Ingredient Spotlight: Aloe vera

By Dr. Dee Mason

The succulent plant, Barbadensis or Curacao, may be the oldest historical remedy for soothing your skin and mucous membranes.  You know it better as Aloe vera.

The United States National Institutes of Health clinical trial database has many ongoing studies, with a major emphasis in the clinical use of Aloe vera for its anti-inflammatory benefits. In this area and others, it has proven clinically to be beneficial for health.
Traditionally, Aloe vera has had applications in regards to soothing burns and irritated skin, leading to it’s becoming known as “The Burn Plant”.  This is a well-known fact, but in more recent times it’s been discovered that Aloe can also be used topically to treat dermal dryness and outbreaks on the skin’s surface.

Internally, Aloe has even wider applications. Clinically, aloe is used around the world for varied applications—being widely employed, for example, as a legitimate treatment for asthma in India. In the U.S. it has proven to be beneficial for multiple health issues such as maintaining healthy blood sugar levels, moderating a range of gastrointestinal complaints and urinary tract infections, and has even shown potential for cancer treatment.

One of the primary factors in Aloes exceptional healing potential is in five naturally occurring saccharides—referred to as glucomannans—that make up a large part of the plant.  Of these, one glucomannan of particular interest is acemannan.

Acemannan has been found to activate the ability of immune cells to identify, destroy and remove pathogens, recruit immune regulating cells and promote immune functions. Notably, acemannan has been shown to increase the body’s ability to kill viruses, bacteria and even tumor cells. It also assists in regulation of tumor necrosis factor alpha and interlukens; both factors play a significant role in the body’s response to inflammation and infection.

Clearly Aloe has health benefits to offer—the next step is to choose wisely among the available options. Considering the variation in preparations and the industry, certification is definitely one factor to look for in choosing a healthful aloe preparation. The International Aloe Science Council (IASC), a trade association of internationally based aloe producers and marketers, requires adherence to certain specifications for the product to be certified.

One way that companies can responsibly produce a quality product is to make use of the MAP method, which consistently produces Modified Aloe barbadensis Polysaccharide with Immunoregulatory Activity. This type of processing retains and enhances the biological activity of native aloe, and is highly recommended for use in quality control of commercial products. A quality Aloe product should contain at least 95 percent pure Aloe vera gel.

In conclusion, the health applications for Aloe vera are multidimensional, and the use of Aloe vera gel and its components for the treatment of a variety of conditions is becoming increasingly supported in scientific literature. The full clinical potential of Aloe vera has yet to be realized, but the reputation of this traditional remedy is almost certain to grow in the future.

Because the typical diet consist of many foods unintended for digestion, maintaining a healthy digestive tract is important to the overall health of the body. Ultimate Aloe contains over 200 nutrients, enzymes, vitamins and minerals, including 13 of the 17 essential minerals needed for good nutrition. Studies have shown that aloe consumed orally promotes normal digestion and supports a healthy immune system.*  

Ultimate Aloe has the IASC (International Aloe Science Council) seal that certifies the Aloe content and purity. The aloe vera in Ultimate Aloe is harvested and processed according to sanitary manufacturing practices that use specific time and temperature guidelines. This preserves the natural properties of the aloe vera plant so you receive the maximum benefits of the product. Ultimate Aloe is virtually free of undesirable components such as aloin and other anthraquinones (aloin: 1 ppm or less) confirmed by an independent university laboratory. Ultimate Aloe’s quality is analyzed for chemical and physical characteristics and in-vitro assays for monitoring biological activity. Our manufacturer is the only supplier with a full range of biological, chemical and medicinal R&D capabilities. Ultimate Aloe contains three times more polymers than aloe gel and 50 percent more active components than is required to achieve maximum benefits by being consumed orally. Ultimate Aloe delivers superior results which our customers can depend on time after time.