Say 'Allo 'Allo To These Lesser-Known Uses Of Aloe Vera
The chances are that you’ve heard a thing or two about the benefits of keeping an aloe vera plant around the house. As well as looking great, those striking green stems certainly have a lot to offer in the health stakes, with aloe vera now used as a key ingredient in countless products for everything from our scars to the final realization of our skincare resolutions. And, when we have a plant to hand, we’re able to just grab these benefits whenever we need them.
What you might not realize, however, is that there’s a lot more to these little green household additions than many of us are aware. In fact, aloe vera can do a whole lot more for our health than just heal visible blemishes. Studies into the full extent of these benefits are ongoing and are even revealing links to improved recovery rates for cancer and beyond. However, even outside of these more experimental considerations, there are some tried, tested, and lesser-known uses that you might want to get stuck straight into.
# 1 - Improving digestive health
Already linked with the soothing or cure of various stomach ailments including irritable bowel syndrome, aloe vera is thought to improve digestive health thanks to the presence of enzymes that help to break down sugars and fats. This in itself helps to ensure smoother digestion, especially when paired with ongoing studies that reveal aloe vera’s ability to inhibit the growth of H.Pylori bacteria and others that can, unchecked, lead to the development of stomach ulcers. To feel these benefits, aloe vera gel can be consumed either raw or after a gentle cooking method like steaming. Equally, gels, capsules, and even aloe vera juice can all be purchased to bring digestion back in check.
# 2 - Promoting oral health
High levels of antioxidants found in aloe vera have also proven effective for improved oral health, especially due to its ability to inhibit the growth of bacteria that could otherwise lead to cavities or even escalating issues like gingivitis. Studies especially reveal that the use of aloe vera-specific toothpaste can prove more effective in lowering levels of candida, plaque, and gingivitis than even traditional toothpaste. However, further evidence suggests that aloe vera juice and other forms of consumption have also proven to have an overall positive impact on oral health when taken daily. Meanwhile, applying aloe vera gel directly to canker sores and mouth ulcers, or even as a healing supplement after oral surgery, can all help to reduce soreness and increase the speed of healing overall.
# 3 - Tackling tattoo removal
As mentioned, the ability of aloe vera to heal or reduce the appearance of blemishes is well known, but fewer people realize that aloe vera is also a fantastic remedy for natural tattoo removal. A simple and pain-free option for anyone wondering does tattoo removal hurt, applying topical aloe vera products or gel directly to the area in question is especially effective for reducing the appearance of fresh tattoos. Even with more established tattoo marks, applying aloe vera in some form at least three to four times a day for a few weeks can certainly help to either diminish your tattoo or prevent it from being visible if you have the patience to persevere.
# 4 - Healing anal fissures
Perhaps less spoken about as a result of embarrassment, aloe vera has also proven its worth as a viable method with which to heal and generally ease pain experienced alongside anal fissures. While research is ongoing, studies have especially shown that individuals using aloe vera cream for even the treatment of chronic fissures experienced significantly faster healing than those in a control group. In this instance, aloe vera gels or creams should especially be applied as much as three times a day for periods of at least six weeks.
# 5 - Helping with heartburn
Studies have also continually come back to the idea of aloe vera as a viable way to treat and ease acid reflux and resulting heartburn. Much like milk, the consumption of purified aloe vera juice can help to reduce the symptoms of acid reflux, while further studies suggest that consuming 1-3 ounces of aloe vera gel at mealtimes could significantly reduce the severity of heartburn symptoms. However, with high levels of aloe vera consumption also linked to cases of diarrhea, individuals should take care when deciding which approach would best suit their needs.
# 6 - Lowering blood sugar
While aloe vera consumption has been proven to amplify the risks of hypoglycemia alongside glucose-lowering diabetes medication in some cases, arising studies also reveal that two tablespoons of aloe vera juice consumed per day could potentially help to lower blood sugar levels in individuals with type two diabetes. For obvious reasons, this shouldn’t be tested without the go-ahead from medical professionals, but early results are certainly pointing to the idea that aloe vera could be used as a viable diabetes treatment in the future.
# 7 - A natural laxative
As touched on above, aloe vera consumption in some cases has been linked to diarrhea, but studies have also posed an argument that the plant could have natural laxative capabilities. Nigerian researchers especially found that aloe vera gel relieved constipation in rats, while further studies have also noted the same benefits. That said, the fact that all existing aloe laxatives were recalled by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2002, alongside recommendations of avoidance for individuals with Crohn's disease, colitis, or hemorrhoids, means that this certainly isn’t a fits-all solution. Even for individuals outside of these conditions, Mayo Clinic advises sparing doses of no more than 0.04-0.17 grams of dried juice at a time.
We all know that aloe vera can be good for us, but few of us realize the true extent of its healing capabilities. So, whether you buy it in plant form or bottled up in capsules, this is certainly a supplement that stands to offer a whole lot from a health perspective.
