Aloe is also an excellent treatment for skin conditions such as burns and eczema. It is often reported that burns can be healed remarkably quickly and the pain reduced very quickly with topical application of Aloe Vera to the burn area. As well as applying topically, Aloe can also be taken internally so it is just as useful for internal epithelial tissue as it is for the skin. For example, mouth and stomach ulcers, nasal and sinuses, bowels, lungs and genital tracts. Aloe works on membranes and surfaces.
Although aloe has been used since ancient Egyptian times to treat skin problems and constipation, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has removed laxatives containing aloe from the market due to safety concerns. Aloe may interact with some medicines you are taking and may worsen certain conditions that you may have, such as kidney disease, says the National Institutes of Health or NIH. As with any supplement, consult with your doctor before taking aloe medicinally.
Benefical Effects
Preliminary evidence suggests that aloe gel may have beneficial effects in certain types of kidney disease. A study published in the "Indian Journal of Experimental Biology" in 2004 showed that diabetic laboratory animals with diabetes-induced kidney disease who received aloe gel had improvement in their kidney disease as compared to a control group of animals that did not receive aloe. The authors suggested that aloe gel may have protective effects against kidney damage produced by type 2 diabetes.
Toxic effects
According to the NIH, aloe juice can cause potentially serious kidney injury and possibly death. In fact, in 2002 the "American Journal of Kidney Diseases" published a case report of a man who was hospitalized with kidney failure after taking aloe juice. After several weeks of kidney dialysis, this person slowly regained his kidney function. The NIH warns that, if you have kidney disease, you should avoid aloe juice because it can make your condition worse.
Aloe Vera juice is said to be one of the finest body cleansers, cleaning morbid matter from the stomach, liver, kidneys, spleen, bladder, and is considered the finest, known colon cleanser. Studies have shown that it is healing and soothing in the relief of indigestion, stomach distress and ulcers. People claim relief from arthritis, bladder and kidney infections; leg cramps, constipation, hemorrhoids, insomnia, and for vaginitis, it is said to be an excellent vaginal douche. An excellent internal tonic for energy and well being Aloe juice may add greatly to the strength of the food fed, digestive tract, skin, and overall good health and happiness.
If you take aloe juice, you may experience some side effects, such as stomach pain and cramping, says the NIH. When taken in large doses for an extended time, aloe juice may cause other serious problems, including heart disorders, muscle weakness, diarrhea, and weight loss. Avoid aloe juice during pregnancy or breast-feeding.
In 1997, University of San Antonio researcher Jeremiah Herlihy, Ph.D., conducted a study to observe any negative effects of drinking it daily. Rather than exhibiting negative effects, however, test animals receiving daily Aloe showed a remarkable reduction in leukemia, heart disease, and kidney disease. Dr. Herlihy concluded, "We found no indication of harm done to the rats even at high levels." In fact, the Aloe-drinking animals actually lived 25 percent longer than those in the control group (IASC Conference, Texas, 1997).
