Aloe Vera is an Adaptogen
Aloe Vera is an Adaptogen
Adaptogens are a classification of herbs that include Aloe Vera, Ginkgo Biloba, ginseng, and many others. They have been used throughout history and are considered to be adaptogens. Learn why Aloe Vera is an adaptogen.
There are many other adaptogens out there. They are identified by their nontoxicity to humans, their ability to stabilize the body, and their general target area. Basically, adaptogens must be safe but provide benefits to several parts and/or systems in the body.
What makes an Adaptogen
Adaptogenic is the term used to indicate the ability of an herb to work in the human body. For a herb to be an adaptogen, it must meet three criteria as defined by the Russian doctors N.V. Lazarev in 1947 and I.I. Brekman in 1958:
The herb should cause no harm and place no added stress on the body. The herb must have a nonspecific effect on the body, supporting all the major systems, such as the nervous system, hormonal system, and immune system, as well as regulating their normal functions.
Unlike synthetic drugs, which come with the very real possibility of side effects, adaptogens must benefit the body without disrupting it or doing it harm.
Research
Although research is in its early days, there has been a fair amount to date. Enough has been done so that certain conclusions can be drawn about this class of drug.
Herbal medicine is an interdisciplinary study. It is made up of studies drawn from history, botany, ethnobotany, chemistry, phytochemistry, and clinical medicine.
The discipline draws from different sources to develop an understanding of herbal medicines and, herbal medicine professionals must be ready to move between different disciplines.
In India, a study was conducted on Swiss albino mice suffering from stage-2 skin cancer.
The scientists wanted to test Aloe Vera’s effectiveness when used either topically or orally. They noted that when tests were done without Aloe Vera on the test subjects, tumors developed 100 percent of the time.
On the other hand, the test subjects that were given some form of Aloe Vera were 60 percent less likely to develop tumors.
Researchers determined that the chemo-preventive components of Aloe Vera are a result of high concentrations of antioxidants, glutathione peroxidize, selenium, zinc, several isozymes of superoxide dismutase, and polysaccharides.
Based on other studies, it is hypothesized that when Aloe Vera is introduced into the bloodstream, it may increase the oxygen transportation and diffusion abilities of the red blood cells.
The 2000 issue of the British Medical Journal published a study that showed how components within Aloe Vera were able to lower cholesterol levels, control blood pressure and improve circulation by making the blood more fluid.
Researchers have discovered that burns heal up to nine days faster when treated with Aloe Vera rather than not.
In one study, burns healed in less than 16 days using the medicinal plant, while it took at least 19 days to heal when silver sulfadiazine, a synthetic drug, was used.
Aloe Vera as an adaptogen
Aloe Vera has a 6000-year history. The Egyptians were the first to discover its health benefits and called it the plant of immortality.
It was used for various health problems including insomnia, baldness, bad digestion, and even cancer. Additional healing properties were discovered through time and since the 18th century, Aloe Vera has been used for skin irritations, burns, and wounds.
Aloe Vera is now recommended by lots of healthcare sources to be a superfood since it has continuously shown amazing antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and antioxidant properties.
It is filled with considerable amounts of vitamins and minerals.
Aloe Vera can have an effect on the immune system by helping the body adapt to external and internal stresses that can trigger inflammatory responses.
As an adaptogen, Aloe Vera can help the body adapt, reducing blood pressure, strengthening the immune system, calming inflammation, and helping balance blood sugar.
Top Benefits and Uses:
Vitamins and Minerals: Aloe Vera contains vitamins, including folic acid, choline, A, C, E, B1, B2, B3, and B6. It is also one of the few plants that contain vitamin B12.
Some of the minerals found in Aloe Vera include copper, calcium, zinc, potassium, magnesium, chromium, sodium, iron, selenium, and manganese.
Amino and Fatty Acids: Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. It is estimated that aloe contains 18 to 20 amino acids, including all eight essential ones.
Aloe Vera also includes a range of fatty acids. Aloe contains three plant sterols, including HCL cholesterol, campesterol, and B-sitosterol. All are helpful in reducing symptoms of allergies and acid indigestion.
Digestion: Poor digestion is related to many diseases. A properly functioning digestive tract is one of the keys and foundations of health. Aloe is known to soothe and cleanse the digestive tract and help improve digestion.
The immune system: The polysaccharides in Aloe Vera juice help fuel the immune system’s white blood cells that combat viruses.
Aloe is also an immune system enhancer because of its high level of antioxidants, which help combat the unstable compounds known as free radicals. It is also an antipyretic which means it is used to reduce fever.
Skin: Because of its well-known healing properties, Aloe Vera is known to help heal wounds and is great for applying topically to burns, abrasions, and psoriasis.
Aloe acts as an analgesic, acting to help relieve pain. Aloe is an antipruritic that helps relieve or prevent itching. It is also an astringent which causes the contraction of body tissues, typically used to reduce bleeding from minor injuries.
Disinfectant, antibiotic, antimicrobial, germicidal, antibacterial, antiseptic, antifungal, and antiviral: Aloe Vera’s active ingredients are salicylic acid, sulfur, cinnamic acid, lupeol, urea nitrogen, and phenol which are materials that prevent the growth of disease-causing germs and act in concert with the body to provide antimicrobial activity and prevent or eliminate many infections.
Reduce inflammation: Aloe Vera contains 12 substances, including B-sisterole, which can help to slow down or inhibit inflammation. This may be able to help with painful joints due to stiffness and help improve joint flexibility.
All in all, this is one amazing little plant, head on over to our products page and get your own supply of Aloe Vera TODAY!
Stay Healthy Folks! ;)
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