About Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is not a cactus plant as most people think, but rather a succulent member of the Lilly family. In many ancient cultures, Aloe Vera was respected as if a gift from God and in some cases, was referred to as "a lilly of paradise." The virtues of the plant have been recorded by many great civilizations, from those of ancient Persia and Egypt in the Middle East, to those of ancient Greece and Italy in Europe, to those of ancient India and the African continent. In ancient Egypt, it was used by its people for beauty, health and for sophisticated rituals.
Aloe is a plant native of Northern Africa and it was introduced by the Spanish to the North and South American continents in about 1630 on the island of Barbados, in the Caribbean Ocean. When the first African Slaves were brought to the Americas by the Spanish, the slaves brought with them Aloe Vera since they considered the plant as their only source of medicine. The Spanish then continued to expand their sugar plantations to other islands of the Caribbean such as Bonaire, Curacao, Cuba, and Santo Domingo and in nearby countries of Mexico and Venezuela.
The Aloe Vera plant seems to prefer semi-desert regions with warm climates. It grows best on dry, sandy and calcareous terrain, although they are widely scattered through the Mediterranean Sea, Middle East, Africa, China, Japan, in the South regions of North America and very extensively in all parts of Central and South America.
In this section, you will find many answers to questions about the wondrous qualities of Aloe vera. You'll learn about Aloe's History, Aloe Facts, and Aloe Fiction. One of the things you will learn in the Aloe History paper is ~ why it works and is such a valued health and cosmetic care agent. This is due to the fact that Aloe vera plants produce at least 6 antiseptic agents: Lupeol, salicylic acid, urea nitrogen, cinnamonic acid, phenols, and sulfur. All of these substances are recognized as antiseptics because they kill or control mold, bacteria, fungus, and viruses, explaining why the plant has the ability to eliminate many internal and external infections. In the Aloe Facts paper you'll find that in 1994 the United States Food and Drug Administration approved Aloe for human testing against the human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV), the virus which causes AIDS. In Aloe Fiction, you will learn of a fallacy concerning Aloe --- diluting Aloe with water or mixing it with other liquids destroys its active ingredients. Throughout history Aloe has been commonly mixed with water, milk, wine, honey, and many other natural and synthetic substances, to make it easier to use and more palatable, with no loss of effectiveness.
DERMAL AND INTERNAL ENHANCING AGENTS OF ALOE VERA
The Food and Drug Administration refers to Aloe vera as a food, herb, or a dietary supplement. This is a general list of components found in whole leaf Aloe vera. This list is composed from more than 60 years of aloe research. Some Aloe vera products or samples may be devoid of some of the following components.
Anti-Microbials in Aloe vera
Agents that prevent or destroy parasitic infection. Essential nutrients for tissue regrowth and function.
Cinnamonic Acid: anti-microbial, kills germs
Salicylic Acid: anti-microbial, kills germs, aspirin-like compound, painkiller
Traumatic Acid: anti-microbial, wound hormone in plants, heals wounds
Urea Nitrogen: anti-microbial, kills germs
Phenol: anti-microbial, kills germs, painkiller
Lupeol: anti-microbial, kills germs, painkiller
Allantoin: anti-microbial, kills germs, heals wounds
Campesterol: reduces inflammation or swelling, fatty acid
B-Sitosterol: anti-inflammatory, fatty acid, hormone
Cholesterol: anti-inflammatory, essential substance in steroid hormone synthesis by the
adrenal cortex and bile acid production in the liver, fatty acid
Lectins: protein, necessary for proper immune function, powerful immune modulator
(stimulator), anti tumor agent, anti-microbial, helps prevent infection
Emodine: powerful immune modulator (stimulator), anti-tumor agent, vaso dilator
Gibberellins: powerful immune modulator, anti-inflammatory, hormone
Carbohydrates in Aloe vera:
Powerful immune modulators (stimulators), assist in digestion and assimilation of nutrients in food and supply energy for muscular exertion. They control protein breakdown, the distribution of sodium, potassium, chloride, water balance, and are essential to healthy skin. There are 3 types of carbohydrates, Sugars, Starches, and Fiber. Complex carbohydrates are fiber and help fight constipation, hemorrhoids, intestinal disease, ulcers, high blood pressure, and overall body toxemia.
Glycoproteins: polypeptide chains, immune stimulators
Lipids: No information found.
Glycolipids: simple sugars, polypeptide chains, immune stimulators
Triglycerides: carry the fat soluble vitamins, supply fatty acids; essential for growth and general health of all body tissue-especially the skin, help supply energy, derived from glycerol and three fatty acid radicals, the chief component of fats and oils, blood lipid
Fructose: simple sugar (monosaccharide)
Dextrose: simple sugar
Sucrose: diuretic
Maltose: simple sugar
Galactose: simple sugar
Lactose: used as a diuretic
Arabinose: Simple sugar
D-Glucose: major source of energy
D-Mannose: simple sugar
Xylose: very sweet taste, used in diabetic food
Minerals in Aloe vera:
Minerals are vital in body growth and essential to function of all body systems.
(** most abundant minerals in Aloe vera)
**Sodium: promotes retention of water in tissues, significant role in the absorption of carbohydrates, regulates the osmotic pressure inside body
**Potassium: diuretic, most abundant purifier of the intracellular fluids. Important for a healthy nervous system and a regular heart rhythm, aids in maintaining stable blood pressure.
**Calcium: promotes strong bones, healthy teeth, activates series of enzymes that are essential in the fat and carbohydrate metabolism in the body
**Magnesium: painkiller, anti-inflammatory, reduces inflammation and swelling, aids in carbohydrate metabolism
Phosphorus: essential trace element, antioxidant properties, important for metabolizing carbohydrates
Sulfur: anti-microbial, kills germs, biologically important mineral helps maintain healthy flexible cells
Chloride: anti-microbial, kills germs
Tin: may aid hearing and growth of hair
Nickel: lowers requirement for B12
Copper: essential trace element, enhances the use of iron, may help in reducing sugar
levels, promotes maturation of the red blood cells and increases their life span
Zinc: essential trace element, helps stops bleeding, used as a protective ointment, treats
acne, eczema, and other skin diseases, external would healer, causes contraction
Iron: essential for blood formation and the oxygenation of red blood cells
Silicone: Necessary for the formation of collagen for bones and connective tissue for
healthy nails, skin, and hair. Plays major role in preventing cardiovascular
disease.
Boron: important for bone health, and brain and psychological function, for the
metabolism of calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium
Molybdenum: involved in carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism
Manganese: essential trace element, necessary for the activation of a variety of
enzymes, anti-microbial, an astringent, required for the synthesis of
mucopolysaccharides, helps utilize glucose
Chromium: helps improve glucose utilization, which is important for energy, maintains
stable blood sugar levels
Titanium: No information found.
Aluminum: used as a protective ointment, an astringent
Barium: No information found.
Germanium: An anti-cancer agent. Immune stimulator.
Vitamins of Aloe vera:
Essential for normal activity and growth of the body. Obtained naturally from plant and animal foods.
Beta Carotene: precursor to vitamin A, antioxidant, necessary for growth, reproduction, and maintenance of health, prevents night blindness and other eye problems, helps prevent acne and other skin disorders
Thiamin: required for carbohydrate metabolism, maintains normal nerve function, assists in blood formation and optimizes cognitive activity and brain function, also acts as an antioxidant
Riboflavin: involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and protein and in oxidation process in the cells, it alleviates eye fatigue
Niacin: all living tissue needs niacin for normal metabolism, involved in tissue respiration
Choline: plays a role in helping the body metabolize amino acids, it aids in hormone production and is needed for proper transmission of nerve impulses from the brain through the central nervous system
Folic Acid: needed for energy production and the formation of red blood cells, strengthens immunity by aiding in the proper formation and functioning of white blood cells, important for healthy cell division and replication
Vitamin C: antioxidant, immune modulator, anti-inflammatory, vital for tissue growth
Enzymes in Aloe vera:
Enzymes are catalysts that speed up reactions. They are essential for the chemical reaction of vitamins, minerals, and hormones in the body.
Alkaline Phosphatase: (isoenzymes) found in all tissue.
Sgotransaminase: digestive aid
Sgptransaminase: metabolizes the amino acid Alanine
Lactic Dehydrogenase: converts pyruvate to lactic acid
Amylase: converts starch into dextrines and maltose, helps digest glycogen
Lipase: converts fats (triglycerides) into fatty acids and glycerol
Oxidase: one of the most active enzymes in the aloe plant, accelerates oxidization
reactions
Peroxidase: digestive aid, one of the most active enzymes in the aloe plant
Catalase: digestive aid, one of the most active enzymes in the aloe plant
Bradykininase: reduces inflammation and swelling, a potent vasodilator
Gamma Transaminase: No information found.
Carboxypeptidase: No information found.
Cellulase: No information found.
Lactate: a result of carbohydrate metabolism, the liver converts lactate into glucose
Phenolase: anti-microbial, possible anti-tumor agent
Amino acids in Aloe vera:
Needed for good health. Responsible for protein synthesis.
*One of the essential amino acids that the body cannot synthesize and has to be supplemented through dietary intake.
*Lysine: essential for body to build other needed amino acids, building block for all protein, helps fight off cold sores and herpes viruses, aids in production of anti-bodies, hormones, and enzymes, aids in tissue repair (molecular weight 146.19)
*Histidine: Significant in the growth and repair of tissue, essential for body to build other needed amino acids, the second most abundant essential amino acid in Aloe vera, helps remove heavy metals from body, protects body from radiation, (molecular weight 155.16)
Arginine: abundant amino acid in Aloe vera retards the growth of tumors and cancer by enhancing immune function, increases size and activity of thymus gland which manufactures t- lymphocytes (T cells), it is found in high concentrations in the skin and connective tissue, helps heal damaged tissue, (molecular weight 174.20)
Aspartic Acid: increases stamina, combines with other amino acids to form molecules that absorb toxins, enhances immunoglobulins and antibodies, (molecular weight 133.10)
Asparagine: maintains balance in the central nervous system, helps stabilize nervous system, (molecular weight 132.12)
*Threonine: essential for body to build other needed amino acids, helps maintain proper protein balance, aids in production of antibodies, helps prevent fat build up in liver, (molecular weight 119.12)
Serine: maintains healthy immune system, natural moisturizer, needed for proper metabolism of fats, (molecular weight 105.09)
Glutamine: used as an antigastial duodenal ulcer drug, abundant in Aloe vera, readily passes the blood-brain barrier, helps maintain proper body pH/alkalinity, helps maintain a healthy digestive track, aids the body during stressful times to repair, prevents muscle-wasting that leads to serious disease, (molecular weight 146.15
Hydroproline: used in the structures of protein, including collagen
Proline: strengthens joints, aids skin and cartilage healing, (molecular weight 115.13)
Glycine: used as a sweetener, one of the simplest structured amino acids, abundant in Aloe vera, useful for repairing damaged tissue and promotes healing, necessary for a healthy prostrate, (molecular weight 75.07)
Alanine: aids in metabolism of glucose a simple carbohydrate that the body uses for energy, (molecular weight 89.09)
Cysteine: sulfur-containing amino acid that aids in skin formation and detoxifies helps protect body from radiation damage, helpful in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (molecular weight 121.15)
*Valine: essential for body to build other amino acids, needed for muscle metabolism, tissue repair, energy source for muscles, (molecular weight 117.15)
*Methionine: essential for body to build other amino acids, detoxifies heavy metals, prevents buildup of fat in liver, arteries, aids digestive system (molecular weight 149.21)
*Isoleucine: essential for body to build other amino acids, stimulates and stimulates and regulates blood sugar and energy levels, aids in repair of damaged tissue, (molecular weight 131.17)
*Leucine: essential for body to build other amino acids, lowers blood sugar level, aids in increasing growth hormone production (molecular weight 146.19)
Tyrosine: mood enhance, aids in production of melanin, aids in the function of adrenal, pituitary, and thyroid glands, (molecular weight 181.19)
Glutamic acid: increases neuron activity in central nervous system, increases neuro-transmitter activity in brain and spinal cord, aids in detoxifying ammonia out of the brain, (molecular weight 147.13)
*Phenylalanine: essential for body to build other amino acids, helps decrease pain, aids in memory and learning, helps arthritis, increases mental alertness, (molecular weight 165.19)
This information is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.
References:
Medline Plus Health Information http://www.medlineplus.adam.com
Mayo Clinic http://www.mayohealth.org
The Toddy Shop http://www.mineraltoddy.com
Natures Alturnitives.Com http://www.naturesalternative.com
Prescription for Nutritional Healing 2nd Edition by James F. Balch M.D. and Phyllis A Balch C.N.C.
Aloe Myth-Magic and Medicine by Odus M. Hennessee and Bill R. Cook
United Aloe Technologist Association, Inc. Amino Acid Comparison Chart
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