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Beauty and health? What can Aloe Vera really do?
The Aloe Vera is considered a true "miracle plant", which is not only excellent for skin care, but can also help with various health complaints. However, the healing power has so far been proven only in a few studies. Especially for the effectiveness of internal use sufficient evidence is missing.
An ancient natural remedy
The Aloe Vera is an ancient natural remedy that is used, among other things, for sunburn or as a home remedy for bloating and other gastrointestinal complaints. Although the healing effects of aloe vera have been known for centuries, the positive benefits of desert lily have so far been scientifically proven only for a few applications. Health experts from Stiftung Warentest have now reviewed studies and report on them in a recent article.
Aloe Vera is an ancient natural remedy that is used both externally and internally. Above all, however, there is a lack of sufficient scientific evidence for its effectiveness in internal use. (Image: Yeko Photo Studio / fotolia.com) Applications on the skin
Aloe Vera is a true all-rounder in naturopathy. The plant, which is also called desert lily and which is applied both internally and externally, can be helpful in cases such as bloating, heartburn and unpleasant pressure in the stomach.
Above all, external application areas such as pimples, injuries, minor burns or sunburn are known.
Stiftung Warentest commissioned experts to review studies on the subject. Their balance was positive for some applications on the skin, but otherwise the plant seems to reach its limits.
It depends mainly on two raw materials
There are several hundred aloe species worldwide. In cosmetics and medicine especially aloe vera is used. It is found in many products such as skin creams, yogurts, capsules and juices.
According to the product test, the beauty and health industry focuses on two raw materials from the plant:
On the one hand to aloe latex, a yellowish juice from the area outside under the leaf bark, the special natural plant ingredients that contains anthraquinones. The juice tastes bitter and has a strong laxative effect.
Some manufacturers still use the juice in remedies for constipation. However, the Stiftung Warentest writes in a comment:
"The preparations work comparatively drastically in the intestine. In addition, an increased risk of cancer can not be safely ruled out with long-term use. "The experts recommend gentler laxatives.
The other substance that is industrially processed is the clear gel inside the leaves, which is considered well-tolerated - it is said to have many miraculous effects.
It consists of about 99 percent water. The rest are made up of various sugars, but also amino acids, fats, minerals, vitamins. Some researchers assume that the substances in the overall network have a favorable effect. Others consider a sugar called acemannan particularly significant.
Benefit with internal diseases not sufficiently proven
Although there are many studies on the effects of aloe vera, these are mostly cell and animal experiments. There are hardly any clinical trials.
"In addition, they often include only a few participants and harbor methodological weaknesses," said Judith Günther, a doctorate in pharmacology, which is jointly responsible for the drug evaluations of Stiftung Warentest and the current Aloe report.
Only for wound healing after burns as well as for the alleviation of inflammation in the mouth there are therefore indications of a benefit of aloe gel.
"Cooling and moisturizing effects, for example in cosmetics or after a sunburn, also seem conclusive," says Günther.
However, when it comes to the treatment of serious external, but also internal diseases such as cancer, the benefit is not sufficiently proven.
No serious side effects
As reported by US toxicologists in a review in 2016, the gel appears to cause no serious side effects, except for rare allergic reactions.
Anyone who buys aloe vera article should, according to Stiftung Warentest, pay attention to the information provided by the providers - for example, if they give instructions for use and explain the production process.
Products made from "pure leaf gel" or "pure leaf marrow" are therefore to be preferred. Whole leaf extracts may also contain potentially harmful anthraquinones, according to the US study.
Grow aloe vera yourself
Particular attention should be paid to health claims. Products with aloe gel for swallowing are considered in this country as a food or dietary supplement.
These may not be advertised with health claims, unless explicitly authorized by the European Food Authority Efsa. For cosmetics, less strict rules apply.
Some users grow the plant themselves. To gain gel, cut off a leaf and set it upright for a while, so that the yellow juice with the unwanted anthraquinones can flow out first.
If then the bark is well separated with a knife, quite solid gel is left over that lasts a few days in the refrigerator.
For internal use, such as in a smoothie, however, caution is appropriate, since it is difficult to assess whether all harmful anthraquinones are actually removed, especially when making in-house preparations.
And no matter if you have harvested or bought it yourself: in favor of aloe on your own, nobody should neglect their medical treatment. (Ad)