Aloe Vera Latex
What is Aloe Vera Latex?
Aloe Vera Latex can be a nasty thing by itself but the health benefits of Aloe Vera gel are enormous. The Aloe Vera plant is rich in vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, C, E, and B complex. In addition, the plant extracts contain more than 20 minerals. The extracts of the Aloe plant also contain 18-20 amino acids, including all 8 essential amino acids necessary for the human body.
Furthermore, the plant also contains essential fatty acids. Which can help lower cholesterol in the human body.
No wonder, this evergreen perennial is known as a Miracle plant all over the world. Learn about Aloe Vera Latex.
A number of scientific studies reveal that the gel derived from the aloe plant has a number of positive effects on human health.
Both Aloe Vera gel and Aloe Vera latex are extracted from the leaves of an aloe plant.
While the gel is a clear translucent substance, the yellowish fluid found beneath the inner lining of the leaves is known as aloe latex.
Studies show that both gel and aloe latex have potential healing properties.
A number of medical tests prove that consumption of aloe latex orally can relieve constipation problems in a person.
Therefore, most pharmaceuticals sell aloe-latex dietary supplements in the form of laxatives.
The laxatives sold in the market are filtered aloe latex extract.
A limited dose of aloe latex can relieve constipation and irritable bowel syndrome in human beings.
What part of the Aloe Plant does it come from?
Aloe Vera is a plant of the Lily family. This plant has dark green leaves that somewhat appear like a small cactus plant.
However, the leaves of the aloe plants are soft and supple, unlike the cactus family plants.
Both gel and latex come from the aloe leaf. To extract the aloe latex, you can look just under the plant’s skin.
Unlike the translucent gel, the latex appears sticky and mild yellow in color.
Some dietary supplements and juices include the whole crushed leaf, including both latex and gel. However, many aloe supplements only contain gel or latex.
What is Aloe Vera Latex used for?
The yellow fluid-like substance under the aloe plant leaf skin is known as latex.
Aloe latex has laxative properties, so it is used as a laxative.
People with digestive disorders such as constipation, piles, and hemorrhoids often consume aloe latex.
Many people consume raw aloe latex orally to get relief from constipation.
In short, the maximum use of aloe latex is for constipation and digestive disorders.
Studies claim that it takes 10 hours for aloe latex to positively affect the human digestive system and cause a bowel movement.
To remove aloe latex, you should peel the thin layer of the leaf first.
After extracting the gel-like substance, you will find the latex fluid under the leaf.
If you are unsure how to extract aloe latex safely, you can always use the readily available packed aloe latex product found in the market.
Many stores and medicinal brands sell aloe latex as a form of ready-to-use laxatives. These products contain filtered aloe latex, free of chemicals.
Commercial aloe latex products are filtered thoroughly to remove aloe latex from the aloe leaf pulp.
This finished product is usually used for making laxatives and cosmetic products.
What are the side effects of Aloe Latex?
Although aloe latex is highly used for treating digestive disorders and constipation, reports claim that an overdose of aloe latex can cause severe diarrhea.
Concentrated aloe products containing latex and gel are sold as a laxative in the market.
FDA later banned this laxative due to a harmful substance found in aloe latex, known as anthraquinone.
This ingredient can cause diarrhea and stomach cramps after repeated oral consumption.
Studies by medical experts also claim that oral consumption of aloe latex can affect the glucose levels in blood.
If a person has diabetes, he should consult with his healthcare provider before taking aloe latex orally.
Health officials from the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center also confirmed that aloe latex has possible drug interactions.
So it can reduce the effectiveness of specific drugs in the human body.
Increasing the dosage of aloe latex can cause dangerous side effects as well.
Apart from severe diarrhea, aloe latex overdose can lead to severe dehydration, cramping, and stomach pain.
It is always advised to consult with your nutritionist before consuming aloe latex products that are not produced for oral consumption.
Why should you take care while taking Aloe Latex?
Studies on aloe tolerance show that a person develops a kind of tolerance to Aloe Vera latex if he consumes it regularly.
In course of time, the laxative effects of aloe latex on the person’s system decrease. To get a laxative effect, one has to increase the dosage of aloe latex.
Overdose of aloe latex has many possible side effects.
This matter became a concern to the FDA a few years ago. FDA then requested safety data from all the manufacturers who sell laxatives with aloe latex.
As the manufacturers were unable to produce the safety data, the FDA instructed all manufacturers to remove all latex-based products from the over-the-counter medicine aisle.
Many reports on aloe latex side effects also reveal that people with diabetes and intestinal disorders should avoid consuming aloe latex.
Safety guidelines for aloe latex consumption allow a person to use the product for internal usage no longer than 10 days.
Reports on the drug interaction of aloe latex include a list of drugs such as diuretics, steroids, and digoxin.
In addition, aloe latex has proven to be affecting the effectiveness of blood pressure drugs, potassium-sparing drugs, and drugs used in diabetes.
Conclusion
Based on these facts and data, it is always advised to follow the safety guidelines of using aloe latex products in the form of a laxative.
Those already on any prescription medication should consult with their physician and nutritionist before taking aloe latex-based products orally.
Overdose of aloe latex may lead to severe dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. This may also cause red urine and severe diarrhea.
In case of an overdose, contact your local healthcare practitioner immediately.
We recommend using Aloe Vera products mainly made from pure Aloe Vera Gel and not the latex compound of the plant.
If you would like to leave us a comment or query below, we would love to hear from you.
Stay Healthy Folks ;)
Thank you for the well thought article. I have been eating whole aloe leaf since I was a child. Now I understand the latex is harmful.
Glad you liked our article Jason.
Thank you for this article, I’ve been using aloe vera gel on my skin for months and I love the results! I just started adding it to my smoothies and can’t wait to reap the internal benefits!
Thank You Connie! Thanks for getting in touch and sharing.