Aloe Vera Mobilizes Defenses

Aloe vera – an ancient natural remedy – has achieved the greatest fame in recent years. Meanwhile, many medical and cosmetic products contain aloe vera. For example, the plant is used in the form of gel, cream or juice. Both externally and internally, aloe vera is also used as a nutritional supplement and is said to have true healing powers: Immune-strengthening and pain-relieving, it is said to be a balm for skin and hair. What is there to the myth of this miracle plant?

Active ingredients of aloe vera

The well-protected active ingredients of the aloe vera plant are located inside the leaf, embedded in a gel that consists largely of water. The most important active ingredient is the polysaccharide acemannan. It is a long-chain sugar form, a vital carbohydrate – also for humans. Humans produce acemannan only up to puberty, after which it must be supplied through food. Acemannan is stored in the cell membranes and strengthens the entire organism against parasites such as fungi, bacteria and viruses. It is said to be immune-boosting, because it activates and stimulates the cells responsible for defense. Aloe Vera is said to increase the number of T-killer cells, monocytes, lymphocytes and red blood cells and to increase their activity. The leaf pulp of aloe vera contains nearly 200 active ingredients, including:

  • Numerous vitamins
  • Enzymes
  • Minerals
  • Amino acids
  • Essential oils
  • The analgesic salicylic acid

Although the range of ingredients is wide, their respective concentrations are very low. Most substances are also present in domestic vegetables and fruits.

Aloe vera: external use

The viscous, mucilaginous gel from the fresh leaf of aloe vera is absorbed very quickly by the skin. It cools sunburn and insect bites and heals wounds thanks to its antibacterial effect, which was already known by the ancients. The gel of aloe vera is also said to help cell renewal in cases of radiation damage caused by radiotherapy. Aloe vera is also widely used in everyday products and cosmetics such as hand cream, creams for the face, body lotion, spray or shampoo, serving as a moisturizing care for the skin or hair.

Internal use of aloe vera

As a food, aloe vera is said to have a positive influence on many civilization diseases. For example, internal use of the plant is said to help with the following ailments and diseases:

  • Digestive disorders
  • Allergies
  • Asthma
  • Fungal diseases
  • Diabetes

In addition, aloe vera is used in the therapy of cancer and AIDS as a food supplement because it is said to mobilize the defenses. In addition, it is said to regenerate the intestinal flora, the strongest defense organ of humans at all. To itself Aloe Vera is taken for example as juice, tea or drinking gel.

Scientific evidence of the health effect is lacking

Aloe vera is traded as a miracle weapon against diseases, but the promises should be met (especially in serious diseases) with skepticism. In animal experiments, the healing effects of aloe vera could be proven, but various clinical applications on humans so far only prove a probable positive effect on skin diseases. This is especially true for sunburn and skin injuries. Meaningful scientific evidence for the external as well as internal use of the medicinal plant therefore does not yet exist, which is why the claimed health effects should only be considered with reservations.

Side effects of aloe vera

So is aloe vera a miracle cure? From a pharmaceutical point of view, things look a little different. This is because the leaf bark of the plant contains aloin, a bitter substance that aloe vera uses for protection and which has a laxative effect. An overdose of aloin can have serious consequences: According to an assessment by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the substance may be carcinogenic. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also described 30 cases in which serious side effects have occurred in connection with aloe vera. These include blood pressure fluctuations and panic attacks. In combination with other herbal ingredients and vitamins, side effects such as pancreatitis – a disease of the pancreas – and kidney failure have also been observed.

Products with aloe vera on sale

The myth of aloe vera is firmly anchored in human history, already the Egyptians appreciated the plant as a beauty product and used the gel in ointments and oils. For some years the trade with Aloe Vera products flourishes also in Germany, meanwhile there is an almost unmanageable number of offerers on the market. Aloe vera products can be bought not only in the pharmacy, but also in the drugstore or on the Internet, a wide range of aloe products can be found.

How to use fresh aloe vera leaves correctly

The healing active ingredients of aloe vera gel are obtained from the fresh leaf. However, as a layman, you should only apply the gel to the skin for external use. To do this, cut off a piece of the leaf if necessary, carefully fillet out the pith and apply it to the affected area. Stored in a cool place, the leaf will keep for several weeks. The laxative substances of the plant must not be present in food. If one wishes to use the gel of aloe vera internally as a juice or dietary supplement, one should only use products with professionally peeled leaves of the plant. Under no circumstances should whole, unpeeled leaves be processed into juices or smoothies, as this would result in the consumption of substances that are potentially harmful to health. Also from a purchase of such products with unpeeled leaves is absolutely not recommended. The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) and the consumer center point out that such products are not safe food.

Check ingredients of products

In addition, one should look closely at declarations such as “100 percent aloe vera.” Claims of finished aloe vera products such as ointments or juices often offer no information about whether the leaf gel has been dried, processed into powder or added as a concentrate. The labels of aloe vera products should fully explain all ingredients. If the product contains “water” (lat. aqua), it is an extract. Additives and preservatives should not be included in the products if possible. Many products have a seal of approval from the International Aloe Science Council (IASC), which tests the purity and quantity of aloe vera gel contained in each product.

Aloe vera – the desert lily.

The plant Aloe Vera is tough and not very flexible, its leaves are coated with a layer of wax and have armed on the edge with thin thorns like teeth. The plant is inconspicuous and not very beautiful, as if it does not want to reveal its essence lightly. It resembles a cactus plant, looks like an agave, and yet it belongs to the lily family – just like onion or garlic. Aloe vera originates from the subtropical desert regions of Africa, Asia and Latin America, where it has learned over the thousands of years of its development to protect its precious interior from environmental influences. The plant forms its own nutrients and stores the water it needs to survive. Of the approximately 300 plant species, Aloe Vera barbadensis miller is considered the most effective. Incidentally, the gel-like interior of the plant is referred to as aloe vera, in addition to the entire plant.