Introduction
Medicinal benefits of Aloe Vera Juice
The extent this information available to the public
Scientific proof of the medicinal qualities of the herb/ aloe vera juice
Conclusion
Abstract
This essay seeks to establish the premise that aloe vera juice contains a wide range of medicinal properties, which scientist up to this time ignore. Presently the juice is being used as a purgative. However, it is this author desire to explore its true identity in providing data supportive of the medicinal benefits contained in Aloe Vera Juice. Also an examination into the information related to aloe vera juice true properties are available to the public will be embraced. Ultimately, attempts will be made at offering scientific proof of the medicinal qualities found in this the herb.
Nursing: Aloe Vera juice
Introduction
What if the medicinal value of aloe vera juice was acknowledged by scientists? It can quickly become a novel drug in the treatment of many conditions. Should aloe vera juice contain more chemical ingredients beside what is contained in a purgative what else the public ought to know about the true properties related to the herb itself? Really, the knowledge would be beneficial to pharmacology as it can either be combined with other chemical ingredients or used individually in drug trials for detecting the extent to which it can be used as a medicine to treat diseases common to humans for which there are no cures. Precisely, aloe vera juice has been produced from the aloe vera plant. Therefore, the medicinal properties contained in juice emerged from the same properties found in the herb (Akinyele & Odiyi, 2007).
Researchers have discovered that aloe vera species are not naturally occurring populations, even though they look similar when grown in Africa. Further, it was acknowledged by non-scientific sources that any of these species can be used as herbal medicine. This discovery was made early in the first century of the Common Era. However, contemporary uses have been in the cosmetic and alternative medicine industries. There is data available to prove that companies have been advertising, manufacturing products and selling them as agents of rejuvenation, health restoration and relaxation stimulation (Eshun & He, 2004).
As a medicine aloe vera is ingested or used as a topical application. A popular use of the herb is when manufactured as a gel it is often taken orally to relieve osteoarthritis symptoms and many bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis. It is also used to reduce temperatures; limit inflammation accompanied by puritis. The juice is useful as a tonic to maintain electrolyte balance within the body. Reports have been that alternative medicine practitioners have used it to
treat diabetes mellitus; ulceration in the stomach, asthma and radiation side effects (Serrano et.al, 2006).
While aloe vera gel has been popularly used to heal skin lesions such as frostbites, burns psoriasis remedy for skin conditions including burns, sunburn, frostbite, psoriasis, bedsores surgical wounds and breakage to superficial skin tissue numerous controversies exist since there are only few scientific studies supportive of these reports from alternative medicine practitioners. These few studies reveal that, perhaps, certain chemical compounds mixed into the aloe vera gel combines to improve circulation within small blood vessel suggestive of the bactericidal and healing effect it has on skin surfaces. Scientists still argue against these suggestions regarding the usefulness of aloe vera as a medicine. This is why honest scientific studies ought to be conducted to validate these reports, which medical doctors dismiss an unscientific, but manufacturers are making a fortune selling aloe vera products to the public advertising how valuable they are as a medicine (Feily & Namazi, 2009).
Medicinal benefits of Aloe Vera Juice
Aloe vera juice is produced from aloe vera herb. Often the leaf pulp itself can be deposited in the juice during processing. The juice serves as a natural food rich with fiber nutrients. As a medicine it has been successfully used internally for curing for skin infections; colon cleansing and repair broken internal tissue such as ulcerative colitis. In the absence of more detailed scientific data on the product pharmacists advocate that anyone taking the juice ought to consult with an alternative medicine practitioner for specific dosage and possible side effects precautions (Haris, 2013).
Aloe vera juice has been beneficial as a digestive tract medicine. Reports of its use in healing gastro-intestinal tract disorders have been overwhelming. It is believed that aloe vera juice when ingested soothes the intestinal lining into stimulating this healing process. The "British Journal of General Practice" supports these findings in reiterating that by ingesting aloe vera juice bowel irritation is reduced. Subsequently, digestive tract ulcers heal. Specifically, the juice provides an atmosphere within the GI tract environment which minimized inflammation especially, in conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis by regulating the intestinal flora producing a bactericidal effect (Vogler & Ernst, 1999).
Beside immense benefits reported as it relates to aloe vera juice being a digestive tract medicine, both Journal of Environmental Science and Health and medical Journal of Angiology have noted in their reviews valuable effects of the product in the immune and circulatory systems respectively. In relation to the immune system Journal entries support assumptions that aloe vera juice is bactericidal, antifungal as well as fights and destroys fungus entering the body. The juice has the ability of neutralizing toxins too. These activities prepare the immune system to function efficiently preventing infections and limiting allergic reactions (Haris, 2013).
The juice has also been noted to have produce diarrhea or alternatively relief constipation. Aloe vera juice has the natural chemical ingredient aloe juice called anthraquinone. This is a laxative if ingested under medical supervision could be used to relive constipation in treatment of digestive disorders (Haris, 2013).
The extent this information available to the public
Presently, there is no health promotion campaign designed for educating the public about aloe vera juice and its medicinal values. Certainly, there is no epidemic requiring intervention of aloe vera juice as a medicine for any cure. It would appear then all the public needs to know at this point is that aloe vera juice can be effectively used as a purgative. However, they also need to know that there are side effects, which ought to be fully investigated further for safety since the food and drug administration has not fully supported all of these assumptions.
Every medicine has side effects and aloe vera is no exception. Information regarding the use of aloe vera juice ought to be regulated to some extent by food and drug administration. In the same way many years ago they regulated the manufacturing of laxatives using aloe latex and pulled many laxatives off ther market because manufactures were no compliant in the same way aloe vera juice manufacture ought to be regulated and authentic information given to the public regularly as updates on the product is conducted (Eshun & He, 2004).
Scientific proof of the medicinal qualities of the herb/aloe vera juice
There are few if any scientific studies related to the medicinal properties of aloe vera as an herb or juice. Dr. Mike Roussell (2013) referenced one study where researchers used rats to test benefits of the juice, but they did not decolonialize the leaves, which led to many controversies regarding their, findings, results and conclusions that aloe vera juice causes cancer in rats. A subsequent study conducted in 2004 in UK, however using aloe vera herb revealed that aloe vera gel was effective in treating ulcerative colitis. Researchers fed patients twice daily with aloe vera gel in drinking water for four weeks. They were compared with patient being fed just water. Patients drinking aloe vera gel showed marked improvement and remission above those whom were fed water only. No significant side effects were reported (Roussell, 2013).
Conclusion
Sure! How could all this information even though not scientifically proven to be true have no merit? Dr. Mike Roussell (2013), an evidence-based nutritional consultant speaking with Shape magazine on the subject ‘Truth about Aloe Vera Juice: The newest miracle drink might not be as healthy as you think’ contends that data/advertised regarding properties of the product are not transparent enough to be accepted as authentic. For this consultant labels placed on aloe vera juice relating ingredients and effectiveness are merely marketing strategies, which do have a profound scientific basis since food and drug administration (FDA) has not sanctioned any of these ascriptions (Roussell, 2013).
The doctor’s personal opinion on aloe vera juice is that consumers/customers ought to be very cautious regarding these messages and allow time for more research to be conducted on merits of the product before believing all that is being advertised. The further contention is that all herbs have side effects and these were not thoroughly investigated in aloe vera juice to alert the public regarding what they are ingesting beside the well-structured commercial communications related as fallacious expressions, that appeal to the emotions in advertisement or colorful labels written in a language the consumer might not even be able to understand (Roussell, 2013).
For example, a two year study conducted by the National Toxicology Program revealed that aloe vera can cause cancer. Precise data on the research process showed where the team fed rats whole-leave extract of aloe vera juice. The ‘clear evidence of carcinogenic activity in male and female rats, based on tumors of the large intestine’ (Roussell, 2013) was used to indicate that aloe vera juice can cause cancer.
While this occurred in rats there has been no further research that the same is true of the human species. Dr. Roussell (2013) advanced that his study was done in animals, but until before scientific evidence is available for humans the use of aloe vera juice should be engaged in with caution. However, he did posit some valuable considerations for scientists. First is was the type of aloe vera species used in producing the juice that researchers tested in their study (Roussell, 2013)
Secondly, investigations proved that these researchers obtained non-decolorized, whole-leaf aloe vera extract which was used in the study. As such, processing mechanisms can influence the chemical composition of the juice. Often compounds are blended and pass through a charcoal filter. Arguments are that these compounds can alter the chemistry of the leaf during this decolonization process. Importantly, an anthraquinone known as Aloin, the ingredient responsible for producing a laxative effective of aloe vera juice is removed during decolonization. It has been scientifically proven that this same ingredient, Aloin, is responsible for causing cancer in rats during the study reported (Roussell, 2013).
Therefore, it would be infutile to conclude from this single study that aloe vera juice caner or lacks any medicinal qualities. Consequently, it is imperative that scientists in the pharmacology discipline conduct studies that would either validate or nullify prevailing assumptions pertaining to aloe vera juice as a product wildly advertised on the market and used internationally.
References
Akinyele, B., & Odiyi, A. (2007). Comparative study of the vegetative morphology and the existing taxonomic status of Aloe vera L. Journal of Plant Sciences 2 (5), 558–563.
Eshun, K., & He, Q. (2004). Aloe Vera: A Valuable Ingredient for the Food, Pharmaceutical and
Cosmetic Industries—A Review. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition 44 (2),
91–96
Feily, A., & Namazi, M. (2009). Aloe vera in dermatology: a brief review. G Ital Dermatol
Venereol 144: 84–91
Haris, H. (2013). Health Risks & Benefits of Taking Aloe Vera Juice Internally. Demand Media.
Retrieved on June 17th, 2013 from http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/health-risks-
benefits-taking-aloe-vera-juice-internally-5017.html
Roussell, M. (2013). The Truth About Aloe Vera Juice:The newest miracle drink might not be as
healthy as you think. Shape Magazine
Serrano, M. Valverde, J. Guillén, F. Castillo, S. Martínez-Romero, D., & Valero, D. (2006). Use
of Aloe vera gel coating preserves the functional properties of table grapes. Journal of
Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 (11), 3882–6.
Vogler, B., & Ernst, E. (1999). Aloe vera: a systematic review of its clinical effectiveness. Br J
Gen Pract. 49(447), 823–828.
Despite this information communicated to the public about aloe vera though, health journals; magazines, television, radio, DVDs and CD there is limited scientific proof of the true properties contained in the wonder herb that folk medicine experts contend has medicinal properties to heal a wide range of about 90 diseases. Everyday new drug trials and pre-trials are being conducted in an effort to find cures or offer palliative relief for diseases, which are classified incurable. Why are researchers reluctant in conducting specific research to ascertain the true medicinal properties of the aloe vera herb?
