Aloe Vera—As Healing to Our Insides as it is to Our Outsides
Many of us are already aware that aloe vera can be extremely soothing for our skin, whether we have a sunburn, a burn from cooking, small cuts, or even a skin issue like psoriasis.
Now, here is where things start getting really interesting with aloe vera, and perhaps not as well known. Aloe vera can also be good for our insides. If you suffer from pretty much any type of digestive issue, like for example ulcers, heartburn, or other types of digestive issues, aloe vera may really be useful for you. The gel of the aloe vera can be processed into a juice, which acts as a natural anti-inflammatory and can be consumed like regular juice (only in smaller quantities) to try to help with digestive complaints. Researchers believe that when aloe vera juice meets up with food in the stomach, the juice causes pepsin to be released, and thus food to be digested properly. In a study conducted way back in the 1960’s, 17 out of 18 subjects reported experiencing at least some relief from their peptic ulcers. And in 1993, aloe extracts appears to suppress the impact that stress can have on ulcer formation in rats. Finally, certain studies have found that the juice contains several key substances that lessen the amount of stomach acid that is produced.
For people suffering from diarrhea, taking some aloe vera juice has been found to be helpful in some cases. On the flip side, aloe vera may also work as a laxative for people who are dealing with constipation.
With this in mind, one thing to remember if you decide to try aloe vera juice: it is pretty potent stuff that you must get used to gradually over time. This advice comes not from a medical book or website but from my own experience. I decided to give aloe vera juice a try once, just to see what it tasted like. I didn’t have any stomach issues at all, but I was curious to try the juice. I poured myself a small glass and belted it back and it wasn’t bad at all—it tasted sort of like what I would imagine cucumber juice would be like. But it did have a laxative effect that was pretty quick and insistent.
We value and respect the experiences of all of our HERWriters, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.
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