Abigails Herbs

Aloe vera offers a safe, natural, drug-free approach to stomach acid induced disorders. Aloe vera juice contains a natural buffer due to the malic acid. Unlike popular stomach acid buffers, such as the typical antacids (Pepsid/ Tums, etc…), aloe vera actually neutralizes, thereby assisting the stomach in reaching a stable , healthy acid level over a long period of time. The typical antacids buffer the stomach acid, which is only a temporary alleviation of symptoms. The antacids calcium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate cause a very serious imbalance of Ph (acidity) in the body known as alkalosis. So can prolonged use of the aluminum-based and the magnesium-based antacids. Never should anyone take these antacids over and over again over a long-term basis.

Because aloe vera decreases acidity, but not excessively so, this kind of acid stabilization does not trigger the natural mechanism of acid production. In fact a person can take as much aloe juice as he or she wants without a problem. There is no danger of dangerous side effects at all! Since aloe vera juice and gel are not drugs, the acidity will reach the same equilibrium point regardless if the recommended allowance is taken, or if the ingested amount is much greater. This is a very uique feature that no antacid drug can claim.

There has never been any side effects or adverse reactions to aloe vera with the exception of allergic reactions on the skin. Always test first to see if you are allergic to aloe or not. Take a quarter teaspoon of the aloe gel and apply to a small patch of your skin. If, after one hours time, there is no red or pink skin rash found, you are most likely not allergic to aloe vera. Over five years of research on the oral ingestion of aloe vera juice, there has never been any adverse side effects, (at least, none that are known).

When making aloe vera juice from the plant, the makers always extract a substance called “alloin,” which gives it a bitter taste. That is why aloe has no wild predators; when an animal bites into the leaves, the bitter taste repels them.  That is why, if you were to peel the skin away from the leave and taste the gel, you would be surprised by the bitter taste. Believe,me, you would not like it!  It is very unpleasant!  So, manufacturers of aloe juice extract the aloin from the plant in order to produce a more pleasant tasting liquid. However, it is the aloin itself which, when applied to injured or burned skin, starts healing immediately. The aloin flows directly into the cut or the burn and helps to seal the wound. It is kind of like a natural bandaid. It is bright yellow in its undisturbed state inside of the leaf, but upon exposure to air it oxidizes and rapidly darkens so that within an hour it can be the color of blood. Amazing!

Some aloe vera juice producers leave the aloin in and sell their juice primarily as a laxative. Yes, aloe works as a successful laxative! Then they mask the bitterness by adding large quantities of sweeteners. Be careful when purchasing aloe vera juice, as other producers of the juice try to remove the aloin by using chemical filtration and then treating it with enzymes. To save money and cut back on coasts, other makers of aloe juice freeze dry or make it from a powdered concentrate; not any of these methods produce a natural or unaltered juice. Be sure to use organic, unaltered aloe vera juice for yourself and for your family.

Aloe vera has an amazing non-toxic potency. Aloe has the ability to stimulate the immune system and to energize normal cellular activity in the body. The polysaccharides in aloe are chains of eight mannose sugars; these consist of glucose, galatose, mannose, fructose, xylose, N-acetylglucosamine, N-crtylgalactosamine, and N- acetylneuraminic acid, and that carbohydrates, often missing from our diets, are extremely crucial to intercellular and intracellular communication. Research has found that glycoproteins found on every cell  serve as signals to tell other cells just who they are and what they need.

The cells need the correct sugars to produce the right glycoproteins. If the correct glycoproteins are not stimulated, then the cell-to-cell messages become interrupted and they have difficulty healing. As a result, the human immune system will not be able to effectively fight bacterial and viral infections. The sugars in the aloe vera plant insures that the internal networking (that is the cell-to-cell intercommunication) is quick and effective under the influence of aloe. The intricate network of enzymes in aloe give power to lymphocytes which serve to strengthen the immune system and supports the body’s ability  to heal itself.

Aloe vera, in the form of a juice, neutralizes hydrochloric acid in the stomach. It is a natural acid buffer. It works almost immediately after drinking it. Yes, aloe vera is a natural wonder!

The very first time I had experienced aloe vera was in third grade. Our family had gone to Florida to visit our grandparents. I am very fair-skinned and I remember being badly sunburnt from the hot sun at the beach. My grandmother cut off a piece of aloe and peeled the skin right off the stalk of aloe. Then, she smiled excitedly as she said. “this is a wonderful plant that will cure your sunburn.” She applied the gel from the plant right onto my skin. I had never seen such a plant before and my grandmother acted as though she had found a newly discovered treasure which she was more than ecstatic to share. It really helped – although it felt sticky and gooey. The aloe vera gel took the sting away.

The medicinal properties of aloe were first identified by the Egyptians and brought into use in the courts of the Pharaohs. According to numerous traditions, Cleopatra attributed her beauty to the use of Aloe vera gel. The earliest recording of Aloe was in 1500 B.C. in the Papyrus Ebers, the original copies of which now reside in Leipzig University, Germany. These Egyptian papers acclaimed the many medicinal values of Aloe and note that they had been used for centuries before.

The use of aloe vera then spread from Egypt to the Greek Empire. Dioscorides, the author of the famous “Greek Herbal” in the first century A.D., devoted many pages to aloe vera’s curative powers for wounds, stomach disorders, constipation, itching, mouth and gum diseases, kidney ailments, blistering and sunburn, and skin care in general. Some historians believe that Aristotle persuaded Alexander the Great to conquer Socoto off the east coast of Africa to obtain access to sufficient amounts of aloe vera as a wound healing agent for his soldiers.

Then aloe vera spread throughout the Roman Empire. The Romans introduced it to the Iberian Peninsula, and it was from Spain that Christopher Columbus brouight aloe vera to the New World. While the use of aloe vera was spreading to the West, it was also being introduced along the Silk Road and its Asian tributaries. Aloe vera was embraced in India, and in China it quickly became a mainstay of the Chinese apothecaries.

Before the age of giant pharmaceutical companies and the manufacture of botanical derivatives, (chemical copies of the original naturally occurring plant properties), mankind relied on the medicinal properties of literally thousands of plants and herbs.  Unfortunately, most of them have been lost or forgotten in the rush to so-called “modern” or “western” medicine. Aloe vera is an exception. Today it can be stated that aloe vera is one of the most widely used medicinal plants in the world today, and its use is rapidly increasing. What is being rediscovered about aloe vera are the benefits of regularly drinking the juice made from the gel, as well as its topical application.

Aloe vera gel or juice has been scientifically proven to improve the efficiency of the human digestive track. A recent controlled trial study done in normal human subjects, demonstrated that aloe vera supplementation increases the ability of our body to absorb vitamin C and E, plus it increases the time these vital vitamins stay in our plasma.

These vitamins are closely associated with recovery and healing, and this finding lends further understanding to the way in which aloe supports overall wellness. Oral ingestion of aloe has been shown to have a powerful anti-inflammatory effect on the digestive track. A recent clinical trial demonstrated its potential use as an effective treatment for irritable bowel disease, wherein it was shown that oral administration of aloe vera gel promoted  clinical remission in 30%, improvement in 37% and response in 47% of the patients as compared with 7%, 7% and 14% in  the placebo group respectively. This difference was found to be statisticallly significant.

The two bibliographic references for the two studies mentioned in this article are as follows:

1. Vinson JA, Al Kharrat H, Andreoli L.  Effect of Aloe Vera preparations on the human bioavailability of vitamins C and E.  Phytomedicine. 2005 Nov; 12(10):760-5.
2. Bland, Jeffrey.  Effect of Orally consumed Aloe Vera Juice on Gastrointestinal Function in Normal Humans.  Preventative Medicine.  March/April 1985.

There is no cure for dandruff. It is a common scalp condition which occurs when dead skin is shed, producing unattractive white flakes. Most people think dandruff is caused by dry skin, however, it is actually the result of an oily scalp. It occurs when skin cells renew themselves and the old cells are shed.

Dandruff is generally worse in the winter months. It can be triggered by trauma, illness, hormonal imbalances, improper carbohydrate consumption and the consumption of sugar. Deficiencies of vitamin B’s, selenium and essential fatty acids have been linked to dandruff as well.

Dandruff  is embarrassing; it is an annoying and irritating problem. It is a condition which does not ever go away, but it can be minimalized. Using aloe vera gel twice a day or infused with your shampoo is helpful. Since aloe vera is a powerful antiseptic and anti-inflammatory, it works to decrease those annoying and embarrassing white flakes.

Chasteberry has many healing purposes. It comes from a beautiful flowering tree with large cones of bluish-purple colors. The proper name for chasteberry is actually chastetree berry.  The blooms resemble that of a butterfly bush. Vitex is an alternate name for this herb.

Chasteberry contains no hormones but it gives fast relief to hot flashes and mood irritability brought on by PMS (pre-menstural syndrome).  It actually eases symptoms of PMS and also regulates menstruation. How does it regulate hormonal activity when it does not have any hormones in it? Chasteberry or vitex stimulates the pituitary gland to decrease production of prolactin (a hormone involved in milk production). Prolactin helps to ease breast tenderness  and to reduce other symptoms of PMS.

Chasteberry also reduces the discomfort of fibrocystic breasts and decreases the symptoms of endometriosis. Chasteberry can induce ovulation also. Since chasteberry is an antioxidant it has been found to reduce cholesterol levels in blood serum and it is effective in treating migraine headaches.

The recommended daily dosage is 400 to 500 mg. or 40 drops of tincture. It may take up to three months for full benefits to take effect. Chasteberry can be drank as a tea. Pregnant and nursing  women should not take chasteberry. It is a wonderful herbal alternative for females.

Use aloe vera gel or sap to treat burns on skin. It works to heal all kinds of burns, including hot water burns, sunburn and chemical burns. Many people drink aloe vera to treat asthma and even to boost their immune systems.

There are compounds in aloe vera such as mannans, lectins and anthroquinones that  help to reduce inflammation. You can purchase pre-mixed aloe juice or you can make your own by mixing  two ounces of aloe vera sap (or gel) with four ounces of water for a homemade tincture.

The naturally occurring proteins in aloe combined with the plant compounds mentioned above are what give aloe vera  its’ uniques healing potential. If taken internally, drink in moderation. For topical application, there is no limit as to how much to rub onto your skin. There are no negative side effects.

Next to the common cold, periodontal disease is the second most prevalent ailment in the United States. The rate of periodontal disease increases with age. It affects 75% of Americans over the age of thirty-five.

There are various warning signs of severe gum (periodontal) disease:

• Red, tender or swollen gums.
• Loose teeth.
• A change in the way your teeth fit together.
• A change in the fit of partial dentures.
• Gums that bleed when you floss or brush.
• Receding gums ( gums that pull away from the teeth).
• Dry mouth.
• Continual bad breath.
• Teeth grinding (bruxism).

The process of gum disease can be treated if caught early. Report all symptoms to a dentist or periodontist (specialist). Brush  and floss teeth daily, using Listerine and Plax.  Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Regular, intimate contact with an infected person can transmit the bacteria that cause periodontal disease from person-to-person, so avoid sharing toot brushes with others.

Aloe vera gel has soothng properties. Applying aloe vera gel directly to inflamed gums eases discomfort and soothes the inflammed tissues.