aloe vera

A magic pill? http://www.telegraphindia.com/1160613/jsp/knowhow/story_90821.jsp

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Your Health - Dr. Gita Mathai

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People are always searching for a magic pill that will miraculously cure all their diseases. Aloe vera is the latest candidate. The aloe vera plant has been around for centuries but it is only now that it is being touted as a panacea for all diseases, with anti-aging and rejuvenating properties. Ointments, cosmetics, drinks, tablets and extracts of aloe vera are all available OTC (over the counter).

Aloe vera is the name of a family of cactus-like plants with fleshy green leaves lined with spikes. Both the milk (latex), extracted from under the skin of the leaf, and its juice, obtained by splitting the fleshy leaf, contains a variety of anti-bacterial and anti-viral chemicals. It has long been used in traditional medicine but now it is being used in allopathic medicines as well.

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Applying 30 per cent aloe gel twice daily to the skin alleviates diaper rash, sunburn, dry skin, the allergic rashes, scabies and superficial burns. For haemorrhoids and anal fissures, try 0.5 per cent spray dried and powdered aloe juice ointment. To be effective, the application has to be combined with sitz baths three times daily, a diet with sufficient fibre and supplements of ispaghula husk, for three weeks. The severity of dandruff and seborrhoeic dermatitis can be reduced by using shampoos with 80-85 per cent aloe vera daily, for at least six months. Aloe vera toothpaste reduces the build up of dental plaque if used three times a day for a month. Gels reduce the pain, severity and duration of mouth ulcers.

While application of aloe vera is quite effective, eating it is more problematic. For one, effects of the consumption of aloe vera extracts have not been extensively studied. The scientific evidence is confusing. Much of the evidence is anecdotal. Children below the age of 12 as well as pregnant and lactating mothers should not consume aloe vera.

Aloe vera juice, if taken in doses of 5-15ml twice a day, lowers blood sugar. To lower lipids, take 10-20ml of aloe daily. This also decreases your hunger so you eat less. The problem is that aloe vera increases the effectiveness of diabetes medication, so blood sugar levels may dip dangerously.

Chemicals called anthraquinone glycosides, present in aloe vera, act as a laxative. The recommended dose is 0.04-0.17 grams of dried juice. If consumed in higher than recommended doses, or in the non-decolourised form, there can be abdominal pain, cramps and diarrhoea. The liver can get damaged. Consumption of the whole leaf extract is can cause cancer in animals.

For heart disease, take a 120 ml dose of a solution containing 1,200 mg of aloe vera. It increases the effectiveness of any cardiac drug, so it can result in arrhythmias.

So think deeply and work out all ramifications before you decide to take aloe vera as a herbal supplement.

Dr Gita Mathai is a paediatrician with a family practice at Vellore. Questions on health issues may be emailed to her at yourhealthgm@yahoo.co.in