-series prostaglandins and have a very effective influence on reducing inflammation, allergy as well as helping platelet aggregation (blood clotting at wound sites) as well as wound healing.
• Other constituents
  It furthermore contains enzymes (oxidase, amylase, catalase, lipase and alkaline phosphatase) amino acids (lysine, threonine, valine, methionine, leucine, isoleucine and phenylalanine) vitamins (vitamin b1, B2, B6, C, E, folic acid, choline and beta carotene) minerals (calcium, sodium, manganese, magnesium, zinc, copper and chromium as well as other miscellaneous compounds such as cholesterol, triglycerides, steroids, uric acid, lignins, beta-sitosterol, gibberellin and salicylic acid.

Therapeutic uses:

• Internal use
  The herb is used internally to combat most digestive problems, including

constipation
poor appetite
colitis
irritable bowel syndrome as well as
asthma
diabetes
immune system enhancement
peptic ulcers

Studies have also shown that when aloe is taken internally it can stimulate and regulate various components of the immune system by stopping the inflammation and blood supply of tumors and also showed interesting results in preventing carcinogenic compounds from entering the liver and is combined in some cancer treatments.

The juice of the inner leave can be used for its anti-inflammatory effect it has on Crohn's disease but the laxative and bitter principle of aloe must NOT be used by people suffering from Crohn's disease as it causes griping and cramping.

It contains aloemannan which stimulates the growth of healthy kidney cells and helps to slow the formation of kidney stones.

The juice can be used very successfully to treat heartburn as well as ulcers and to soothe the lining of the digestive tract. It is not that effective to treat stress induced ulcers, but can be used for peptic ulcers caused by excess acid, aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as well as alcohol use.

The oral use of aloe has produced good results in patients suffering from asthma when the asthma sufferers were not dependant on corticosteroids for treatment.

The exude from the leaves are used as a strong purgative and stimulant laxative but can cause griping and has an abortifacient effect and should not be used in pregnancy.

The bitter principle in aloe exudate which cause the laxative effect is preferable to use than that of cascara and senna, as aloe draws less fluid into the large intestine and are less likely to cause electrolyte imbalance than the other two.

In a study where volunteers ate 120 grams of parboiled aloe for lunch and supper a marked decrease in cholesterol, triglycerides and sugar was found, while in another test using aloe extract, it reduced fasting blood-sugar dramatically which is probably due to the stimulating effect it has on the pancreas to produce more insulin.

• External use

Aloe is used externally for the treatment of
skin irritation
burns
scalds
sunburn
wounds
eczema
psoriasis
acne
dermatitis
ulcers
to stimulate cell regeneration.

The gel can be applied directly to the skin as a softening agent.

For burns and other wounds aloe is particularly effective as it activates the macrophages which fights bacterial infection while at the same time increasing circulation to the area which results in accelerated healing.

The enzymes - carboxypeptidase and bradykininase are both involved to reduce swelling, itching, reducing inflammation as well as pain.

Studies confirmed that wounds treated with aloe heal far faster than other wounds not so treated - both for traumatic as well as surgical wounds. This may be due to the fact that it contains not only vitamin E and C as well as zinc but the polysaccharides also reduce inflammation and stimulate the fibroblast and epidermal growth and repair process.

The juice is also effective for the treatment of minor wounds and insect bites by forming a "natural plaster" over the wound.

It has good astringent qualities and is usually combined with other ingredients, to make an excellent, soothing treatments for the skin and can also be used with great success on hemorrhoids (piles).

In studies it also showed a marked result in producing remission in skin cancers and its superb anti-oxidant effect is effective to help prevent skin damage from x-rays and other forms of radiation.

When applied regularly to psoriasis great results are achieved and also relieve the pain and inflammation of eczema.

When people with frostbite was treated with a cream containing aloe, the incidence of tissue loss and amputation was reduced.

Aloe-emodin which is one of the ingredients not only has a laxative effect, but is also involved in killing the herpes virus which causes cold sores and shingles.

Aromatherapy and essential oil use
Aromatherapists use aloe vera oil by infusing the plant material into a base oil, such as almond or apricot kernel oil.
This macerated oil exhibits astringent, emollient, anti fungal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties.
The oil is combined in massage therapy for its healing and rejuvenating properties.
For more information on aloe vera oil please visit us at Esoteric Oils.

Safety precautions and warnings
Pregnant and breast feeding women should not use aloe latex (the laxative part) internally, although the topical application of aloe to the skin has no effect on pregnant or breastfeeding women.
People suffering from problematic hemorrhoids, ulcers, diverticulosis, colitis, Crohn's disease, or irritable bowel syndrome should consult a medical practitioner or trusted herbalist before taking aloe internally.
Extreme care should be taken with the administration of aloe laxatives, as this can cause severe digestive upsets.
When used topically, some individuals may have an allergic reaction and a skin patch test (behind the ear or on the forearm) is advised before use.

Here are a couple of nummy juice recepie's that Im sure could be smoothied to..
Entries taken from
http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/5-Aloe-Vera-Juice-Recipes-That-Make-You-Feel-Great/676811

1. Carrot-A-Licious
This one is a definite family favourite. Easy to drink, sweet and downright yummy.
2 Carrots2 Green Apples (or any apples you have)
1 Orange (peeled)Put ingredients though a juicer,
add 1 tablespoon Aloe Vera Gel, drink immediately.
Read more: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/5-Aloe-Vera-Juice-Recipes-That-Make-You-Feel-Great/676811#ixzz0wDSF2gMy
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution No Derivatives

2. Pineapple Paradise
Seeing as I live in the tropics, I'm very partial to this combination. I also sometimes add a few tablespoons of Coconut Milk to increase the anti-bacterial and anti-viral content. This is a must-try.
1 to 2 Cups Fresh Pineapple
1 Carrot
1 Green Apple
Put ingredients though a juicer,
add 1 tablespoon Aloe Vera Gel, drink immediately.
Read more: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/5-Aloe-Vera-Juice-Recipes-That-Make-You-Feel-Great/676811#ixzz0wDSUBh3X
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution No Derivatives

3. Zippy Zinger
If you love the tropics, you'll love this one. Easy on the tummy.
A small piece of Ginger (to taste)
2 Carrots
2 Pears Half a small Red Papaya (known as Pawpaw in Australia)
Put ingredients though a juicer,
add 1 tablespoon Aloe Vera Gel, drink immediately.
Read more: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/5-Aloe-Vera-Juice-Recipes-That-Make-You-Feel-Great/676811#ixzz0wDSvaHtW
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution No Derivatives

4. Beetroot Bliss
A great pick-me-up tonic. If you are unfamiliar with beetroot juice go easy at first, use just a small wedge. It can be a little overpowering. Tastes rich and earthy.
One quarter of small beetroot
2 large carrots
1 stalk of celery
Put ingredients though a juicer,
add 1 tablespoon Aloe Vera Gel, drink immediately.
Read more: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/5-Aloe-Vera-Juice-Recipes-That-Make-You-Feel-Great/676811#ixzz0wDTEUkh6
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution No Derivatives

5. Cranberry Quencher
For those of you lucky enough to have this powerful fruit available to you fresh, I have included this recipe. Genuine cranberry juice is a powerful weapon in fighting colds and flu as well as being renowned for it's benefits to kidney function. Fresh cranberry juice is far superior nutritionally to the bottled on-the-shelf variety.
As Cranberries have a heavy acid content, when juicing, use one or two handfuls in a glass.
Fill the rest with freshly juiced apple, otherwise it will be too tart.
Put ingredients though a juicer,
add 1 tablespoon Aloe Vera Gel, drink immediately.
Read more: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/5-Aloe-Vera-Juice-Recipes-That-Make-You-Feel-Great/676811#ixzz0wDTadS4w
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution No Derivatives