• Welcome to Phoenix Rising!

    Created in 2008, Phoenix Rising is the largest and oldest forum dedicated to furthering the understanding of and finding treatments for complex chronic illnesses such as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), fibromyalgia (FM), long COVID, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), and allied diseases.

    To become a member, simply click the Register button at the top right.

More energy fr taking ALOE

Rrrr

Senior Member
Messages
1,591
Aloe Treatment

After doing this (below listed) aloe treatment for just a few weeks, I'm am finding I have a lot more energy. I have been able to go out the last 4 days in a row! This is incredibly good for me. I spend most of my life homebound and a good deal of it bedridden. These below two supplements are what I am on (in terms of the aloe): a pill and a liquid aloe product.

Has anyone else tried aloe? From what I read online about aloe, it helps heal the gut, whatever that means. But others online (not ME/CFS patients, but just others in general) also say that aloe gives them more energy. I can certainly say that I am doing much better since starting aloe. We shall see if it continues to give me good results over time, or if the good results stop in a short time, as can happen with some treatments.

1. liquid aloe (i drink 2 oz of this 2x per day)
http://www.lilyofthedesert.com/our_products/item/preservative-free-aloe-vera-juice/31
(this one is without preservatives, and it is "stronger" than the usual one, as it has more "polysacchaide rich aloescorb" in it, which i think is just concentrated aloe)

2. aloe capsules (i take 1 tablet of this 2x per day)
http://www.vitacost.com/natures-herbs-aloe-vera-innerleaf

_______

here are a few articles/studies on aloe that I found searching around the web

aloe activates macrophages and lowers tnf-alpha
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16979117

helps with constipation, acid relux, blood sugar issues
http://www.prohealth.com//library/showArticle.cfm?libid=15880

best article is here:
http://www.naturalnews.com/021858_aloe_vera_gel.html

and this is the brand that author recommended, but I did not get it
http://www.goodcausewellness.com/servlet/the-34/aloe-vera-100-powder/Detail

how aloe helps with constipation
http://www.poopdoc.com/articles/aloeveraeasesconstipation.html
 

ukxmrv

Senior Member
Messages
4,413
Location
London
I'm good with aloe as well but I plateau and then the effects begin to wear off over time. Keep forgetting to keep some in stock for when I really go downhill as a temporary pick-me-up.

Took a while though to find an aloe that I could tolerate. I don't think I've ever tried the tablets but I tried a succession of different liquid ones. The one I tolerate best is this.

http://www.lifestream.co.nz/Products/Lifestream-Biogenic-Aloe-Vera/default.aspx

Some of the other aloe liquids left me doubled over with a stomach ache and then that poisoned, unwell, malaise type reaction with no increase in strength, Don't know why that is. Maybe additives or different production maybe?
 

Rrrr

Senior Member
Messages
1,591
i'm sorry to hear that the good effects did not last!!! frustrating!!

hey, some of the aloe liquids have a preservative in them, and it is a preservative that makes my stomach ache. but the liquid one i posted has no preservatives in it. here it is again:

liquid aloe (i drink 2 oz of this 2x per day)
http://www.lilyofthedesert.com/our_products/item/preservative-free-aloe-vera-juice/31
(this one is without preservatives, and it is "stronger" than the usual one, as it has more "polysacchaide rich aloescorb" in it, which i think is just concentrated aloe)
 

ukxmrv

Senior Member
Messages
4,413
Location
London
I've saved it as a link. Thank you Rrrr. The price looks good as well.

There aren't many things that give me a boost and don't have massive payback associated with them so I really should be remembering to keep some aloe in stock.
 

cb2

Senior Member
Messages
384
thanks for the reminder. i keep forgetting to drink mine.. glad to hear it is helping! do you take it on an empty stomach or with food? thanks
 

Rrrr

Senior Member
Messages
1,591
thanks for the reminder. i keep forgetting to drink mine.. glad to hear it is helping! do you take it on an empty stomach or with food? thanks

i take it about 1/2 hr before a meal, so that it is on an empty stomach, but since i heard it also helps with getting the right nutrients from food, it will also be in my stomach when the food goes in. however, i also take it before bed sometimes, on a relatively empty stomach.

i really don't know which is best, the empty stomach or with food.

i do feel that i crave it now. i think i associate it with more energy now.

i did try this brand also: georges http://www.vitacost.com/georges-always-active-aloe-vera-32-fl-oz
and it is good in that it is tasteless (taste like water -- where as the one i now take is a bit bitter). and i did get some energy from the george's brand. but i got a lot more energy from the Lily of the Desert brand http://www.lilyofthedesert.com/our_products/item/preservative-free-aloe-vera-juice/31 which has more polysacchaides in it, whatever polysacchaides are.
 

ukxmrv

Senior Member
Messages
4,413
Location
London
Just beware of any testimonials or claims made by the "forever living" aloe vera. They did a money back offer in London over 10 years ago. Patients in my group were made sick by their product. They were worse off. The company didn't want to stick by it's offer. I'd be skepical of website testimonials now.
 

Rrrr

Senior Member
Messages
1,591
oh, thank you, ukxmrv, for that tip. i DID see those websites about "forever living" and they did sound good. thanks for the warning that "too good to be true" is often true.

you have been very helpful on this forum on many fronts. thanks!
 

Rand56

Senior Member
Messages
675
Location
Myrtle Beach, SC
I hate to be a buzz kill here but there are definitely precautions that people should be made aware of when taking aloe internally which stems mainly from the latex that is in aloe. I don't take any, and I haven't done a search to see if there are any particular brands that do not have the aloe latex in it, but just doing a quick search on the Lily of the Desert brand that was mentioned above, their website does say their product has latex in it.

From another website....

"But taking aloe latex by mouth is likely unsafe, especially at high doses. There is some concern that some of the chemicals found in aloe latex might cause cancer. Additionally, aloe latex is hard on the kidneys and could lead to serious kidney disease and even death"

"A number of years ago, the FDA became concerned about the safety of aloe latex, which was an ingredient in many laxatives. The FDA’s concern was heightened by the fact that people develop a kind of “tolerance” to aloe latex. They have to take more and more of it to get a laxative effect. That means they are likely to increase their dose -- and their risk."

"Taking aloe latex is POSSIBLY UNSAFE at any dose, but LIKELY UNSAFE when taken in high doses. Aloe latex can cause some side effects such as stomach pain and cramps. Long-term use of large amounts of aloe latex might cause diarrhea, kidney problems, blood in the urine, low potassium, muscle weakness, weight loss, and heart disturbances. Taking aloe latex 1 gram per day for several days can be fatal"

The site also mentions precautions of taking it with other medications and supplements.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/607.html

Rand
 

Rand56

Senior Member
Messages
675
Location
Myrtle Beach, SC
So would it say latex on the ingredients?

hi maryb

Looking at the Nutrition Facts label on the aloe vera juice from Lily of the Desert, it does not say it includes the latex. I would suspect companies are not required to state that on the ingredients label. I went to their FAQ section of their site where they do say it has latex.....

http://www.lilyofthedesert.com/faq

Whether or not there are other brands that specifically state it contains no latex, I don't know since I have no desire to take any anyway. For anyone considering taking any brand, maybe it would be prudent to ask of it does or does not contain latex. I realize people take aloe vera juice for it's reported health benefits and not specifically as a laxative, but if someone were specifically taking it for it's laxative properties, IMO there are better alternatives. The inexpensive liquid magnesium citrate bottles that you can get at a grocery store or drug store works like a charm on me. Also I have recently been taking artichoke extract which is keeping me more regular and also that is increasing the volume of my eliminations <not diarrhea>.

Rand
 

ukxmrv

Senior Member
Messages
4,413
Location
London
Thanks Rand,

I've never heard of anyone taking aloe or aloe latex as a laxative. The warning is much appreciated though.
 

Rrrr

Senior Member
Messages
1,591
re: aloe latex. this is one of the things i learned from reading about aloe before i started taking it.

from what i have researched, aloe latex is only present on the skin or just under the skin, but not present in the "inner fillet" of the leaf (it is more like a spear than a leaf!) of the aloe plant. and the specific two supplements i recommended above are just the inner fillet/leaf. so the latex part is not in the supplements i recommended, thus not a worry.

most all aloe products/supplements clearly state if the supplement is inner leaf/fillet or whole leaf, for just this reason regarding the latex (most people want to buy it without the latex).

however, if you get an aloe supplement made from the "whole leaf" then it will include the latex part. and if you are constipated, you may want some of that, as it is the latex part that helps relieve constipation. so, in fact, i just ordered a new separate supplement (a pill) made up of the WHOLE LEAF, specifically so i could get the latex part too.

if you look on the lily of the desert brand website, you will see they have both the
inner leaf/fillet supplement (in a supplement that is a liquid)
whole leaf supplement (in a supplement that is a liquid)

http://www.lilyofthedesert.com/our_products/category/preservative-free-aloe-vera-juice/31

of these, (that is, the liquids), i get the inner fillet only.
 

Rrrr

Senior Member
Messages
1,591
it is now 5 days later, and i'm still doing really well from aloe. go figure!

i also started Fo-Ti. i started it to help me stop losing hair (on my head -- not sure why it is falling out). but i seem to be tolerating that as well.

perhaps both the aloe and the fo-ti are making me better? but really i think it is the aloe.

this is the fo-ti i'm taking, also cheap and also bought at Vitacost (no, i have no financial interest)

http://www.vitacost.com/natures-ans...kw={keyword}&gclid=CNygyI7r97MCFQWe4AodD00A3w
and
http://www.vitacost.com/natures-way...kw={keyword}&gclid=CJGIsJzr97MCFQqe4AodrzQAlg
 

triffid113

Day of the Square Peg
Messages
831
Location
Michigan
I hate to be a buzz kill here but there are definitely precautions that people should be made aware of when taking aloe internally which stems mainly from the latex that is in aloe.
Rand

Thanks for the authoritative info on aloe, Randy. I thought aloe was good for those with intestinal issues due to being mucilaginous and also containing zinc, which is needed to regenerate skin. Also due to the zinc it helps diabetics. I have never really gotton into it because I simply take zinc...

Regarding aloe and hair loss...

Hair can fall out due to thyroid issues and the zinc content of aloe would help hypothyroid (TSH > 1.9) if the cause is low zinc. You can be low in zinc due to low protein consumption, or high phytate consumption, or potentially allergies, diabetes, or other conditions which use up a lot of zinc.
 

triffid113

Day of the Square Peg
Messages
831
Location
Michigan
re:

from what i have researched, aloe latex is only present on the skin or just under the skin, but not present in the "inner fillet" of the leaf (it is more like a spear than a leaf!) of the aloe plant.

most all aloe products/supplements clearly state if the supplement is inner leaf/fillet or whole leaf, for just this reason regarding the latex (most people want to buy it without the latex).

.

Thanks Rrrr. More good info on aloe.
 

triffid113

Day of the Square Peg
Messages
831
Location
Michigan
Since aloe is a food I find interesting and y'all brought it up, I found this:


http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0024320502023081
Inhibition of collagenase and metalloproteinases by aloins and aloe gel
Esther Barrantes, Marı́a Guinea
Life Sciences
Volume 72, Issue 7, 3 January 2003, Pages 843–850

The effects of Aloe barbadensis gel and aloe gel constituents on the activity of microbial and human metalloproteinases have been investigated. Clostridium histolyticum collagenase (ChC) results dose-dependently inhibited by aloe gel and the activity-guided fractionation led to an active fraction enriched in phenolics and aloins. Aloins have been shown to be able to bind and to inhibit ChC reversibly and non-competitively. Aloe gel and aloins are also effective inhibitors of stimulated granulocyte matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). The remarkable structural resemblances between aloins and the pharmacophore structure of inhibitory tetracyclines, suggest that the inhibitory effects of aloins are via an interaction between the carbonyl group at C9 and an adjacent hydroxyl group of anthrone (C1 or C8) at the secondary binding site of enzyme, destabilizing the structure of granulocyte MMPs.

---
Wiki says:
The collagenases are capable of degrading triple-helical fibrillar collagens into distinctive 3/4 and 1/4 fragments. These collagens are the major components of bone, cartilege, and dentin, and MMPs are the only known mammalian enzymes capable of degrading them.
...
The MMPs play an important role in tissue remodeling associated with various physiological and pathological processes such as morphogenesis, angiogenesis, tissue repair, cirrhosis, arthritis, and metastasis. MMP-2 and MMP-9 are thought to be important in metastasis. MMP-1 is thought to be important in rheumatoid and osteo-arthritis. Recent data suggests active role of MMPs in the pathogenesis of Aortic Aneurysm. Excess MMPs degrade the structural proteins of the aortic wall.
...
The MMPs are inhibited by specific endogenous tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), which comprise a family of four protease inhibitors: TIMP-1, TIMP-2, TIMP-3, and TIMP-4.
Synthetic inhibitors generally contain a chelating group that binds the catalytic zinc atom at the MMP active site tightly.

[It sounds like (?) the above is saying aloe might prevent collagenase from breaking down the collagen of your joints?]
[Um, I read the above info I underlined regarding aneurism to say that aloe must have a copper content as lack of copper is what causes aneurism and sure enough synthetic MMP inhibitors inhibit by chelating zinc (a copper antagonist)...I am not sure I am reading this right, but it sounds like maybe maybe aloe could help with arthritis / collagen breakdown].