Medicinal Benefits of Aloe Vera

1 The Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China (2000 edition) says that the nature and flavor of aloe vera are bitter and cold. It is used in the liver, stomach and large intestine meridians. Functions and indications: clearing liver heat and relieving constipation. It is used for constipation, infantile malnutrition, convulsions; external treatment of eczema. 2 The Compendium of Materia Medica says that the nature and flavor of aloe vera are bitter, cold and non-toxic. Indications: hot wind and depression, chest heat, clearing eyes and calming the mind, epilepsy and convulsions in children, treating five malnutritions, killing three worms and hemorrhoids, sores and fistulas, and relieving croton poison. 3 The Chinese Materia Medica says that the Chinese Materia Medica, which concentrates on the great achievements of herbal medicine, summarizes the health functions of aloe vera as follows: ⑴ laxative, that is, moisturizing the intestines and relieving constipation; ⑵ regulating human immunity; ⑶ anti-tumor; ⑷ protecting the liver; ⑸ anti-gastric damage; ⑹ antibacterial; ⑺ repairing tissue damage; ⑻ protective effect on the skin.

According to scientific research, it is found that many ingredients in aloe vera have good nourishing and moisturizing effects on human skin, and are less irritating and comfortable to use. They have certain therapeutic effects on rough skin, facial wrinkles, scars, freckles, acne, etc. Therefore, its extract can be used as a cosmetic additive to prepare sunscreen, shower gel, etc.

As for mild bruises, contusions, athlete's foot, frostbite, skin cracks, warts, etc., aloe vera can be used to treat them with good results. Modern research shows that its leaves contain aloe-emodin, isoaloe-emodin and aloe bitters, etc., and pharmacological experiments have laxative and anti-cancer effects. Aloe vera flowers are cold in nature and bitter in taste. They have the effects of clearing heat, relieving cough and stopping bleeding. They can treat cough and vomiting blood.

Pharmacological effects of aloe vera

1. Antibacterial effect: Aloe tincture (Aloetin). It is a substance with strong antibacterial properties. It can kill fungi, molds, bacteria, viruses and other pathogens, inhibit and eliminate the development and reproduction of pathogens. Aloe vera has antibacterial and sterilizing effects on diphtheria, tetanus, pneumonia, lactic acid bacteria, dysentery, Escherichia coli, black death bacteria, cholera, and bacteria that cause otitis media, cystitis, suppuration, measles, rabies, polio, epidemic encephalitis and other diseases.

2. Anti-inflammatory effect: Aloe vera's bradykininase and vascular tension can resist inflammation. In particular, aloe vera's polysaccharides can enhance the body's resistance to disease and cure chronic diseases such as dermatitis, chronic nephritis, cystitis, and bronchitis.

3. Moisturizing and beauty effects: Aloe vera polysaccharides and vitamins have good nutrition, moisturizing and whitening effects on human skin. Especially for the acne that young girls are most troubled by, aloe vera has a good effect on eliminating acne. Aloe-emodin and other substances are anthraquinone glycosides, which can make hair soft and shiny, relaxed and refreshing, and have the effect of removing dandruff. Therefore, aloe cosmetics such as aloe beauty cream, aloe skin cream, and aloe hair dye account for 80% of the European cosmetics market.

4. Stomachic and laxative effects: Aloe-emodin glycosides (aloin) and aloe-emodin (emodin) in aloe play the role of increasing appetite and slowing down the large intestine. Taking aloe can strengthen stomach function and physical fitness. Critically ill patients who have lost their appetite due to physical weakness can also restore their appetite by taking aloe. Healthy people who take aloe for a long time and insist on taking aloe baths can not only prevent and treat various diseases, but also improve their physical fitness, enhance their physical strength, and maintain vigorous energy. The body fluids of healthy people are weakly alkaline. Excessive fatigue or stressful life can make the body fluids acidic and easy to be infected with viruses. Frequent use of Curaçao aloe can keep the body fluids alkaline, maintain health, and prevent colds. Aloe vera is the most effective medicine for treating constipation in ancient and modern times. Even if constipation is very serious, taking aloe vera can relieve constipation within 8-12 hours. This is because the aloin component increases the secretion of colon fluid, increases the activity of lipase, and restores the disordered autonomic nervous function of the colon. In addition, there are no side effects or drug dependence.

5. Cardiotonic and blood circulation effects: Calcium isocitrate in aloe vera has the effects of strengthening the heart, promoting blood circulation, softening hardened arteries, reducing cholesterol content, and dilating capillaries, making blood circulation smooth, reducing cholesterol values, reducing the burden on the heart, keeping blood pressure normal, and removing "toxins" from the blood.

6. Immune and regenerative effects: Aloe vera A, trauma hormones, and polyglycopeptide mannoside (Ke-2) have the effects of anti-viral infection and promoting wound healing and recovery. They have the functions of anti-inflammatory and sterilization, heat absorption and swelling reduction, softening skin, and maintaining cell vitality. The combination of gelatin and callus acid also has wound healing activity. Therefore, it is an ideal medicine for treating trauma (hemorrhagic trauma, non-hemorrhagic trauma) without leaving scars.

7. Immune and anti-tumor effects: The viscous polysaccharides in aloe vera (acetylated glucomannan, mannan, acetylated mannan, aloe mannan, alocutin, alomicin, etc.) have the effect of improving immunity and inhibiting and destroying the growth of abnormal cells, thereby achieving the purpose of anti-cancer. Dr. Soeda Momoe, a Japanese aloe vera research expert, pointed out in his paper "Research on the Anti-Cancer Activity of Aloe Vera" (published in 1966) that aloe mannan, alocutin, alomicin and other ingredients in aloe vera can prevent the activity of cancer cells. Dr. Suzuki Yunan, a Japanese aloe vera research expert, proposed the excellent therapeutic effect of animal experiments in his paper "Anti-tumor Activity of Aloin-A". The high molecular substance in aloe vera - "aloe antigen" has the property of agglutinating red blood cells and contains substances that can react with cell membranes; aloe anticancer factor-A has strong physiological activity. Animal experiments have confirmed that it has anti-cancer effects, can improve the body's anti-cancer immunity, increase NK-cells, and kill abnormal cells in organisms - cancer cells. Another theory of using aloe vera to treat cancer is "self-healing power". Aloe vera has the ability to enhance the body's self-healing power, and this fact has been proven.

8. Detoxification effect: Aloe vera itself is non-toxic, harmless, has no side effects, and does not produce antibodies. Ingredients such as aloetin and alomicin in aloe vera have the function of decomposing harmful substances in the body and can also eliminate toxins that invade the body from the outside. Radiation or nuclear radiation can cause burn skin ulcers during the treatment of cancer. Aloe vera treatment not only has the functions of detoxification, anti-inflammatory, and regeneration of new cells, but also can increase the white blood cells reduced by radiotherapy.

9. Anti-aging effect: The mucin in aloe vera (mucin, that is, protein) is based on polysaccharides such as arboran A B\aloe mannan\aloetin. Mucin substances are important components for preventing cell aging and treating chronic allergies. Mucin exists in the muscles and gastrointestinal mucosa of the human body, making the tissue elastic. If mucin is insufficient, the muscles and mucosa will lose their elasticity and become stiff and aged. If the cells that make up the human body lack mucin, the cells will gradually weaken and lose the ability to defend against germs and viruses. In addition, mucin also has the effect of strengthening the body and strengthening sperm.

10. Analgesic and sedative effects: When the fingers are swollen and painful, toothache is unbearable, sticking aloe vera leaves on the affected part can eliminate the pain, neuralgia, gout, muscle pain, etc., taking aloe vera internally and applying it externally also has analgesic effects. Aloe vera can also prevent and treat hangovers, motion sickness, seasickness, etc.

11. Sunscreen effect: The natural anthraquinone glycosides or anthracene derivatives in aloe vera can absorb ultraviolet rays and prevent the occurrence of red and brown spots on the skin.

12. Insect and antiseptic effects: Aloe vera juice has a good disinfection and antiseptic effect. Apply aloe vera juice on the skin in summer to prevent mosquitoes from biting. Colombians often apply aloe vera juice on children's feet to prevent insect pests. Spray aloe vera juice on doors, windows and indoors to keep flies away. The Dai people use aloe vera juice to prevent flies from entering the house.

13. Anti-odor effect: Aloe vera has the effect of preventing body odor from feet, mouth, armpits, etc. A long time ago, people used aloe vera to eliminate body odor. When hunting, the Congolese people in Africa smeared aloe vera juice on their bodies to prevent animals from smelling their body odor. The unique effects of aloe vera have attracted widespread attention from the scientific community, especially the medical community. In particular, Western developed countries represented by the United States have invested a lot of manpower, material resources and financial resources in the research, development and application of aloe vera, thus forming an "aloe vera fever". Aloe vera has developed very rapidly, and the development results have been significantly utilized, with huge economic benefits. Its research results are not only used in medical treatment, beauty, food and health care, but also in dyes, metallurgy, textiles, pesticides, animal husbandry and other fields. Since then, aloe vera has become a hundred times more valuable.