Aloe Vera for Your Skin, Immune System…and Pancreas?
This is a guest post by Jillian Gile, a guest blogger for An Apple a Day and a writer on ultrasound technician schools for the Guide to Health Education.
People have used aloe vera for centuries. Its most common use is as a topical relief and healing agent for burns. Scientists who have studied the plant assume that it is due to the high Vitamin E content, which promotes healthy cell growth. Anyone who has slathered on aloe gel after a bad sunburn knows that it doesn’t matter what is in this miracle cream, it makes the burning stop and helps prevent peeling and scarring.
Other cultures have also discovered that aloe vera boosts your immune system, too. Incorporating the leaves into food (in small doses, this plant is extremely bitter) appears to prevent common colds, asthma attacks, even STD flare-ups. Scientists have also found that multiple sclerosis, glaucoma, and arthritis patients also respond do dietary aloe vera.
Studies have been somewhat conflicting, and of course, mainstream medicine prefers to recommend drugs made in laboratories to their patients. However, new evidence is emerging that the drug companies cannot ignore. Aloe vera pills appear to also help stabilize blood glucose levels in patients with diabetes mellitus (American Journal of Health).
Diabetes mellitus, also known as Type I or juvenile diabetes, is highly manageable but still a feared diagnosis. Type I diabetes is a type of autoimmune disease, where the pancreas destroys its insulin producing cells. Insulin is a hormone that controls blood sugar levels, and without it blood sugar levels can spike dangerously, resulting in diabetic comas and death if untreated.
Historically, juvenile diabetes would strike young children, and until synthetic insulin was developed, it was basically a death sentence. Before modern medicine could treat diabetes, parents would turn to herbal remedies, like aloe vera. Now those forgotten herbal remedies are gaining prominence once again.
This article in the American Journal of Health reported the effects of aloe vera use in diabetes patients from studies across the world – from Turkey to Germany. It appears that patients taking an oral dose of aloe vera had lower blood glucose levels than patients taking a placebo.
Scientists are still not sure what it is in aloe vera that has these health effects. Chemical analysis of the plant showed that aloe vera is chock full of amino acids, enzymes, organic compounds, and other important minerals – but insulin was not on the list. Scientists of course prefer to test one compound at a time, but who knows what combination of plant materials are actually producing the effect? (British Journal of General Practice)
Obviously, more research into these effects are necessary. However, it is still excellent news for diabetes sufferers. Of course, you should not stop your insulin regimen and switch over to aloe vera pills, but any improvement in diabetes treatment is a huge step. Being able to use a natural supplement is not only better for your body, but better for the environment as well.
If you have diabetes, let your doctor know you’re interested in trying an aloe vera supplement. Check out what your local supplement store has available for aloe pills, or try out some recipes with fresh aloe. Beware – “bitter as aloes” is not just an old saying, it is very true. You may want to hide the bitter taste of this plant in a smoothie or other sweetened drink. Aloe vera is one of the only plant sources of Vitamin B12, so it can’t hurt to supplement your diet with this amazing plant, even if you are in perfect health.
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Category: Physical Energy
Hello energy and health fanatics, independent thinkers, truth seekers and freedom lovers! My name is Pao L. Chang, and I’m the author and founder of EnergyFanatics.com. My goal is to provide you with knowledge that is beyond the conventional matrix to help free your mind and increase your well-being to a whole new level. One of the things that motivated me to start this blog is the fact that most human beings are unaware that we are being lied to, dumbed down, and brainwashed by the “authorities” that we are supposed to trust. This crime against humanity goes far beyond what most of us can comprehend, and it has polluted all the systems of our planet, including the health, financial, educational, religious, political, and energy systems....
This is very interesting information. I had never heard that aloe vera can be useful in treating diabetes mellitus.
I have read that “Consumption of cow’s milk in early childhood has been under investigation as a contributing factor.” This, according to T.Colin Campbell, PhD, noted cancer researcher, and others. He makes a good case for this.
Campbell is also co-author of The China Study, which points out how rare this type of diabetes is in rural China where little milk is consumed.
It is good to know there a natural herbal alternative to at least reduce the need for insulin.
As an extreme case, I have a friend who has type 1 diabetes and he avoids taking insulin by either bicycling 100 or more miles per day or playing a lot of basketball. The guy is a phenomenal athlete and over 60. (He did all this while holding a job as an electrician.) An unusual case, but exercise and wise eating can burn off the excess blood sugar.
I haven’t heard that aloe vera can be useful in treating diabetes either. With its healing capabilities, I’m not surprise that it is beneficial for diabetics.