Aloe – The Fountain-of-Youth Herb on Your Windowsill

As summer arrives, just a reminder that it’s always wise to limit your sun exposure. But who among us is always wise? Not me!

Now’s the time to sing the praises of the kitchen plant — aloe vera.

There’s nothing quite like the gel of this succulent plant to ease pain and speed the healing of virtually any kind of burn. In fact, studies show it reduces burn healing time by one-third. Even those of us who don’t know much about herbs know about this powerhouse healer. In fact, one survey suggests that half of all of us have used aloe to soothe singed skin.

Aloe is a virtual gold mine of over 200 naturally-occurring nutritional substances, including 20 amino acids, eight enzymes, nine minerals, plant sterols, antioxidants, vitamins A, C, E and B complex and the biggies that scientists think make aloe an especially strong healer: polysaccharides.

But aloe is not just for summer anymore—and it’s not just to slather on your skin. Drinking aloe juice can give you a host of health benefits and even increase the effectiveness of aloe creams and gels.

The wonderful skin healing properties of aloe are greatly expanded when you take it internally.

New research shows aloe is the herb you want to reach for when you want:

Skin that glows with youth: Dermatological studies have shown aloe is the ultimate skin care tonic: it shrinks pores, tightens the skin, increases the skin’s moisture and collagen production to prevent wrinkling – and it even helps fade age spots! It’s a popular ingredient in age-defying skin creams because it helps remove wastes and toxins and helps slough off old cells.

University of Texas (Dallas) researchers say anti-inflammatory polysaccharides in aloe called acemannan and glucomannan helps cleanse the skin, remove bacteria that cause acne and it supplies nourishment, preventing drying. In fact in extreme cases of psoriasis, Swedish researchers found that 83% of longtime sufferers who used an aloe cream were completely cured within just 16 weeks.

The polysaccharides in aloe are believed to stimulate the production of collagen—the protein that binds skin together, keeping it smooth and it is a source of salicylic acid, that eases pain and also stops the growth of bacteria and fungus.

Bonus benefit: That same healing power appears to help heal gastric ulcers, which are really nothing more than open sores on the stomach lining. An ounce of aloe vera juice morning and evening could offer relief from ulcer pain, probably because of aloe’s antibacterial properties, since we now know that most ulcers are caused by a bacteria, Helicobacter plylori.

Quick relief from joint aches and pains: That same anti-inflammatory action brings blessed relief to arthritis sufferers.

Animal studies in Philadelphia showed that rubbing aloe vera on inflamed joints reduced swelling by 50% within less than two weeks. Another Philadelphia study showed aloe injections reduced inflammation caused by rheumatoid arthritis by as much as 80%. There is even a probability aloe can boost the pain-relief and healing power of NSAIDS (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like Celebrex).

Just rubbing aloe on a sore joint will help soothe the pain and reduce swelling, but taking aloe juice internally every day can keep joints moving freely and prevent deterioration.

A stronger immune system: Aloe’s effects against all kinds of viruses – from colds to AIDS– show that the polysaccharides in aloe can reduce virus reproduction by 30%. And in an animal study, Texas veterinarians found that cats treated with aloe vera were alive and healthy 12 weeks after they were diagnosed with feline leukemia — a viral disease that kills most cats within 8 weeks.

Aloe actually turns on the immune system. It stimulates immune response by pumping up the action of macrophages, white blood cells that literally swallow up viruses attacking the body, making each cell stronger. It also seems to increase the body’s ability to grow normal cells.

Protection against heart attack and stroke: British research that followed 5,000 patients shows that a daily dose of aloe vera juice began to lower blood pressure for 90% of them within as little as two weeks and lowered cholesterol 12 to 15 points in three months. In one study, severely clogged arteries were cleared within just four months when patients drank aloe juice every day. What’s more, the effects were especially strong in people with diabetes, who are at high risk for heart disease.

Scientists are not exactly sure how aloe works to protect the heart, but we suspect it is the fiber in aloe, plus the anti-inflammatory effect of the polysaccharides.

Get aloe’s best benefits in your life: Apply aloe vera gel or cream liberally to soothe any type of skin problem. For long-term healing and prevention, drink an ounce or two of aloe vera juice morning and night. If there is a slightly bitter taste, you’ll find it easier to take if you mix it with a little orange juice or grape juice.