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Medicinal uses
A. vera is commonly used
externally to treat various skin conditions such as cuts, burns and eczema.
It is alleged that sap from Aloe vera eases pain and reduces inflammation.
Scientific evidence on the effects of Aloe vera sap on wound healing is
contradictory (Vogler and Ernst, 1999). A study performed in the 1990s
showed that the healing of a moderate to severe burn was sped up by six
days when covering the wound on a regular basis with aloe vera gel, compared
to the healing of the wound covered in a gauze bandage (Farrar, 2005).
In contrast, another study suggested wounds to which Aloe vera gel was
applied were significantly slower to heal (Schmidt and Greenspoon, 1991).
Many of Aloe vera's beneficial properties are attributed to mucopolysaccharides present in the inner gel of the leaf, especially acemannan (acetylated mannans). An injectable form of acemannan manufactured and marketed by Carrington Laboratories as Acemannan Immunostimulant™ has been approved in the USA for treatment of fibrosarcoma (a type of cancer) in dogs and cats after clinical trials. It has not been approved for use by humans, and although it is not a drug its sale is controlled and it can only be obtained through a veterinary doctor.
Many cosmetic companies add sap or other derivatives from Aloe vera to products such as makeup, moisturisers, soaps, sunscreens, shampoos and lotions. Aloe gel is alleged to be useful for dry skin conditions, especially eczema around the eyes and sensitive facial skin. In addition, it has been used for treating fungal infections such as ringworm.
An article published in the
British Journal of General Practice suggests that A. vera is particularly
good at treating long sufferers of athlete's foot. The topical application
of A. vera is not an effective preventative for radiation-induced injuries.
Whether or not it promotes wound healing is unclear, and even though there
are some promising results, clinical effectiveness of oral or topical A.
vera remains unclear at present.
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