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Benefits of Aloe Vera for Elderly
Aloe is a medicinal plant from genus Aloe species. Its use and origin dates to ancient Egypt and Arabian Peninsula. It belongs to a succulent plant species and it is often used for aesthetic purposes. That however doesn’t mean the Aloe plant doesn’t have medicinal benefits. In this post, we would be analyzing the usefulness of Aloe plant as it relates to the elderly.
Before we begin, let’s drill down further to the Aloe species. The Aloe species most common to man is the Aloe Vera. This is no surprise because it is known to be the Aloe most used for medicinal purposes. The botanical name of Aloe Vera is Aloe Barbadensis. They are grown commercially and commonly used by people, especially the elderly. In subsequent paragraphs we shall look at some of the benefits of the Aloe Vera and other Aloe species.
The medicinal products that can be obtained from the Aloe plant are categorized into the gel and resins . The gel is widely used for nutritional drinks, as healing agents in cosmetics, moisturizer for the skin, for fighting acne and easing cold sores, and used as essential ingredients for production of some drugs. As you can see, the Aloe gel has many uses and its more common in our everyday products than you might have known.
The Other main product, the resin, is produced from the leaves just like the gel. The resins are called Aloe latex, it contains anthraquinone glycosides, they serve as potential laxatives which could be used to induce bowel movement if you are facing trouble with that. Aside from the uses stated above, other uses include:
Use of Aloe vera to control blood sugar
Research shows that consumption of Aloe Vera juice may help lower fasting blood glucose and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). Please note that the research stated here is a recent research undertaken by a team of researchers in 2016. Further research is still needed before this can be taken hook, line and sinker. So if you are an elderly with diabetes, you may want to speak with your physician to seek his opinion on taking Aloe Vera Juice as part of your treatment.
Aloe Vera To treat minor wounds and inflammation.
It can be used to treat injuries following a 2019 review of 23 studies that confirmed the presence of compound glucomannan which promotes cellular regeneration and collagen production.
Aloe Vera Gel as Immune stimulant
Recently, Aloe gel is being consumed as dietary supplement due to its immunomodulatory properties which is very important for overcoming acute and chronic infections. A study on mice showed that Aloe gel administered orally acted as a stimulatorof cellular and humoral immunity, increasing their splenic cells mobility and response to mitogen PHA, and anti-SRBC antibody production. So, if you have a weak immune system as an elderly, you may look to consuming aloe gel to boost your immune system. But remember, you need to discuss with your doctor first if you want to add this to your diet.
Used to relieve symptoms of stomach ulcer
Research has shown that the consumption of Aloe gel is effective for the treatment of ulcers.
Conclusion
So, there you have it guys. Kindly note that we just touched on some of the uses of the Aloe Plant, there are many other uses. You can discuss with your care giver to recommend according to your needs.
A word of caution please, not all Aloel species are beneficial. Some are known to be toxic to man and should be avoided. If you decide to grow your aloe plant at home, you need to ensure it is not one of the toxic species. As discussed, Aloe Vera is the most beneficial to Man.