Aloe Vera and its Wonderful Health Benefits

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6 User Reviews
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Posted by Aubergine (Washington, Dc) on 02/02/2012

Bad experience with aloe juice: After reading here about people's good experiences with Aloe, I figured I would try some. My grocery store sells the stalks, but I didn't want to bring one of those home - one of my kids would probably try to use it as a weapon, if my husband didn't put it in the trash first - so I looked at the aloe products on the shelf with the supplements. I was a bit confused by all the choices but I ended up getting a juice product that uses a formulation called "ActivAloe. " Without mentioning the actual brand name (which does have the word "aloe" in it), it comes in a 32-oz bottle and there are three flavors - the original "gold" as well as "cherry berry" and "orange papaya. " I chose the orange papaya. The label says it's 7% orange and papaya juices, and the rest is "whole leaf aloe vera juice concentrate. " I tried some that evening. The label said to take 2 Tablespoons (1 oz) so that's what I took. During the evening I was very gassy, but I have that problem when I eat certain sugars or processed foods so I figured it was something I had snacked on earlier. Later that night I felt like I was getting a cold. I took a little extra ACV plus some extra vitamin C, did a sinus rinse (which I routinely do anyway) and gargled with a hydrogen peroxide oral cleanser.

In the morning I felt a little worse with congestion in my sinuses and chest. I did my normal breakfast routine (a green superfoods bar plus ACV, lecithin, coconut oil, turmeric and oatmeal) plus a 1-oz dose of the aloe juice. I made sure to stick with alkaline foods throughout the day - this normally eliminates any cold symptoms for me within half a day - but I didn't feel better. Also I was still very gassy, which didn't make much sense since I was not eating any of the bad stuff that tends to give me gas. I continued for 2 more days with alkaline foods, ACV and my other regular supplements, plus 1 ounce of aloe juice twice a day, plus extra vitamin C and sinus rinses morning and evening, without any relief of the cold symptoms. (I also felt generally crummy, as with any cold. )

Then last night I noticed that an old case of thrush was back - but not just in the one little spot where I had it before. This time, seemingly overnight, the pockets between my cheeks and gums were inflamed on both sides of my mouth. I was also gassier than ever. By this time I had figured out that the gas was the worst shortly after I drank the aloe juice. I thought, "how can anything that makes me this gassy actually be healthy for me?" It suddenly dawned on me that maybe the aloe juice was actually making me sick. I poured the rest of the bottle down the drain.

Today I did an oil pull and I'm continuing the alkaline food routine with ACV and plenty of water to try to flush out whatever's bothering me. 24 hours after stopping the aloe (which I only took for 72 hours in the first place) I feel somewhat better, but I still have some of the congestion and the thrush. (The gas, thank goodness, is gone. ) Hopefully there will be more improvement tomorrow.

It occurred to me that the aloe might be bringing out some sort of toxin that was locked up in my cells somewhere, but that seems unlikely. I started taking ACV every day 5 months ago, and since then added sunflower lecithin (Ted's "pulling oil" remedy, 2 TBSP per day), coconut oil, turmeric, raw honey, and green superfood capsules to my daily diet. (I was already taking fish oil and vitamin E. ) At the same time I have greatly reduced or cut out many of the acid-forming foods I used to eat, and have added more vegetables and other whole, alkaline foods. (I have also done some oil pulling with EVCO but I have had trouble making it a routine. ) With these improvements I've lost weight effortlessly, I don't feel hungry, my skin looks great, the bumps on the backs of my arms disappeared, my chronic case of thrush went away, and the osteoarthritis in my hip no longer bothers me.

My point is that I would be surprised if the aloe juice suddenly brought out toxins that the other remedies hadn't touched. But I could be wrong! And I have used aloe vera gel on my skin in the past without any adverse reactions. Anyway, now I'm a little leary of trying other forms of aloe, but maybe after I get better I'll go ahead and buy a stalk of the real thing and carefully monitor the effects!

Replied by Charlotte
(Kenmore, Wa)
04/26/2013

The dose makes the poison. You shouldn't exceed the recommended daily dose of aloe vera juice (about 1/4 cup) if you don't want to experience any side effects. When you drink it with caution, it can bring many health benefits, but if you stick to the recommended dose and still experience the side effects, probably it's better to stop taking it.

Replied by Nicola
(Walsall Uk)
03/11/2017

It looks to me as the aloe you had was from the outer leaf which is a laxative for drinking and taking internally you should only be having the pure gel which is the pulp inside the leaf.

We have a product which is 96% pure aloe inner leaf. Anything over 18% can be known as gel anything content below this can only be retailed as a juice and there is a lot on the market that states aloe but has very little goodness in it.

Hope this helps

Kind regards,
Nicola Khadhraoui



Replied by Maria
(Gippsland, Australia)
07/11/2011

Hi EC, I didn't post my question on the right page. It was meant to go on the page 'Questions for Ted'. Could you please tell me how to do this? Thanks

EC: It has now been posted to the Latest Questions page. That was my oversight! Thanks for understanding, Liza

General Feedback
Posted by Maria (Gippsland, Australia) on 06/27/2011

Hello, In one of Ted's remedies is aloe vera oil and I have been looking for it but all I can find is a 30 ml (1 oz) bottle but it is sunflower oil with safflower oil and aloe vera gel. So it is mostly oil and both oils are not even cold pressed. If someone knows what the real aloe vera oil is and where I can get it could you reply please? Thanks.

Replied by Blkmanchcgo
(Chicago, Il)
06/28/2011

To Maria,

If your looking for aloe vera gel or other quality oils and herbs you can check out Mountainroseherbs.com. I dont know if you can post websites here but....


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Posted by Alfred (Rangsit, Bangkok, Thailand) on 06/04/2011
★★★★★

Alo Vera is an amazing plant.. It grows like a weed.. Easy to grow inside your home as well as outside..

I have it growing outside my home.. Every day cut off one the the arms.. Rub off spines on side.. Wash, cut up and mix it into what your eating.. Do not peel.. Its all good .. the skin and inside .. just eat, eat, and get healthier..

Alfred


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Posted by Nancy (Brighton, Mi) on 12/21/2010

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A BOTTLE OF ALOE VERA GEL AND APPLIED A SMALL AMOUNT TO MY FACE. WAS TOLD IT WAS GOOD FOR ANTI AGING. I LEFT IT ON TILL IT DRIED THEN WASHED OFF WITH WARM WATER. MY FACE BURNED, TURN RED AND STAYED THAT WAY FOR A HALF AN HOUR. HAS ANYBODY HAD THIS REACTION??

Replied by Elizabeth
(Nashville, Tn)
12/22/2010

You may need to check the preservatives and other chemicals that have been added to the gel. That can cause skin irritation.

Replied by Citygirl27
(Richardson, Tx, Usa)
06/19/2012

True. Many popular brands, big companies, etc put alcohol or other stabilizer in their aloe vera gels so they will be quick-drying. Beware of that on the ingredients label.


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Posted by Fountainflower (Chicago, Il, 60302) on 03/26/2010
★☆☆☆☆

WARNING!

I studied holistic medicine and healing for many years. After a stint of ill health and poor diet, I developed two ulcers and then GERD and was told Aloe Vera was the best cure by other professionals in the alternative healing arts. I used it for almost a year. I ended up much sicker than I should have been, with a stomach valve that refuses to close properly, malnutrition, esophageal spasms that either felt like heart problems and caused me to call an ambulance or that triggered a near fatal PSVT as I have pre-existing heart disease already.

Here's the think about Aloe. I started seeing a Chinese doctor when my life was at stake and I was bedridden in agony. The aloe is a temporary cure that makes you feel better but is only recommended for a week or two at most. Aloe has a cooling effect on your digestion. It slows your digestion, even though it has laxative properties. It metabolically cools your digestive tract, and for someone like me, who was suffering from lack of digestive fire, and the inability to digest my food properly, this made my condition life-threatening, and then the food started backing up in my stomach, thus causing the stomach valve to not close properly, thus causing MORE esophageal spasms (GERD) that put my life at risk. After two years of agony, when I stopped the aloe, I started healing, recovering from pain and malnutrition, and started losing weight. I HIGHLY recommend NOT using Aloe as a remedy for more than a week or two, and instead, go see a holistic or Chinese doctor for your ailment, FIND THE ACTUAL CAUSE< change your diet, meditate, and get a cure that doesn't have the potential to kill you. And yes, I was staunch advocate of Aloe as a cure, I stood by it and even argued with the doctor that he was wrong for 6 months.

So please realize, I am very alternative and holistically minded, but Aloe is not something you should drink on a long-term basis without a doctor advising and monitoring your progress and digestion, because unless you have too much heat (in Chinese terms) in your bowels and adrenal organs, which is rarely the case with GERD and constipation, drinking Aloe will make you sicker over time. Please consider my words.


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Posted by Lisa (Atlanta, Ga) on 02/10/2010

I have some juice recipes for anyone interested in taking aloe vera internally. I buy stalks of it at Publix for $1.99. Go to utube and watch them peel it, if you're not sure about that, you will need 1 tbls. of aloe juice or gel for each serving of juice you make. And you have to have a juicer, its well worth the money.

2 carrots
2 green apples
1 orange (peeled)

put thru juicer, then add 1 tablespoon aloe juice and drink immediatly.

1 cup pineapple (don't peel it)
1 carrot
1 green apple
put thru juicer, then add tablespoon aloe juice and drink immediatly

1 small piece of ginger
2 carrots
2 pears
1/2 small papaya
put thru juicer, then add 1 tablespoon aloe vera juice, drink immediately.

1/4 small beet
2 large carrots
1 stalk celery

put thru juicer, add 1 tablespoon aloe vera juice, drink immediatly.


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Posted by Joyce (Joelton, Tn) on 09/19/2009 495 posts

Hello to all who want to grow their own aloe vera plants (cactus),

In my area, which is close to the Southern Ky. border, they will not survive the winter outside. My brother who lives within a mile of the northern Alabama border planted the ones I gave him outside, found they died back during the winter, and unfortunately, did not come back up in the spring. So unless you live further south than we do, bring them in before the first killing frost, if you want to keep them growing year round.


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Posted by Dianne (Tampa, Fl) on 08/20/2009

I take the entire leaf and chop off a couple of inches beginning from the base and peel (discard the peel) and blend it, etc. I take the remaining Aloe leaf and just set it on the counter on some paper towels. Don't peel it or put any plastic wrap on the cut edge or anything. The Aloe will heal the cut on its own and the next time you need some more Aloe, just cut off that thin slice that looks yucky and then slice off another piece to consume. Since I generally take the Aloe everyday, it seldom tends to go bad. I did read that you could put it in the refrigerator, but make sure you wrap it in paper towels as the cold will create some condensation and that will make it go bad a lot quicker. As for the size of the Aloe I read in several places that the smaller leaves don't generally have all the beneficial componenets. It could also be that you have a different species of Aloe. The Aloe that is therapeautic is Aloe Barbadensis Miller. There are many different species of Aloe, but not all therapeautic. Check the internet for the other therapeautic ones.


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Posted by Sylvia (Houston, Tx) on 02/12/2009

Aloe Vera: I can say that Aloe Vera works for everything! I eat it now that i was diagnosed with Diverticulitus.It helps heal the holes i have developed in my large intestine. U can use it for boils, scrapes, burns, blackheads that are extremely in the skin, acne, basically anything!!!!


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Posted by Ann (Bethel, Minnesota) on 01/27/2009

I haven't been able to find anywhere where I can make my own aloe vera juice. I have a huge plant and only know that I can use it for burns. Can someone please help me on this subject?

Replied by Sandy
(Tampa, FL)
02/11/2009

Hey! Just take the aloe vera leaf and you know cut off the spikes on the side and peel off the leaf and use the gel inside. Sometimes I leave some of the leaf. It's also beneficial for you. You can eat just raw aloe vera just like that. I have been using on my gums because they've been swollen and hurting or you can put it in a blender and just mix it with orange juice or whatever you'd like to mix it with. The aloe gel it self doesn't actually taste like anything so go ahead and just start using it :). You might want to start off with smaller doses because it does detox your body and depending on where you are it might cause nausea, etc.

Replied by Shannon
(San Antonio, Tx)
08/11/2012

Hi, To answer the question on how to make aloe Vera juice, here's my method. I cut about five thick arms of the aloe plant from the very bottom of the plant. I then peel off the skin with a sharp knife and place the gel in a flat container. Once I get all the gel I possibly can, I spread it out on the container and freeze it. Once frozen hard I bring it out and thaw it. Once it thaws, it'll be pure liquid and not gel anymore. Then I strain it and store it in an airtight container in the fridge for longevity. You don't have to strain it if you don't mind the little fibers. This is the way I make aloe juice in its purest form. Hope this helps anyone!


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Posted by Rich (Gainesville, USA) on 09/08/2008
★★★★★

Thanks to everyone for telling their personal success stories using cayenne pepper. I have used it on and off for years, but I will start using it only on from now on.

I have a couple of other remedies to share with you. Many of us know about aloe vera and its topical uses, but did you know that the gel is very nutritious and it can be eaten? It has virtually no flavor after you rinse off the yellow juice and it is great for your health. Aloe is similar to cayenne in that it increases the effectiveness of anything that you take with it, so I'm going to try taking aloe and cayenne together. That promises to be a very powerful combo. Aloe has many, many uses and I encourage everyone to read up on it. There are other medicinal aloes too, like aloe ferox, aloe saponaria and aloe arborescens. Aloe has proven to be of tremendous benefit to cancer and AIDS patients! Like cayenne peppers, you can easily grow your own aloe.

Another great remedy is North pole magnetism. A scientist named Albert Roy Davis discovered that the North and South poles of a magnet are two different energies with opposite effects. The North pole energy will heal many conditions while the South pole with worsen most conditions. There are some therapeutic uses for the South pole, however. Yes, magnets do work, but you need to have the right type of magnet and use the correct pole. Get quality ceramic type magnets, use the North pole only and you'll be amazed at what magnets can do. Albert Roy Davis discovered that North pole magnetism can eliminate many diseases, even including cancer. It can even slow aging. Literally! Exposing the spleen to North pole magnetism on a regular basis will slow the rate of aging, and this was confirmed at the Medical College of Pennsylvania. Read the books written by Davis and Walter C. Rawls, Jr.


Gum Issues

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Posted by Sonal (Charlotte Nc) on 09/13/2013
★★★★★

Want to share my experience with aloe vera. My gum was hurting from eating too much sweets and nothing was helping. I tried oil pulling with sesame oil, mustard oil, turmeric powder, salt but all in vain. Finally I tried aloe vera and it helped and was healed in a day. Have a aloe vera plant so I took tbsp of gel from leaf and mixed it with water. Did some gargles/squished around mouth with this water and voila gum is not hurting.


Heartburn

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Posted by Shalese (Syracuse, Utah) on 03/11/2007
★★★★★

i started taking aloe vera juice 1 week ago I had come to the end of my rope after being on aciphex for heartburn for 5 years. then being told to double up on my dose. that did not even work anymore I had such bad heartburn I thought I would never make it through the day. I called my doctor and he told me to come pick up samples for other meds. I decided I was sick of the meds. so I went to my local Health foods store looking for answers. They told me to take aloe vera juice about 2oz- 8oz a day. I didn't think it would work, but i was desperate. I took it that day and it did nothing! I still slept like crap that night. but the next day i took it. after the second time i took it my heartburn just went away. It hasn't returned for 1 week. I have not taken any meds whatsoever. but yet I feel gassy. But I still would rather have gas instead of heartburn any day.


Heartburn, Excessive Burping

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Posted by Donna (MA) on 11/01/2020
★★★★★

I have been suffering from excessive burping and awful heartburn at night. I decided to try aloe vera juice and after the first 2oz dose I felt better. I took it 3xs yesterday, once before bed and finally a night with no burping and heartburn. I will continue for a few days and see where I'm at.


How to Use Aloe Vera

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Posted by Jenn (Coborra, Australia) on 01/04/2015
★★★★★

Aloe vera, the plant would be good for healing.

Because the sap stains clothing permanently, it may be wise to wear old daggy clothes, when doing this process...so cut with a sharp knife, a leaf or a piece of same depending on the size of the leaf, about 6 inches, and put in a cup of cool water.... With this same knife, take leaf out and cut off the spines along the edge and discard it and the water which may have a brownish tinge. Rinse knife and cut open the leaf to reveal the white inner gel. Now this gel, although extremely bitter, can be taken internally for those die-hards out there, and will help with digestive and constipation problems and can assist if taken on a regular basis with internal cleansing and inner healing.

But, for healing of skin it's wonderful.

If using for this purpose, scrape as much of the inner leaf out as possible, put into clean drinking water in a cup ( preferably not tap water due to the chemicals) and discard the leaf afterwards. You may find it easier to put a small piece onto your scars and cover with a piece of clean cotton material or bandage, or a wide band-aid . You can change it as often as you like but try and leave it on for at least 2 days at a time, to allow it to heal. Try and use the Aloe vera gel in water within 5 days and make a fresh batch. After you have made it a couple of times all these instructions will seem like nothing, you'll just whizz through it because it is so easy to do.

Long term healing is possible if taking a good quality calcium, zinc supplement with possibly magnesium , silica, biotin or brewers yeast..some or all, as these help to renew your skin.

There is Aloe vera juice available in many places and is marketed as 99.92% pure and if you do not have access to the actual plant then this would be acceptable but it does generally have Potassium Sorbate or Sodium Benzoate as a preservative, which are necessary to stabilise the Aloe vera to market it to the public, otherwise it would go 'off' but is used only in very small quantities.

Fresh is best but if it is not available then the inner leaf juice available commercially can be used.

If using the commercial juice, soak clean cotton strips ( an old sheet, not flannelette will do) in the juice , wring out slightly and either use straight away or hang to dry and use as a medicated dressing. Sorry about this long answer! This can also be used for burns and general skin healing.

Hope this will be of assistance.



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