Aloe Vera and Digestion, Irritable Bowel and Arthritis

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Aloe Vera and Digestion, Irritable Bowel and Arthritis

JoAnn Guest

Dec 27, 2003 11:31 PST

 

Aloe Vera and Digestion, Irritable Bowel and Arthritis

Information supplied by The Aloe Vera Information Centre

 

Aloe Vera has been recognised for centuries for its remarkable

health-enhancing properties. Although known specifically for

external application to the skin, Aloe Juice is now widely used to

help a variety

of conditions of the digestive tract.

 

Information supplied by The Aloe Vera Information Centre, Saberdene,

Church Road, Catsfield Battle, East Sussex TN33 9DP. Tel: 01424

892440,

Fax: 01424 842988.

 

Aloe Vera and the Digestive System

 

Aloe Vera has been recognised for centuries for its remarkable

health-enhancing properties. Although known specifically for

external application to the skin, Aloe Juice is now widely used to

help a variety

of conditions of the digestive tract.

It is important at this stage to stress that, as with any

medical condition, a pain in the abdomen should be referred to a

medical practitioner in the first instance.

Research work carried out over many years points conclusively

to a toxic colon being the cause of a very wide range of illnesses,

from minor to very serious. It is widely recognised that problems of

the bowel are on the increase with many millions of people suffering

a range

of conditions including colitis, diverticulitis, Crohn's disease and

spastic colon – this latter condition more commonly known as

irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

 

IBS is considered to be the most common of these disorders and

symptoms are varied, including exhaustion, lower back pain,

constipation, diarrhoea and indigestion. The condition can be most

distressing and can continually recur in spite of orthodox

treatment.

 

The digestive tract is designed to ensure nutrients from food

are absorbed into the blood stream whilst dispensing with the

unwanted waste. Bacteria plays a major role in achieving the

breakdown of food matter but, in doing so, also produces toxins.

 

This is perfectly normal and in a healthy system the level of toxins

is controlled. Nowadays our diet includes many unwanted substances

including various chemicals,

fats, insecticides etc. which can result in a high level of toxins,

some of which can be poisonous.

 

If these are absorbed into the blood the

effect can give rise to a variety of conditions including lethargy

and even food poisoning.

 

The bowel can gradually `fur up' with a lining of unabsorbed

food residues. These deposits become impacted and prevent essential

nutrients from our diet being absorbed.

 

This situation gives rise to nutrient deficiency which in turn can

cause lethargy and exhaustion whilst the affected colon can be the

cause of lower abdominal pain, diarrhoea or constipation.

 

Colonic irrigation is a technique which loosens and washes out

these residues.

 

Some practitioners are finding that Aloe Vera Juice, if

taken daily for a period of several weeks, helps to ensure that the

irrigation process is greatly facilitated.

 

However, it is more usual to find that a regular, daily course of

Aloe Vera Juice is sufficient to gently and gradually break down,

loosen and assist in the natural dispersal of these residues.

 

Detoxification also takes place and the results are often most

gratifying with reports of ability to enjoy a wider range of foods,

relief from pain, reducing or dispensing with prescribed bulking

agents or antispasmodic drugs and also a greater feeling of well-

being and an improvement in the quality of life.

 

In establishing a regime of a regular daily dose of Aloe Vera

Juice it may not only be found that the effects are gradual, gentle

and with no irritant or harmful side effects, but also blood

condition will be improved due to Aloe Vera's ability to detoxify.

 

Also, being a natural healer, any internal ulcers or lesions will be

soothed and healing will be enhanced.

 

Aloe Vera and Irritable Bowel Syndrome

 

It is claimed by a research team at a major British hospital

that as many as 12 million people in Britain suffer from IBS.

 

Estimates also reveal that up to one third of the population will

experience the symptoms of IBS at some time in their lives.

 

The Symptoms

 

Many people, including some members of the medical profession,

find it difficult to recognise the symptoms of IBS which manifest

themselves in many ways. The following list includes the majority of

the signs and symptoms of IBS. Individuals can experience one or

several of these over a period of time:-

 

1. Swollen abdomen, irrespective of time of day.

2. Stomach pains, usually low down, often recurring.

3. Constipation accompanied invariably with griping pains in the

lower abdomen.

4. Diarrhoea which can also be accompanied by pains. Alternating

diarrhoea and constipation.

5. Flatulence and belching often associated with a disturbed,

rumbling gut.

6. Passing mucus and hard, pellet-like stools.

7. A diminished appetite, particularly when experiencing a distended

abdomen.

8. General depressed feeling and continual lethargy.

9. Heartburn.

10. Unpleasant tastes in mouth.

 

Possible Causes

 

Having considered the symptoms, the next stage is to determine

the possible causes. It is extremely difficult to be specific but

one of the underlying causes is considered to be stress. Stress

manifests itself in many ways often not apparent to the sufferer.

Stress can set up a tension within the individual, resulting in

anxiety. This situation can create a spasm in the intestinal tract.

 

At this stage it is importart to understand how the food we eat

is moved through the intestine. A totally automatic regular muscular

contraction of the walls of the colon (peristalsis), forces the

material to move through. If an external influence (i.e. stress)

causes the natural rhythm of peristalsis to be interrupted, this can

result in painful, irregular contractions in the intestine which can

continue for a very long time.

 

Other possible causes are thought to include a change of diet,

food poisoning or gastro-enteritis and the well known situation of

insufficient fibre in the diet.

However, there is also conflicting professional advice that too much

fibre can also be linked to IBS.

 

Treatment

 

Medical practitioners who recognise IBS may suggest a variety

of treatments including stress management and relaxation, diet

changes and prescribe antispasmodics of which there are several

available over the counter.

 

But it is important to be mindful of mis-diagnosis. Bloating

after meals and a continual feeling of lethargy, particularly if

suffering from fungal infections like thrush, can indicate that

candida albicans

is more likely to be a problem.

 

Aloe Vera Juice – The Natural Choice

 

Notwithstanding this bewildering variety of differing

approaches to the treatment of IBS, there is a big emphasis on

natural and homoeopathic remedies.

 

Aloe Vera Juice has many benefits to the human body.

 

An analysis of the Aloe Vera plant shows it is made up from a large

variety of amino acids, enzymes, vitamins and minerals and it

comes closer than any other known plant to the duplication of life's

essential substances in the biochemistry of the human body.

 

Aloe Vera has natural healing and detoxifying powers and works

gently within the intestinal tract to help break down impacted food

residues and thoroughly cleanse the bowel.

 

It can help ease constipation and prevent continuing diarrhoea,

setting a regularity to the bowel. All

this helps to reduce discomfort and bloating. Naturally, as these

symptoms are eased, so the stress associated with the discomfort is

also reduced.

 

Of course, the individual must have a due regard for the diet

but if this can be normalised, the regular consumption of a dose of

Aloe Vera Juice can often improve and maintain the feeling of well-

being and the quality of life.

 

The many unsolicited testimonials and letters of grateful

thanks received show that Aloe Juice can be of help when all else

has failed.

 

Nevertheless, it must be stressed that professional medical advice

should always be sought at the earliest possible stage for abdominal

problems and pains.

 

Aloe Vera and Arthritis

 

Aloe Vera is a stimulant to the immune system, a powerful anti-

inflammatory, an analgesic and is able to speed up cell growth.

 

Aloe Vera contains a large number of mucopolysaccharides (basic

sugars) which are found in every cell in the body.

 

Aloe also contains large numbers of nutrients including vitamins E,

C, B1, 2, 3, and 6 as well as iron, manganese, calcium and zinc.

 

Seven essential amino acids and fatty acids are also found in Aloe

Vera.

 

Rheumatoid arthritis is a painful, debilitating condition. It

manifests itself as stiff, swollen joints with varying degrees of

associated pain caused partly due to nerve damage and partly by the

pressure of the swollen area.

 

The swollen area is normally red in colour and described as

inflamed. The redness is caused by the blood supply to the `damaged'

area being increased.

 

Conventional treatment includes use of anti-inflammatory drugs

and steroids, typically cortisone injections or non-steroidal

anti-inflammatory drugs.

 

These certainly can ease the painful effects but unfortunately do

not repair damaged tissues.

 

There can also be undesirable side effects, particularly thinning of

the skin and osteoporosis.

 

Although many NSAIDs are available, each one has the

potential to cause stomach ulcers.

 

Repairing damaged tissue by regenerating cells is a function at

which Aloe Vera has been shown to be most successful.

 

It not only relieves the painful symptoms but also helps to disperse

damaged tissue

– a type of detoxification process.

 

Aloe Vera may be taken both internally as a juice or as a gel

applied to the painful joint.

 

Here Aloe Vera's deep penetration may show benefit.

The degree of success with this treatment varies considerably

from person to person. With some, relief and improved joint

flexibility is virtually immediate – an apparent `magical' cure,

whereas in others, the process can take much longer and the degree

of recovery may not be so great.

 

In any event, an important fact must be remembered: Aloe Vera

has no known adverse side effects. It is an extract from the leaf of

the Aloe Vera plant, known throughout the world where it grows

naturally as the `First Aid Plant', the `Burn Plant', the `Miracle

Plant' and the `Medicine Plant'.

 

http://www.positivehealth.com/permit/Articles/Aloe%

20Vera/aloinf20.htm

 

JoAnn Guest

mrsjo-

DietaryTi-

http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Botanicals.html