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Questions
and Answers About Aloe Vera
Excerpts
from "Aloe Vera: A Mission Discovered"
by
Lee Ritter
“It is better to know some of the questions than all
of the answers.” As I travel the country, I continue
to have questions asked of me. In this chapter I have tried
to include the more frequently asked ones as well as some
that should be asked. You will see that I don't have all the
answers. Only God has that prerogative.
Q:
Will using Aloe vera cure my condition?
A: I don't know. It is dangerous to talk in terms of cure
and I won't. Try it and see what beneficial results you receive.
I know of no one who has been harmed by Aloe vera. I know
of so many that testify to miraculous benefits. I know the
medically identified properties of the ingredients found in
Aloe vera. I know it has worked for me.
Q:
How much Aloe should I take?
A: First, you must know the mucopolysaccharide (MPS) count
in the brand you are taking. Then you should take an amount
that is equal to the need. Most people who are in perfect
health tell us they use 500 to 1000 milligrams of MPS per
day. Those people with serious problems take 1200 to 3600
milligrams daily. You don't fight a forest fire with a garden
hose. It is better to take more than less. I have never heard
of a reaction from taking too much. I personally take about
3000 milligrams a day of an Aloe vera concentrate until I
clear up a condition that I am concerned with. Then I reduce
the intake somewhat, but continue taking the Aloe on a daily
basis.
Q:
Which is better, concentrate or regular 1X Aloe?
A: If you have a quality brand of Aloe vera in the bottle,
a 1X (single strength) is as good as a 15X (fifteen times
stronger than 1X). The difference is that you need to take
15 times more of the 1X to achieve the same amount of the
potentially beneficial active ingredients. One ounce of 15X
is equal to 15 ounces of 1X. Cold processed concentrates had
percentages of the water removed via a single-stage evaporator,
resulting in less bulk, making it easier to store and more
convenient for travel. Aloe is not known for its taste, but
you can mask the taste to suit your own taste buds by adding
the concentrate to your favorite beverage. Concentrate costs
less to ship because 1 bottle of 15X would equal 15 1X bottles.
Q:
Are all concentrates the same?
A: No. Many concentrates have had heat applied as part
of their process. One company, whose product we recently tested,
processes their Aloe using a high-heat evaporation and stabilization
process which caramelizes the sugars and also breaks down
the large chains which science believes contribute so valuably
to healing. It also had extremely high levels of Aloin. Many
companies are labeling their products concentrated when, in
fact, testing reveals very little of the active ingredients
in their products. In other words, their labels are misleading
in that the amount of concentrate stated is grossly inaccurate.
Q:
Are the whole-leaf capsules as effective as the Aloe vera
concentrate?
A: According to the people that are using both the capsules
and liquid, they are achieving the same results.
Q:
I am a diabetic. Can I take Aloe?
A: Based on testimony and esearch, it would appear that
you can. You should monitor your blood sugar level very closely,
especially if you are taking insulin. In every instance that
I know of, the diabetic's need for insulin was either reduced
or totally eliminated when they added Aloe vera in sufficient
quantities to their daily diet.
Q:
Can I take Aloe along with other vitamins, medicines, and
supplements?
A: Yes. As a matter of fact, most people report back that
their other products work better when taken with Aloe.
Q:
I am really upset as I hear and read about the frauds in the
Aloe vera industry. What can I do?
A: There are several things you can do. First, refuse
to buy Aloe vera products that haven't been tested by an independent
laboratory for sufficient Aloe content. Insist that the producer
of the product furnish you with a copy of the independent
testing results. If they won't supply the results, don't buy
it. Second, educate your local health food stores and request
that they carry only the best, tested Aloe vera products.
And third, inform your friends and associates about the problem
in the industry and tell them how they can determine what
products are good.
Q:
What changes will I notice when taking Aloe vera for health
maintenance rather than to treat a particular illness?
A: I cannot identify a specific change that you will notice.
If you are rundown, you will probably notice more dramatic
changes than if you are in good health. I take the product
daily because I know that it helps maintain my healthy condition.
I do know that, since taking Aloe, I have developed greater
resistance to illnesses such as the common cold, sore throats,
and the flu. Also, my energy level is higher.
Q:
Why does the color and taste of Aloe vera vary so greatly?
A: That is a good, observant question and one of the most
frequently asked. If you harvest the leaves after a long,
dry period (no rain), it will reflect both a darker color
and a much stronger taste. It also varies from season to season
(summer vs. winter) therefore, variation in color and taste
is very normal and should be expected.
Q:
Can I beneficially take Aloe directly from the Aloe vera plant?
A: Of course, but there are some things you need to be
aware of. Both the inner and the outer skin have many of the
important ingredients in them, but just under the skin is
a yellowish substance called Aloin. This substance is a very
strong laxative. It should be removed and is in almost all
Aloe vera products you purchase. If you take it from the plant,
you should only use the centermost part of the leaf, the clear
gel. The plant loses most of its active, beneficial ingredients
during its flowering period and should not be used at that
time. Make certain that the Aloe is freshly cut and used immediately.
Without processing and preservatives, Aloe rapidly loses important
properties. Finally, make certain that you really have an
Aloe vera plant. Some plants are very similar but have few,
if any, beneficial properties. There are over 200 species
of Aloe vera. You should use the Barbadensis Miller plant.
Really, in most all instances, it's easier to purchase a commercially
prepared, whole-leaf Aloe vera concentrate that has been cold
processed and tested for its MPS content.
Q:
How can I determine what is a good brand of aloe vera to purchase?
A: There are two ways, one is to rely on testing from
a reliable, independent laboratory. Another is to perform
the testing yourself. It is possible to buy inexpensive test
kits, but beware. Some fraudulent companies are becoming more
sophisticated. They are adding cheap ingredients which are
of no medical value but which fool the simple tests. The more
complex tests which can detect these additions as well as
determine the presence and quantities of aloe are expensive,
usually running between $700 and $1,000 per test.
Q:
Why doesn't the government approve the use of aloe vera as
a drug?
A: They would, but to get registered as a drug would take
several years and costs would be between $100 and $150 million.
When registration is granted, the research company that spent
all the money would not have any proprietary interest since
aloe vera is protected from patent.
Q:
Why doesn't the FDA stop those in the aloe vera industry who
are misrepresenting their product?
A: If you take a 10,000 gallon vat and put one gallon
of aloe vera juice in it and then add 9,999 gallons of water,
you can advertise that it contains 100 percent pure stabilized
aloe vera. That has been the position of the FDA to date.
One FDA representative told me, "It's not our responsibility
to say how much water is in a tomato, an orange, or in aloe
vera." This position, of course, allows the unscrupulous
to dilute the aloe as much as they want. There is no labeling
requirement to list how much water and how much aloe is in
a beverage.
Q:
Why didn't aloe vera help my condition?
A: I don't know. But I will tell you this, in almost every
case where a person has told me that they have received no
benefit and I have been able to determine the brand of aloe
vera they used, it has been my opinion that the brand contained
too small a quantity of aloe in proportion to the amount of
the product consumed to be of any benefit. Then you must be
consistent and take the product every day. Also, aloe is not
a drug. It is a natural modality that helps supply you with
your daily nutritional needs to keep your body defensive and
able to fight against the invasion of disease and to rid your
body of a disease already present. Your body heals itself
if it has the right defense weapons. We believe aloe is one
of those weapons.
Q:
Can I raise my own aloe vera?
A: You should be able to. However, if you live in a cold
climate where it freezes in the winter, the plant should be
grown indoors. It is hardy and takes very little care. Don't
overwater it. Give it some occasional plant food and lots
of sun. [You might want to review the answer Dr. Ritter gave
to the question of whether to take aloe directly from the
aloe vera plant, which we published in our spring 1994 newsletter.
Eds.]
Q:
How can I tell if a topical lotion or ointment has enough
aloe vera in it to be of any benefit?
A: Look at the label. The contents should be listed in
percentage of volume. In most lotions and ointments, aloe
is listed last or very near the end of ingredients. This tells
you that the product has very little aloe in it and, in my
opinion, is of little or no worth. Aloe should be listed as
the first ingredient on the label if you want to receive the
maximum healing, soothing, and skin care benefits from aloe.
One word of caution -- buy from a reputable supplier of products.
There are some dishonest ones in the industry that list aloe
not in the order of its percentage of volume.
Q:
One supplier indicates that only their aloe product contains
acemannan. Is this true? A: All aloe vera
has acemannan in it. Acemannan comes from aloe vera. The U.S.
Adopted Names Council assigned the generic name acemannan
to a long chain sugar linked, acetylated polymannose found
in aloe vera and first identified by Dr. Bill McAnalley.
Q:
What effect does using heat in treating aloe vera have?
A: Heat can caramelize the sugars and break down the large
saccharide chains which science believes contribute so valuably
to healing.
Q:
Is aloe vera a drug?
A: No. It is no more a drug than carrots or potatoes
or peaches. It is a natural food. But just as science is beginning
to recognize the value of grains, vegetables, and fruits to
our health, so aloe vera contributes to health as it strengthens
our immune systems.
Q:
So, what then do you feel is aloe vera's greatest contribution
to good health and is it a panacea for all disease?
A: Probably the best way to answer this is to quote what
Dr. Terry Pulse said, "If you can hold the progress of
disease in check and if you can stimulate and enhance one's
own defense mechanism, which is your immune system, there
are no diseases that your own body is not capable of conquering
and aloe vera meets those principles." No, I would not
go so far as to say that it is a panacea, but aloe has been
around for 4000 years and has obviously had great benefits
to the body, more so than any other substance that we have
discovered.
Desert Harvest does not make any health claims regarding any of its products. Even though we are committed to scientific research, we are not healthcare professionals. Our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. As with any good health measures, it is important for an individual to be under the routine care of a physician and to follow the directions of qualified healthcare professionals. The suggestions, statements, and products on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administation.
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