Opinion.
Aloe vera originated in Northern Africa, but today it can be found throughout the world. Here in Nicaragua, it grows in abundance. I have five aloe vera plants growing in my yard in Granada.
Aloe vera is one of the most impressive medicinal herbs invented by nature. Of all the herbs I’ve ever studied, aloe vera and garlic are two of the most impressive. Still, most people only know about the topical applications of aloe vera gel; they think it’s only good for sunburns.
In reality, aloe vera is useful for both external and internal use. So what’s in aloe vera gel that makes it so powerful? Water, 20 minerals, 12 vitamins, 18 amino acids, 200 active plant compounds and possibly other substances that scientists have yet to identify.
Jerry Hoover shows the aloe vera plant growing in his backyard
To get the maximum results from its medicinal uses, one should uses aloe vera from a fresh aloe plant, not from a lotion, ream, or soap. It is best to use the bottom aloe leaf from the plant. After cutting the leaf, cut the sharp edges off the side of the plant, then split the leaf down the middle and scrape out the clear gel. Never use the green part of the plant, only the gel.
Aloe vera enhances skin health
Aloe vera is great medicine for the skin. It has been especially helpful for patients with various severe skin diseases by acting as a rejuvenating agent—it soothes the skin, hydrates it, nourishes it and accelerates the regeneration of new skin tissue.
After being absorbed into the skin, it stimulates the fibroblasts cells and causes them to regenerate faster. It’s the cells that produce the collagen and elastin so the skin will get smoother and look younger. Simply removing the gel from the living aloe vera leaf and placing the raw gel on your face is far superior to even the most expensive skin care product on the market.
It can also been used for mouth sores, or cold sores.
Aloe vera is antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal. This fact is well known by herbalists around the world. You can pack small chunks of aloe vera gel inside wounds that ultimately healed with zero scarring. As the aloe vera dries, it actually contracts, pulling the wound shut and keeping it completely free of dangerous bacteria. Plus, it provides nourishment to the wound tissue itself.
Aloe has been known to heal burn victims with no scarring to restore burned skin that would have normally died. Every emergency room in every hospital around the world should have aloe vera on hand, but they don’t.
Aloe vera can also be used internally, but it needs to be fresh and not the kind you buy in a bottle. Aloe vera purchased over the counter in a bottle has been heated and the heat destroys most of the medicinal properties of the plant. Also, for the product to keep and not spoil, aloe vera sold in stores has preservatives added.
Natural aloe vera contains advanced biochemical technology that the drug companies can only hope to understand someday. This technology was built by nature, and it’s 100% compatible with the human body. All you have to do to experience this technology for yourself is eat aloe vera gel!
Aloe vera’s natural gel nourishes the body with minerals, vitamins and enzymes; it alkalizes the body and helps to balance overly acidic dietary habits, even helping to reduce acid reflux disease. Aloe vera helps prevents kidney stones and cures ulcers.
I have used aloe vera to cure stomach ulcers for many of my patients. I have them eat a half a cup of the clear gel at night on an empty stomach before going to bed. Within a few days, the stomach ulcer is gone. (Of course they have to leave the pepper, hot sauces, and other spicy foods alone.)
The cells of the stomach only have a life span of a few days, so it takes very little time to heal a stomach ulcer. Aloe vera also improves Crohn’s disease and other digestive disorders by lubricating the digestive tract to improve problems with constipation.
Aloe vera increases blood circulation, which helps lower high blood pressure. (Garlic works even better then aloe vera for lowering blood pressure).
Aloe vera stabilizes blood sugar in diabetics
Diabetic patients who take aloe vera for three months may experience a significant drop in fasting blood sugar levels. Numerous clinical studies have been published that demonstrate aloe vera’s anti-diabetic properties. Diabetics suffering from peripheral neuropathy (hands and feet going numb) also benefit from the plant since aloe reverses sludge blood, causing the blood to flow easier which boosts circulation to extremities.
Aloe vera boosts immune function and destroys cancer tumors
Scientific research shows strong immunomodulatory and anti-tumor properties for aloe vera polysaccharides. That means the gel helps boost immune system function while destroying cancer tumors. One study published in International Immunopharmacology (1995) showed that aloe vera polysaccharides exhibited potent macrophage-activating activities including producing increased volumes of nitric oxide (which has anti-tumor potential).
All that from nature’s wonder plant, which could be growing in your backyard.
Dr. Hoover N.D. has been living in Granada Nicaragua for the past five years and enjoys teaching others how to stay healthy the natural way. He has written a book NATURAL MEDICINE which you can down load free from his web site www.cancernaturalcure.com
Jerry,
Thanks for the information on Aloe Vera. It motivated me to research resources to back it up. Although limited, I was able to provide your readers the facts of Aloe Vera as provided by the National Center of Complementary and Alternate Health, which I believe you would find information to support your claims. Although it failed to mention cancer cures, this center under the flag of the U.S. National Institute of Health states:
What the Science Says
Early studies show that topical aloe gel may help heal burns and abrasions. One study, however, showed that aloe gel inhibits healing of deep surgical wounds. Aloe gel has not been shown to prevent burns from radiation therapy. There is not enough scientific evidence to support aloe vera for any of its other uses.
And regarding safety:
A 2-year National Toxicology Program (NTP) study on oral consumption of non-decolorized whole leaf extract of aloe vera found clear evidence of carcinogenic activity in male and female rats, based on tumors of the large intestine. According to the NTP, from what is known right now there is nothing that would lead them to believe that these findings are not relevant to humans. However, more information, including how individuals use different types of aloe vera products, is needed to determine the potential risks to humans.
Abdominal cramps and diarrhea have been reported with oral use of aloe vera.
Diarrhea, caused by the laxative effect of oral aloe vera, can decrease the absorption of many drugs.
People with diabetes who use glucose-lowering medication should be cautious if also taking aloe by mouth because preliminary studies suggest aloe may lower blood glucose levels.
There have been a few case reports of acute hepatitis from aloe vera taken orally. However, the evidence is not definitive.
Thanks again, Jerry.
With these promises and warnings I am sure we can make more educated decisions.
http://nccam.nih.gov/health/aloevera
Indio, the study you quoted was on “non-decolorized whole leaf” which means it was loaded with anti-nutrients from the outer green leaf which Jerry clearly said “scrape out the clear gel. Never use the green part of the plant, only the gel”. You should NOT consume the outer leaf which contains aloin, a known digestive irritant and in large amounts (such as in the study you quoted) possibly carcinogenic.
Yes, the inner leaf is often used by diabetics to lower blood sugar levels. So, it would not be wise to “double up” the effect by taking drugs with it.
Regarding how to filet aloe… Jerry described it quite well. However, I thought a video might help: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKXLMD2Dv8o
The video shows best practices for avoiding the potentially carcinogenic aloin from the outer leaf.
Jerry, my company is the only one that I know of that does not heat nor add preservatives… so it is possible to buy good aloe in the bottle. We simply grind it, bottle it, and freeze it. We ship it out in the U.S. only – frozen to the customer. It is not shelf stable…. but it is freezer stable. It seems to work just as good as the fresh fillet. But once thawed, kept refrigerated it is only good for a week or two.
Thank you for the excellent article. You are spot on.
Jerry,
Another link that updates and supports a relation to Aloe Vera and cancer research. I hope this helps your readers. Incidentally, this wouldn’t hurt to amend it to your article.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=aloe%20vera%20cancer
Amazing example how to live taken what nature give us.
Thank you Dr. Jerry Hoover ND from all of who read this article.
It´s so practical your ways of teaching how to use the aloe vera on its natural status that anyone could easily do a follow them up. Nevertheless the lower income people can´t get this helpful information since they can´t afford to keep in touch with nicaragua dispatch web cite.
Nature takes care of nature! So it makes sense that it nourishes and heals us. We need more of these types of articles! Apart from being medicinal it’s a beautiful, drought resistant and cool looking plant.
Aloe vera gel (inner leaf) is also show to raise “TNF” levels… aka “Tumor Necrosis Factor”, which, essentially means “cancer death factor”.
Interesting information, thank you Jerry and Michael. Personally, I would suggest people wanting to know more about Aloe Vera should look at Dr. Michael Haley’s website Stockton Aloe 1. It is fascinating! Read, also, Father Romano Zago’s book ‘Aloe isn’t medicine, and yet… it cures!’ and you will never be able to go another day without your daily dose of drinkable Aloe Vera. Aloe Vera has changed my life. I hope it will change yours.
[...] Aloe Vera: nature's wonder plant…in your backyard http://www.nicaraguadispatch.com/Aloe Vera: nature's wonder plant | Nicaragua's English Language Online Newspaper | Nicaragua News. … active plant compounds and possibly other substances that scientists have yet to identify. Jerry Hoover shows the aloe vera plant growing in his backyard … Simply removing the gel from the living aloe vera leaf and placing the raw gel on your face is far superior to even the most expensive skin care product on the market. It can also been used for mouth sores, … [...]