Aloe Vera references guide, articles and publications

Over 95% of the Aloe products on the market are either diluted or improperly processed. Using only the inner gel of the Aloe vera leaf provides a lower concentration of AMP. The outer leaf and rind have 200% more of the active ingredient than the inner gel. Processing the plant with high heat also destroys many of the beneficial ingredients of Aloe. The best products should be cold processed using the whole leaf with the aloin removed. Aloin is the irritating chemical in the plant that can cause diarrhea or intestinal cramping.

Ivan Danhof, M.D., Ph.D. is considered the leading expert in the world on Aloe vera. Dr. Danhof states, “The only material shown to have beneficial effects in scientific studies are attributable to the polysaccharides.” Experts in the subject recommend between 600 - 1,200 mgs of AMP per day for a healthy adult. Unhealthy people would commonly use 1,200 - 3,000 mgs per day, those with severe diseases using much higher amounts.


Each varying size of chain will uniquely provide its own healing properties:
	Small 50-600 molecules - Reduces inflammation which is involved in such diseases as ulcerative colitis, arthritis, and gastric reflux. Also helps with the reduction of blood sugar with both type I and II diabetes
	Medium up to 1,500 molecules - Where as vitamins and minerals can only function outside the cells, mucopolysaccharides are very effective intracellular antioxidants and free radical scavengers - very important in preventing and treating arteriosclerosis, heart disease and Parkinson’s disease. With the ever increasing pollution on the planet and loss of nutrients in the soil, the increase in free radicals and loss of cellular oxygen will only become worse with time. This makes Aloe vera mucopolysaccharides even more important than ever
	Large up to 5,000 molecules - Has a direct anti-bacterial and anti-viral effect. Important with all the new infectious diseases cropping up and the older ones becoming more virulent from long term use of antibiotics
	Very Large up to 9,000 molecules - The very large molecules are immune modulating, which have a powerful healing effect on AIDS, cancer and many different immune system disorders. It is also this large molecule that causes the body to produce a natural chemical, tumor necrosis factor, that functions to shut off the blood supply to tumors
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Atherosclerosis and Coronary Heart Disease

Coronary heart disease associated with the accumulation of blood fats lipids in the lining of the arteries is still one of the major causes of death in the Western world. Several studies in animal models as well as in human subjects have suggested that the ingestion of aloe gel may have a beneficial effects by lowering serum triglycerides, and serum phospholipids, which, when elevated, seem to accelerate the deposition of fatty materials in the large and medium arteries, including the coronary of the heart.

In one study albino laboratory rats were fed high cholesterol diets with the experimental group fed the polysaccharide (glucomannan) from aloe.

Compared with the control animals, the group fed the aloe fraction showed:

Decreased total cholesterol levels
Decreased triglyceride levels
Decreased phospholipid levels
Decreased nonesterified fatty acid levels
Increased HDL cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol) levels
Markedly increased HDL/Total Cholesterol ratios

The evidence suggests that the ingestion of Aloe (polysaccharide) may have a salubrious effect on fat lipid metabolism, which, if active in human subjects, would tend to decrease the risk of coronary disease in people. (Joshi and Dixit)

-Excerpt have been taken from the report entitled Internal Uses of Aloe Vera by Ivan E. Danhof, Ph. D., M.D.

Aloe vera contains Glucomannan, a special complex polysaccharide composed largely of the sugar mannose. It interacts with special cell-surface receptors on those cells which repair damaged tissues, called fibroblasts, stimulating them, activating their faster growth and replication.

-Excerpt have been taken from the report entitled “the healing Properties of Aloe Vera” By Dr Lawrence Plaskett B.A., Ph. D., Chem., F.R.S.C.

Appropriately cultivated, harvested and processed ALOE VERA has the potential of providing a number of desirable benefits upon oral ingestion.

To optimize these potential benefits, the manner and conditions under which the aloe is ingested become of importance.

The large aloe polysaccharide molecules (glucomannans) are arranged in a beta-1, 4-configuration, which renders these molecules impervious to (immune from) the action of the enzymes found in the human digestive tract. This being the case, what happens to these polysaccharide molecules upon ingestion?

A small percentage of these molecules (2-3%) can be taken up by the mucosal cells lining the digestive tract through the process of cell engulfment termed pinocytosis or endocytosis. As the number of potential pinocytotic sites is limited under normal conditions, the upper limit of cellular uptake can only be achieved when the aloe is ingested while the intestinal tract is essentially empty. Thus, to optimize this cellular uptake of the polysaccharides which are responsible for immunomodulation (stimulation and inhibition of the immune system) the AMP should be ingested one hour before or two hours after a meal.
The 97 % or so of the polysaccharide molecule which do not undergo cellular uptake play a very important protective (barrier) role along the gastrointestinal tract. These polysaccharides can become attached to mucosal receptors and provide protection against noxious conditions e.g., (a) hypersecretions of gastric hydrochloric acid; (b) hypersecretion of protective mucosal mucus; (c) toxic material ingested, e.g. aspirin or heavy metal residues, (d) allergens, etc. These protective polysaccharides may remain in place for up to 45-52 hours, whereupon this activity is lost and replaced, with a complete replacement cycle occurring normally every 4 – 5 days. This protective polysaccharide barrier in no way interferes with normal digestion, intestinal muscular activity or absorption.

Studies in human subjects, after ingesting the aloe in the manner indicated, have shown that the mucosal binding encompases the entire gastrointestinal tract. By adhering to these simple suggestions, the potential benefits of the ingested aloe can be optimized.

-Excerpt have been taken from the report entitled “Optimization of Potential Benefits of Orally-ingested Aloe Vera” Ivan E. Danhof, Ph.D, M.D.

Perhaps the most remarkable studies concern the effect of Aloe fractions on the status of patients with HIV which causes AIDS. The polysaccharide fraction of Aloe was shown to exhibit antiviral activity and enhance cell function. The polysaccharide was given orally, 250 milligrams four times a day, to 8 patients with ARC (AIDS Related Complex), with Walter Reed staging from 3 to 6. Eight of eight patients showed improvement within 90 days of therapy with an average reduction of 2 Walter Reed stages. Fever and night sweats were eliminated in all patients; diarrhea was alleviated in two of three patients, and opportunistic infections (which are usually responsible for the death of the AIDS patient) were controlled or eliminated in six of eight patients. Two patients, unemployable because of the intensity of their symptoms, returned to full employment. Three of three patients showed a decline in HIV core antigen (P-24). Initially positive HIV cultures became negative in three patients. Clinical toxicity and side-effects were entirely absent. Acute toxicity studies in animals showed no toxicity whatever at dosages 100 times those used in the pilot human experiments. (McDaniel and McAnalley, 1988)

-Excerpt have been taken from the report entitled Internal Uses of Aloe Vera by Ivan E. Danhof, Ph. D., M.D.

Poor digestion results in two primary problems:

Food is not broken down into the elemental building blocks necessary for the body to rebuild itself and generate energy for metabolism. At a cellular level, toxins are not removed from the cells, sufficient nutrients are not moved in to the cell, and not enough energy is produced for cell functioning. This affects all cells including the immune system cells such as white blood cells, which then lack the fuel and the oxygen to carry out their normal function.

Even more significant is that maldigestion results in food remnants in the gut causing several pathological reactions. First, there is irritation of the intestines, causing increased permeability of the cells in the intestinal wall. Undigested protein can then leak across into the lymph system and then into the general circulation, with the immune system reacting to contain the foreign invaders. The immune system becomes overtaxed and runs down. Oxygen and fuel gets used up; the immune cells wear out faster and do not reproduce in sufficient numbers.

Undigested food remnants can also become a breeding ground for candida and several types of parasites. Candidiasis produces toxins that cause increased digestion dysfunction, food allergies, fatigue and a host of other problems. Ultimately, this causes the immune system to become even further depressed. The inflammation in the intestines causes further damage by causing reactions that produce oxidative free radicals as waste by-products. Then negatively charged oxygen molecules begin to chop holes in cell membranes in an attempt to grab a positive charge. This results in further damage to the intestinal walls and ever increasing permeability. The leaky gut syndrome increases with more food particles going into the blood.

Research has shown that Aloe polysaccharides have a remarkable ability to normalize all of these damaging processes, which has the effect of enhancing the immune system function through improved digestion. Aloe polysaccharides act as a potent anti-inflammatory agent, stopping the damage and leakage of the intestinal wall, thereby taking the stress off the immune system.

Aloe polysaccharides have direct anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal/yeast and anti-parasite effects. Chronic yeast growth can be controlled so the normal, healthy flora can then thrive more easily. Furthermore, the macrophages, monocytes, antibodies and T-cells are stimulated. Phagocytosis (when large white blood cells engulf particles) is dramatically increased to ingest foreign proteins, such as the HIV virus. Aloe polysaccharides increases the number and intensity of all immune cells in the body.

The key to integrating healthy digestion with a healthy immune system is the oral ingestion of Aloe polysaccharides.

-Digestion and The Immune System and Aloe Vera AMP By John C. Pittman, M.D.

As the biologic activities of Aloe derived acemannan (polysaccharide) have been elucidated, it has been shown to have a remarkable ability to normalize all of these damaging processes and therefore contribute significantly to the enhancement of immune system function. At the intestinal level, acemannan acts as a potent anti-inflammatory agent, neutralizing many of the enzymes responsible for damaging the mucosal wall; in effect, quenching the fire. This results in decreased leakiness of the intestinal wall and less absorption of allergic stimulating foreign protein.

Acemannan has direct virucidal, bactericidal, and fungicidal properties which can help control Candida overgrowth so that normal gastrointestinal bacterial flora can be restored. Acemannan also stimulates intestinal motility, helping to move allergenic proteins from the small intestine into the colon. All these processes help to normalize gastrointestinal wall structure and function and therefore stop the vicious cycle of immune system damage.

Acemannan (polysaccharide) also has direct effects on the cells of the immune system, activating and stimulating macrophages, monocytes, antibodies and T-cells. It has been shown in laboratory studies to act as a bridge between foreign proteins (such as virus particles) and macrophages, facilitating phagocytosis (ingestion of the protein by the macrophage). This receptor site activation is a key component in boosting cell-mediated immunity which is deficient in HIV infection. It increases the number and intensity of action of macrophages, killer T-cells, and monocytes, as well as increasing the number of antibody forming B-cells in the spleen. Acemannan (polysaccharide) also protects the bone marrow from damage by toxic chemicals and drugs such as AZT.

-Immune Enhancing Effects Of Whole Leaf Aloe Vera By John C. Pittman, M.D.

Articles:

Ruth Adams: Aloe Vera Anti-Viral Agent

Jeffrey Bland, Ph.D.: Effect of Orally Consumed Aloe Vera Juice on Gastrointestinal Function in Normal Humans

Julian J. Blitz, D.O., James W. Smith, D.O. & Jack R. Gerardo, D.O.: Aloe Vera Gel in Peptic Ulcer Therapy: Preliminary Report

William B. Bowles: Aloe Vera Gel and Its Effect on Cell Growth

William B. Bowles: The Current Status of Aloe Vera Research

Ivan E. Danhof, Ph.D., M.D.& Bill H. McAnnaley, Ph.D.: Stabilized Aloe Vera: Effect on Human Skin Cells

Ivan E. Danhof, Ph.D., M.D.: Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis Miller)

Ivan E. Danhof, Ph.D., M.D.: Aloe Leaf Handling and Constituent Variability

Ivan E. Danhof, Ph.D., M.D.: Internal Uses of Aloe Vera

Ivan E. Danhof, Ph.D., M.D.: Potential Benefits from Orally-ingested Internal Aloe Vera Gel

Robert H. Davis, Ph.D., William L. Parker, BA, Richard T. Samson, BS & Douglas Pl Murdoch, BS:
The Isolation of an Active Inhibitory System from an Extract of Aloe vera

Robert H. Davis, Ph.D., Kenneth Y. Rosenthal, Linda R. Cesario & Gregory A. Rouw: Processed Aloe vera Administered Topically Inhibits Inflammation

Robert H. Davis, Ph.D. & Nicholas P. Maro: Aloe vera and Gibberellin Anti-inflammatory Activity in Diabetes

Robert H. Davis, Ph.D., Joseph J. Di Donato, Glenn M. Hartman Richard C. Haas: Anti-inflammatory and Wound Healing Activity of a Growth Substance in Aloe Vera

Robert H. Davis, Ph.D., Mark G. Leitner, Joseph M. Russo Megan E. Byrne: Anti-inflammatory Activity of Aloe vera Against a Spectrum of Irritants

Robert H. Davis, Joseph M. Kabbani & Nicholas P. Maro: Aloe Vera and Inflammation

Robert H. Davis, Ph.D.: The Conductor Orchestra Concept of Aloe Vera

D. Channe Gowda, Belkavadi Neelisiddaiah & Yernool V. Anjaneyalu: Structural Studies of Polysaccharides
from Aloe Vera

Teddy Kaufman, A.R. Newman & M.R. Wexler: Aloe Vera and Burn Wound Healing

Dr. Reg McDaniel: The How, Where and What of Good Aloe

Frank Murray: Therapy & Treatment with Aloe Vera

Frank Murray: Antioxidants Winning the Fight For Good Health

Robert B. Northway, D.V.M.: Experimental Use of Aloe Vera Extract in Clinical Practice

William E. Paul: Infectious Diseases & The Immune System

Dr. G. Lawrence Plaskett: Aloe Vera: Aloe Vera and Cancer

Dr. G. Lawrence Plaskett: Aloe Vera and the Human Immune System

Dr. G. Lawrence Plaskett: Aloe Vera and the Human Digestive System

Dr. G. Lawrence Plaskett: Aloe Eases Inflammation

Dr. G. Lawrence Plaskett: The Healing Properties of Aloe Vera

Dr. G. Lawrence Plaskett: Aloe Vera: Aloe in Alternative Medicine Practice

Bargyla Ratceaver, Ph.D.: The Healing Power of the Aloe Vera (New Women Magazine)

Steven R. Schechter, N.D.: Aloe Vera Produces Anti-Inflammatory, Immune Strengthening Effects on Skin

Steven R. Schechter, N.D.: Aloe Vera: The Healing Plant

Dr. Akira Yagi: Far More Than A Remarkable Folk Medicine