Aloe Vera's potential health benefits

Aloe vera is well known for its medicinal benefits.

Here are some of the beneficial properties of the well-known plant, whether you're having trouble controlling your blood sugar levels or with digestion.

Aloe vera plants are simple to cultivate and care for, but when it comes to their components, these plants may do more than simply offer character to a living space.

The smooth, transparent gel found in aloe vera plant leaves has been hailed for its ability to hydrate and for its various therapeutic properties.

In fact, according to earlier studies, aloe vera has been utilized for centuries for its known health benefits by people in Greece, Egypt, India, Mexico, Japan, and China.

But how about right now?

Here are eight of aloe vera's known health benefits explained in light of some scientific study on the plant.

Additionally, consult your medical team before using any plant-based or plant-derived products to replace or enhance the specified course of therapy.

 

Health Benefits Of Aloe

1.Aloe Vera Powder May Reduce Blood Pressure

According to the American Heart Association, hypertension, or excessive blood pressure, is a "silent killer" (AHA).

High blood pressure can steadily damage blood arteries, placing a person at risk for a stroke, heart attack, and other consequences even though some people show no signs or symptoms of the illness.

To be clear, the AHA states that all of these things, including medicine, can help to lower high blood pressure. Aloe vera is not a substitute for these things.

But as a supplemental therapy, it might be advantageous in some ways.

In a previous trial, 100 milligrams (mg) of aloe vera gel powder, 200 mg of aloe vera gel powder, or no treatment were given for three months to 90 persons with diabetes who were not insulin-dependent.

Additionally, nutritional guidance was given to the aloe vera groups.

When researchers evaluated the subjects after three and six months, they found that aloe vera powder helped reduce the systolic and diastolic blood pressures of both groups. Researchers posited that this may be the result of two anti-inflammatory components in aloe vera — aloe-emodin and aloin — and  past research has shown these two components have anti-inflammatory properties in both rat and in vitro models.

 

2. Aloe Vera May Help Stabilize Blood Sugar

According to data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 84 million American adults have prediabetes, and more than 30 million Americans have diabetes, the majority of which is type 2. (CDC).

A healthy diet, exercise, and weight loss all assist to reduce diabetes risk and improve blood sugar levels.

But there is also evidence that aloe vera may help with glycemic management, according to a systematic evaluation of eight randomized controlled studies that was published in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics in March 2016.

When taken orally as a supplement in the form of juice, powder, crushed leaves, or an extract, aloe vera has been shown to enhance glycemic control in persons with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.

It reduced fasting plasma glucose in people with prediabetes, and it significantly improved  A1C in people with type 2 diabetes who were treating their condition.

In order to measure the effects of aloe vera on glycemic management, researchers recommend additional high-quality studies. They hypothesized that the link was caused by the plant's capacity to decrease glucose absorption in the gastrointestinal tract and lower glucose generation.

 

3. Aloe Vera in Mouthwash Can Improve Dental Health

Due to its potential anti-plaque and anti-gingivitis characteristics, aloe vera can be a surprisingly useful to your dental health regimen.

A previous triple-blind randomized trial divided 345 participants into three groups of 115, then instructed them to rinse their mouths twice daily for 30 days with a particular mouthwash:

One group received a mouthwash with aloe, another received one with the well-known antimicrobial chlorhexidine gluconate, and a fourth group received distilled water as a placebo.

In comparison to the placebo group, the aloe vera-based mouthwash was equally effective at reducing gingival bleeding and plaque after 30 days.

Although this trial was conducted over a shorter length of time, identical findings were obtained when comparing an aloe vera-based mouthwash with a chlorhexidine mouthwash and a saline-water placebo (just four days).

These findings imply that an aloe vera-based mouthwash might be a good substitute for conventional mouthwashes.

 

4. Aloe Vera Might Promote the Production of Collagen and Fight Skin Aging

Aloe vera has been a staple in skin care products for years, from face masks to moisturizers, and for good reason. This is attributable to the gel's hydrating and anti-aging qualities.

According to the Mayo Clinic, using a moisturizer is a crucial part in your beauty routine since it holds water in the skin, making it look younger; dry skin, on the other hand, causes plump skin cells to shrink and result in early wrinkles.

Mucopolysaccharides, a moisturizing molecule that maintains moisture in the skin, are abundant in aloe vera.

(Another mucopolysaccharide is hyaluronic acid, a prominent ingredient in skin care products known for its moisturizing and anti-aging benefits.)

A review of earlier studies indicated that aloe also stimulated fibroblasts, a kind of connective tissue cell that increases the creation of collagen and elastin fibers.

The outcome might be smoother, tighter-looking skin with fewer wrinkles, but this hasn't been well investigated.

 

5. Aloe Vera Gel Is Popular for Soothing Sunburn Inflammation

One of the most well-known uses for aloe vera is by far this:

You've probably used the plant's gel to your skin to soothe a painful sunburn.

Aloe is my preferred natural remedy for curing sunburns, says dermatologist Adrienne Haughton, MD, of Stony Brook Medicine in Commack, New York.

Aloe gel will instantly ease the pain associated with a sunburn because it is cooling and has anti-inflammatory effects.

Aloe vera and the recovery from sunburn were linked, according to a comprehensive evaluation of 23 studies that was published in January 2019 in the Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences.

This was hypothesized to be caused by the plant's capacity to combat inflammation and the presence of glucomannan, a substance with regeneration characteristics, in aloe vera.

These researchers came to the conclusion that the plant might be able to speed up wound healing, prevent infections, and lessen skin redness.

They also observed that first- and second-degree burns seemed to be the conditions where aloe vera gel worked the most.

The Skin Cancer Foundation states that first-degree burns only affect the epidermis while second-degree burns reach deeper layers of skin and result in edema and blistering.

 

6. Aloe Vera May Help Get Rid of Acne Naturally

Aloe vera is a great way to cure acne because of its natural anti-inflammatory characteristics, says Jamie Bacharach, a registered naturopath and the director of Acupuncture Jerusalem in Jerusalem, Israel.

Aloe vera has been reported to calm and lessen the prominence and appearance of acne, even acne scars, whether it is applied to pimples or to general regions of redness and irritation.

She does advise against applying aloe vera directly to open acne lesions, though.

Previous studies have shown that aloe vera can lessen the synthesis of prostaglandin E2.

These lipids, according to other scientific literature, cause the sebaceous glands, which are connected to hair follicles and secrete oil, to become inflamed.

Inflammatory acne is inversely correlated with sebaceous gland inflammation.

 

7. Natural Treatment for Skin Irritation: Aloe Vera Gel

Aloe vera may be able to treat more than just acne; it may also be able to treat other skin issues.

According to Dr. Haughton, the anti-inflammatory properties of aloe vera gel have also been demonstrated to be helpful in the treatment of psoriasis and eczema.

The National Psoriasis Association (NPA) claims that up to three daily applications of lotions containing 0.5 percent aloe vera may help to lessen redness and scaling.

Although this is a complementary and integrative treatment, the NPA adds that it works best when combined with more conventional psoriasis treatment alternatives.

According to the National Psoriasis Association (NPA), applying creams that contain 0.5 percent of aloe vera up to three times a day may reduce redness and scaling. Yet the NPA notes that this is a complementary and integrative treatment, and is most effective when used in conjunction with more traditional psoriasis treatment options

The American Academy of Dermatology states that atopic dermatitis is the most prevalent type of eczema, however the study authors note out that the plant's antibacterial, antifungal, and moisturizing characteristics may help prevent flare-ups in persons managing the condition.

The National Eczema Association's website has an article that claims that anecdotally, aloe vera gel may reduce eczema flare-ups because of its anti-inflammatory characteristics.

 

8. Aloe Latex May Help with Constipation, but It May Also Have Negative Effects

According to the Mayo Clinic, constipation is described as having fewer than three bowel motions each week.

But while laxatives, a fiber-rich diet, and increased water consumption can all help with bowel irregularity, Jesse P. Houghton, MD, senior medical director of gastroenterology at SOMC Gastroenterology Associates in Portsmouth, Ohio, notes that "some evidence also suggests using aloe vera orally [could] improve symptoms in patients with IBS and constipation."

He says, "This is one of the most extensively researched advantages of the aloe plant."

It has a high water content, which hydrates the body, and anthraquinones, which act as a stimulating laxative. These two actions combine to make it a natural laxative.

 

The Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility released an analysis of three trials in October 2018 that points to aloe vera as a potential therapeutic option for functional constipation or IBS with constipation as the primary symptom.

Comparing the 151 patients that were evaluated, those who got oral aloe vera extract for irritable bowel syndrome experienced a significant reduction in their symptoms.

However, if taken incorrectly, aloe latex use can result in diarrhea, renal damage, potassium deficiencies, and abdominal pains.

(Aloe vera gel does not have the same laxative effect as aloe latex because it lacks anthraquinones.) Previous study has revealed that aloe latex has laxative characteristics.

According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) forced manufacturers to remove aloe vera from over-the-counter laxative medications in 2002 due to safety concerns.

Before taking aloe latex as a laxative, speak with your doctor.

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