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Is all aloe the same? group, and 47 days in the Silvadine stress factors are somewhat linked
The meat or gel of an aloe group. An average of only 30 days to complex interrelated biochemi-
plant oxidizes when exposed to was required for complete healing cal reactions which are directly
oxygen for several hours (simi- in CDWG-treated animals.7 dependent upon the availability of
lar to what happens to a sliced The gel of this plant contains all many of the components con-
apple). Manufacturers must the essential amino acids, as well tained in the gel of the aloe-vera
process the plant in a timely as numerous monosaccaride and plant.
manner. Whole leaf aloe prod- polysaccarides; vitamins B1, B2, B6, In addition, it was hoped that
ucts include the outer part of and C; niacinamide and choline; the pharmacological properties of
the leaf which has no nutri- several inorganic ingredients; en- the aloe vera gel would improve
tional value and thus acts as a zymes including acid phosphatase, the condition. That is, if the dis-
filler and should be avoided. alkaline phosphatase, amylase, ease is a result of a virus, then the
To function at its optimum, lactic dehydrogenase, lipase, virucidal properties of the gel over
aloe must be stabilized with- SGOT, and SGPT; and numerous a period of time would reverse the
out chemicals or heat. Aloe organic compounds.6 condition; the anti-inflammatory
barbadensis miller is the most It was believed that the patient properties of the gel would help
potent and nutritious species of might be deficient in some of the inflammatory response; and
aloe vera. Many products these components, thereby con- the anti-pruritic properties would
available in today’s market are tributing to her inability to cope help relieve the itching and burn-
with certain stress factors. These ing sensations.4,8
The patient began drinking her skin was getting tanner but
2.0 oz of stabilized aloe vera juice her hands were getting worse. watered down or improperly
daily starting the day of her first The patient decided to continue stabilized, creating a product
appointment. She was given aloe the original course of treatment ranging from useless to mini-
vera lip balm, which is a prepara- which had already cleared up the mally better than water itself.
tion to soothe burning and itching oral lesions and slowly began to
lips, and aloe creme to help with have a beneficial effect on her Too good to be true?
the itching of her hands. Aloe hands. She was started back on Many people learning about
creme is an aloe vera-based creme the aloe vera juice; however, this aloe tend to doubt it can be ca-
containing 75% stabilized aloe time the dose was doubled to pable of all that is attributed to
vera. 4.0 oz per day. When the patient it. But it is important to study
The patient returned after two returned in three weeks, now six its history and evaluate the
weeks for evaluation. Some of the months after starting treatment, product for yourself. Utilizing
striations in the mouth were dis- she was very happy and delighted the proper aloe product can be-
appearing; a slight decrease in to show that the skin lesions were come exciting to watch. Find a
edema in the palms of the hands disappearing (Fig. 7). In addition, source of this aloe vera and ap-
was noted. The patient also re- her itching and burning sensations ply it to your sunburn or to a
ported that the aloe vera lip balm were subsiding. Her only com- blister. Watch it perform in its
and the aloe creme helped to re- plaint was that her hands felt dry. unique way.
lieve the itching and burning sen- A few weeks later her hands began
sations better than anything she to take on a more natural texture The true secret
had tried previously. and softness (Fig. 8), seven months After many years of using sta-
The patient returned again after the original diagnosis of bilized as well as fresh aloe,
two weeks later. The oral lesions lichen planus was made and aloe certain subtle observations
had disappeared (Fig. 3) and her vera treatment initiated. The pa- have been made. These will be
hands were beginning to show tient noted that all of her symp- shared for the first time now.
slight signs of improvement (Fig. 4). toms were gone and that her hands There is a direct relationship
The lesions on her hands were felt soft and smooth once again. between the time post-trauma
probably another systemic mani- before application and the suc-
festation of lichen planus and by Conclusion cess of aloe’s use. If you get a
continuing with the aloe vera pro- A case of oral lichen planus with cut and wait hours to apply
gram, these lesions might resolve. severe systemic involvement was aloe, the healing response will
It was worth trying. treated successfully using a very not be uniquely special. Put it
From this point on, the patient conservative and safe method of over a wound immediately af-
returned to the office for evalua- treatment—the consumption of ter it occurs and aloe performs
tion at regular one month intervals. and the topical application of sta- as it should. Do NOT apply to
And even though the oral lesions bilized aloe vera. It must be not- puncture wounds.
cleared up in one month, the sys- ed that no other dietary supple- One of aloe’s characteristics is
temic lesions were more difficult ment, antimicrobial, or steroid its ability to penetrate tissue.
to bring under control. The con- agent was used. The oral lesions This brings the medicament to
tinued improvement in her hands cleared up very quickly within the area needing it; however, it
is shown after two months (Fig. 5) four weeks. However, the sys- can carry puncture contami-
and after three months (Fig. 6). temic lesions took much longer, nants deeper and is, therefore,
At this point the patient, being owing in part to the fact that the contraindicated in such in-
quite restless with the slowness of patient sought an alternate source stances (for example, stepping on
the response in her hands, stopped of treatment while discontinuing a nail; not a tooth socket). And,
taking the aloe vera juice, and the suggested therapy. This inter- finally, apply small amounts at
went to seek treatment for psoria- rupted the gradual improvement frequent intervals. Let the aloe
sis at a dermatology clinic, where she was getting using aloe vera, soak into the tissue. The excep-
they started her on UV light treat- and ultimately increased the length tion to this is when an immedi-
ment. However, owing to frustra- of treatment. However, complete ate denture is lined with aloe
tion and the lack of progress in success was still achieved. creme or a socket is packed with
their treatment, the medical clinic Although there are very few the jelly version. Good luck.
suggested and in fact performed a clinical reports in the literature, it
biopsy of the skin lesions; the di- is hoped that other health practi- References
agnosis was lichen planus. The tioners will consider using aloe 1. Coats BC. The silent healer—
patient returned to the dentist a vera when treating their patients A modern study of aloe vera. Bill C.
few weeks later because the only with lichen planus or any other Coats. Garland, Texas. 1979.
result she could observe was that dental problem, and, if successful,
report their findings. Only in this 10. Blitz J, Smith JW, Gerard JR.
2. Lorenzetti L, Salisbury R, Beal manner will the true potential of Peptic ulcer therapy by aloe vera gel.
JN, Baldwin JN. Bacteriostatic prop- aloe vera in treating this dreadful JAOA 1973;62.
erties of aloe vera. Jour Amer Pharm disease be known. 11. Bovik EG. Aloe vera—Panacea
Sci 1964;53:1287. or old wives’ tale? Tex Dent Jour 1966;
3. Hayes SM. Tic doulereaux— Author information 13-16.
A report of successful treatment of a Dr. Hayes practices restorative and 12. Brasher J, Zimmerman E,
case with aloe vera. Gen Dent prosthetic dentistry in Pleasant Hill, Collings CK. Effects of prednisolone,
1984;32:441-442. CA. He received his Fellowship in the indomethacin, and aloe vera gel on tis-
4. Zimmermann ER. Germicidal Academy of General Dentistry in 1977 sue culture cells. Oral Surg Oral Med
properties of aloe vera against three and has been using aloe vera-based Oral Pathol 1969;27:122-128.
bacterial organisms, one fungal, and products in his practice for over 15 13. Brown J. Use of aloe vera on
two viral agents. (Thesis submitted years with great success. radiation burns. Cancer Jour Clin
to Baylor University College of Address correspondence to: Steven 1963;14:14-15.
Dentistry, Department of Microbiol- M. Hayes, DDS, FAGD, 1952 Contra 14. Collins CE. Avagel as a thera-
ogy.) Dallas, Texas. 1969. Costa Blvd., Pleasant Hill, CA 94523. peutic agent of roentgen and radium
5. Zawahry EM, Hegazy RM, burns. Radiological Rev Chi Med Rec
Helal M. Uses of aloe in treating leg References 1935;57:137-138.
ulcers and dermatosis. Int Jour 1. Bhaskar SN. Synopsis of oral 15. Crewe JE. Aloe treatment for
Derm 1973;12:68-73. pathology, ed. 2. St. Louis: C.V. Mosby; aplonar excema, pruritus vulva, exter-
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Collings CK. Effects of prednisolone, 2. Osol A, Rovertson P, Altschule Jour Med 1937:670-673.
indomethacin, and aloe vera gel on M, eds. The United States dispensatory, 16. Crewe JE. External use of aloes.
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Med Oral Pathol 1969;27:122-128. 1967:42-43. 17. Danhof IE, McAnally BH. Stabi-
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of aloe vera in the management of agents for wound treatment: cytotoxici- 18. Lorenzetti L, Salisbury R, Beal
burn wounds in guinea pigs. Jour ty for human fibroblasts in culture. JN, Baldwin JN. Bacteriostatic proper-
Plast Reconstr Surg 1988;81:386- Wounds 1989;1:186. ties of aloe vera. Jour Amer Pharm Sci
389. 4. Hayes SM. Tic doulereaux— 1964;53:1287.
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Further observations on the use of A modern study of aloe vera. Bill C. Baylor University in partial fulfillment
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