larry@kitty.UUCP (Larry Lippman) (11/23/90)
In article <2144@ac.dal.ca>, bthill@ac.dal.ca writes: > I am curious about the nature of the chemical in Aloe plants that has healing > qualities. I'd appreciate any information posted here or mailed to me. The active ingredients in aloe are several pentosides which are readily hydrolyzed (aided by alkalies) to form anthraquinone glucosides. Two examples are aloin and emodin (a hydroxy methylanthraquinone). Aloe and its derivatives are powerful cathartics that will turn circles around Ex-Lax any day! :-) I am not aware of any "healing" properties of aloe, other than to promote defecation. I have seen soap and cosmetic products which allege to contain aloe, and I know of *NO* proven benefit to be derived from the inclusion of aloe or its derivatives in any such product! Since the "general public" does not really know what aloe can or cannot do, and since the ingredient name aloe seems "exotic", it is a marketing ploy which sells soap and cosmetic products. Just as useless as "lemon" in dishwashing detergents... Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp. "Have you hugged your cat today?" VOICE: 716/688-1231 {boulder, rutgers, watmath}!ub!kitty!larry FAX: 716/741-9635 {utzoo, uunet}!/ \aerion!larry
turpin@cs.utexas.edu (Russell Turpin) (11/25/90)
----- In article <2144@ac.dal.ca>, bthill@ac.dal.ca writes: >> I am curious about the nature of the chemical in Aloe plants >> that has healing qualities. I'd appreciate any information >> posted here or mailed to me. In article <4188@kitty.UUCP> larry@kitty.UUCP (Larry Lippman) writes: > I am not aware of any "healing" properties of aloe, other than > to promote defecation. ... The sap in aloe leaves is a folk remedy for burns. It quickly soaks into the damaged flesh, cools, and relieves the pain. (From a subjective viewpoint, it works great!) Whether it is just because it is an aqueous solution of the right consistency, or because of other active ingredients, I know not. Russell
msellers@mentor.com (Mike Sellers) (11/25/90)
In article <4188@kitty.UUCP> larry@kitty.UUCP (Larry Lippman) writes: >In article <2144@ac.dal.ca>, bthill@ac.dal.ca writes: >> I am curious about the nature of the chemical in Aloe plants that has healing >> qualities. I'd appreciate any information posted here or mailed to me. > > [...] > I am not aware of any "healing" properties of aloe, other than >to promote defecation. I have seen soap and cosmetic products which >allege to contain aloe, and I know of *NO* proven benefit to be derived >from the inclusion of aloe or its derivatives in any such product! > > Since the "general public" does not really know what aloe can or >cannot do, and since the ingredient name aloe seems "exotic", it is a >marketing ploy which sells soap and cosmetic products. Just as useless >as "lemon" in dishwashing detergents... > >Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp. "Have you hugged your cat today?" I think you've just set yourself up for a flood of anecdotes relating the Truly Wondrous and Unique Qualities of our friend, Aloe. :-) Semi-seriously, it does seem to have some moisturizing properties, which can help with burns. Yes, this is anecdotal (mea saurus), but I got my first really bad sunburns in the Philippines (like 2" long blisters on the tops of my ears when I got a military haircut as part of being an extra in "Apocalypse Now" -- but that's a different story :-) ), and aloe was quite effective in easing the pain, moisturizing the burned areas in the short term, and apparently reducing peeling in the long term. If I have a choice I will use aloe or an aloe-derivative on sunburns, as in my non-controlled experience it seems to soothe them better than other available products. I don't know about all the products that claim to contain aloe (I suspect the "exotic" nature is a marketing gimmick as you suggest), but aloe does have more than just to promote defecation (!). Come to think of it, I'd imagine _real_ lemon juice would aid in washing dishes as the acid might tend to break up heavy oils -- the same reason people squeeze it on their fish! Lemon scent might be another story, except that even that probably has some value for those people who cannot abide the smell/taste of detergent in the back of their throat. -- Mike Sellers msellers@mentor.com Mentor Graphics Corp. "I used to think that the brain was the most wonderful organ in my body. Then I realized who was telling me this." -- Emo Phillips
larry@kitty.UUCP (Larry Lippman) (11/26/90)
In article <15037@cs.utexas.edu>, turpin@cs.utexas.edu (Russell Turpin) writes: > >> I am curious about the nature of the chemical in Aloe plants > >> that has healing qualities. > > In article <4188@kitty.UUCP> larry@kitty.UUCP (Larry Lippman) writes: > > I am not aware of any "healing" properties of aloe, other than > > to promote defecation. ... > > The sap in aloe leaves is a folk remedy for burns. I am fully aware that I may be stepping on sacred ground by speaking out against a folk remedy... :-) There are serious questions about the efficacy of aloe in any application other than as a cathartic. Aloe is an *irritant*. It has an incredibly bitter and pungent taste. Aloe was formerly used in topical preparations intended to break a child of thumb sucking by imparting a bitter taste to the skin. When formerly used as a cathartic, aloe was contraindicated in the presence of hemorrhoids due to its irritating effect upon broken skin and mucous membranes. Aloe was used as a topical salve during the nineteenth century. It was eventually discovered that when aloe was applied to open wounds, it was absorbed by the body and its cathartic actions took effect. As a result, the use of aloe as a salve greatly diminished. Nineteenth century patients with serious wounds had enough trouble without having to make frequent trips to the commode. :-) > It quickly > soaks into the damaged flesh, cools, and relieves the pain. > (From a subjective viewpoint, it works great!) Whether it is > just because it is an aqueous solution of the right consistency, > or because of other active ingredients, I know not. I am aware of one product on the market containing aloe and intended as a minor burn ointment. It is called "Dermaide Aloe Cream" and manufactured by Dermaide Research Corp. (I believe it is their only product, but I am not certain). While Dermaide claims that aloe is the "active" ingredient, the "inactive" ingredients are rather interesting, to wit: mineral oil, stearic acid, petrolatum, cetyl alcohol, glycerin, triethanolamine, propylparaben, methylparaben and imidazolidinyl urea. All of the "minor burn ointment" effects can be explained *solely* by the "inactive" ingredients! In fact, the inactive ingredients (sans aloe) are almost the same formulation used in the minor burn and wound cream marketed by Vaseline in a plastic tube. Hmmm... Consider that: 1. The soothing effects on mild burns result from the mineral oil, petrolatum (i.e., the primary constituent of Vaseline), glycerine and cetyl alcohol. 2. The antiseptic effects result from the methylparaben and propylparaben. 3. The stearic acid and triethanolamine combine to form a mild soap which facilitates removal of dead skin, dried secretions and foreign matter. 4. The imidazolidinyl urea repells any insects. :-) If Dermaide Aloe Cream works for you, then by all means buy it. I am merely trying to point out that from a scientific standpoint the efficacy of the aloe should be questioned in this application. An important point to realize is that many consumer products containing "special" ingredients (like aloe, lanolin, etc.) contain only a *minimum* amount necessary to satisfy FDA and FTC labeling requirements, with such minimum amount being unlikely to exhibit any significant effect. Unless, of course, one believes in the principles of homeopathy which hold that "less is best". :-) Consider a product containing both aloe and lanolin, such as Jergens "Aloe & Lanolin Skin Conditioning Bar" soap. Against all reason, my wife prefers this over other bar soaps. :-) The FDA requires that ingredients be listed on (non-exempt) soap and cosmetic products in order of *decreasing* percentage composition. Therefore, the first ingredient listed is present in the greatest quantity. In the particular case of this Jergens product the ingredients are: 1. sodium tallowate soap 2. sodium cocoate soap 3. water common formulation base 4. stearic acid the *effective* skin conditioner 5. sodium cocoyl isethionate surfactant 6. fragrance 7. glycerin emollient 8. aloe vera gel 9. lanolin 10. sodium chloride emulsion control agent 11. titanium dioxide pigment 12. BHT [butyl hydroxytoluene] antioxidant and antifungal agent 13. tetrasodium EDTA chelating agent for soap scum According to the above ingredient listing, there is *less* aloe and lanolin in this soap than fragrance! Doesn't sound like enough aloe or lanolin to be really effective, does it? It is also rather interesting that on the Jergens package there is not one word about what function the aloe and lanolin is alleged to perform! Rather honest and clever of Jergens, huh? :-) In my original article I was primarily dealing with the use of aloe as an additive to soap and cosmetic products. The efficacy of aloe in burn preparations notwithstanding, I know of *NO* possible benefit for the inclusion of aloe in any soap or cosmetic preparation. With the possible exception, of course, of allowing a manufacturer to appeal to gullible consumers and charge more $$ for the product. :-) I am not trying to discourage any reader from buying soap and cosmetic products containing aloe, or from cutting up an aloe plant leaf for a home remedy. If it makes you happy or feel good, then by all means do it. I am just trying to provide a little information for some readers to use in making an informed decision. Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp. "Have you hugged your cat today?" VOICE: 716/688-1231 {boulder, rutgers, watmath}!ub!kitty!larry FAX: 716/741-9635 {utzoo, uunet}!/ \aerion!larry
turpin@cs.utexas.edu (Russell Turpin) (11/27/90)
----- I wrote, of aloe sap: >> ... It quickly soaks into the damaged flesh, cools, and relieves >> the pain. (From a subjective viewpoint, it works great!) Whether >> it is just because it is an aqueous solution of the right >> consistency, or because of other active ingredients, I know not. In article <4198@kitty.UUCP> larry@kitty.UUCP (Larry Lippman) writes: > I am aware of one product on the market containing aloe and > intended as a minor burn ointment. ... All of the "minor burn > ointment" effects can be explained *solely* by the "inactive" > ingredients! ... Perhaps I misled Mr Lippman by talking about active ingredients in aloe sap. In retrospect, "active factor" would have been a more precise phrase. In any case, it was fresh sap about which I wrote, straight from the cut leaves, not a commercially prepared ointment. I do not mean to draw any great conclusions from personal and anecdotal experience, but if it is to be dismissed, let it be for the subjectivity of evaluation, lack of any controls, etc; but not because it is confused with an entirely different kind of experience. Russell
sher@bbn.com (Lawrence D. Sher) (11/27/90)
> There are serious questions about the efficacy of aloe in any >application other than as a cathartic. > > Aloe is an *irritant*. ... > > Aloe was used as a topical salve during the nineteenth century. >It was eventually discovered ... > I am not trying to discourage any reader from buying soap and >cosmetic products containing aloe, or from cutting up an aloe plant >leaf for a home remedy.... I am just trying to provide a little information >for some readers to use in making an informed decision. This long, interesting treatise on aloe somehow overlooks the most important point: There is no question that sap from a freshly cut aloe leaf stops the pain of minor burns and does nothing obvious to interfere with healing. .---------------------------------------------------------------- /Internet email: sher@bbn.com Larry Sher < US Mail: BBN, MS 6/5A, 10 Moulton St., Cambridge, MA 02138 \ Telephone: (617) 873 3426 FAX: (617) 873 3776 `----------------------------------------------------------------
peted@microsoft.UUCP (Peter DUNIHO) (12/06/90)
In article <4198@kitty.UUCP> larry@kitty.UUCP (Larry Lippman) writes: >In article <15037@cs.utexas.edu>, turpin@cs.utexas.edu (Russell Turpin) writes: >> >> I am curious about the nature of the chemical in Aloe plants >> >> that has healing qualities. >> >> In article <4188@kitty.UUCP> larry@kitty.UUCP (Larry Lippman) writes: >> > I am not aware of any "healing" properties of aloe, other than >> > to promote defecation. ... >> >> The sap in aloe leaves is a folk remedy for burns. > > I am fully aware that I may be stepping on sacred ground by speaking >out against a folk remedy... :-) > > There are serious questions about the efficacy of aloe in any >application other than as a cathartic. > > [Useful information about various products deleted...] Just to include my anecdotal contribution here...I burn easily (although not often, since I _try_ to avoid it). There have been a couple of times that I accidentally got burned (oh, I'm talking about sunburn here), and tried some of the various brands of sunburn relief lotions that have Aloe in them. There was actually an initial relief, but after reading the previous message, I'm sure that was due to whatever else was in the lotion. As it happened, if I applied the lotion (any of the two or three brands I've tried) more than a couple of times, I started to itch like crazy! I came to the conclusion that I must be allergic to one of the common ingredients, and probably the Aloe, since I didn't seem to have the problem with other kinds of lotions (Solarcaine, Neutrogena moisterizer (which seems to work best for me), etc.). Anyway, after reading Larry's article, I'm convinced it was the irritant effect of Aloe that was getting me. Not a fun thing to go through when your skin already hurts, and now it wants you to scratch it! I don't know if I just have more sensitive skin, or what, but considering the effect that these so-called sunburn relief lotions had on me, I'd be surprised if they are still available, since I can't imagine them getting much repeat business...
wipke@AIMB.ucsc.edu (W. Todd Wipke) (12/06/90)
Aloe vera has been used to promote healing for over a thousand years. My secretary was using it so I dug into some of the literature on it. She grew the succulant and applied it directly. It worked for her very well. The term folk medicine should not be taken to mean that there is no medicinal effect, the number of drugs developed from folk medicines is very convincing that one should keep an open mind. Is there any medical study of Aloe that is statistically valid? ======================================================================= W. Todd Wipke wipke@secs.ucsc.edu Molecular Engineering Laboratory wipke@ucscd.ucsc.edu Thimann Laboratories wipke@ucscd.bitnet University of California BBS 408 429-8019 Santa Cruz, CA 95064 FAX 408 459-4716 ============= TCM-Online@TCM.UCSC.EDU SUBSCRIBE ===================