There is plenty of research that indicates that the unnaturally accelerated aging process associated with chemical saturated modern living and/or natural environmental exposures such as excessive ultraviolet radiation (photo-aging) can be slowed. In fact, over 150 natural substances have been indexed on aging in the GreenMedInfo.com project with demonstrable "anti-aging," or if you prefer, "longevity-promoting" properties.
Of the 69 natural substances indexed on GreenMedInfo.com of potential value in aging skin, aloe is one of the most compelling substances, and works from the inside out ...
In a study published in the journal Annals of Dermatology in 2009, healthy female subjects over the age of 45, and who received two different oral doses (low-dose: 1,200 mg/d, high-dose: 3,600 mg/d) of aloe vera gel supplementation for 90 days, saw remarkable results. The researchers measured clinical signs and biochemical changes of aging skin before and after supplementation and found that,
"After aloe gel intake, the facial wrinkles improved significantly (p<0.05) in both groups, and facial elasticity improved in the lower-dose group...Aloe gel significantly improves wrinkles and elasticity in photoaged human skin.""
Keep in mind that 3,600 mg of aloe a day is not what you would call a "megadose," as it is a little less than a teaspoon. 1,200 mg is only a quarter of a teaspoon, and in fact, according to the study, may actually be superior to the higher dose at improving facial elasticity; less is sometimes more, one can assume.
Also, the amazing thing about aloe is that it has a wide range of potential "side benefits," with 50 of them viewable on our Aloe Vera Research Page alone. Some of these include:
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Sign in to commentBe careful "chugging" aloe very juice, especially whole leaf, which contains a strong laxative. Extended use, especially in large amounts may be harmful to your gut. Aloe vera gel, from a reputable manufacturer, can contain much smaller amounts of this laxative, but one must decide how it affects you, as amounts can vary by brand. The small doses of aloe gel supplements suggested in this article may not be such a problem. I personally had to discontinue drinking aloe vera juice, but may try the gel in small amounts to see if it upsets my gut.
Does anyone know if this is just whole leaf or just the inner gel?
The inner-leaf clear gel is the active part of the Aloe plant. (See the picture above.) If you drink it or use it on your skin, you should cut away all the outer green rind of the leaf, and then wash the inner clear gel in water to remove any remaining sap that occurs in the veins that run done the inside of the rind. These veins contain aloin (anthraquinones) that have historically been used as an irritant laxative. You don't want to put them on your skin or ingest them. After I wash the clear gel, I put it in a small cup and use my soup blender (the one I put into a pot of soup on the stove to cream it) to blend the gel very well until it is liquid. Unlike commercial Aloe products that often have a bad taste because of the preservatives, fresh gel has no taste. It's a little slimy when you first put it on your face, but it immediately dries and feels very nice. You can put your own cream or lotion on top of it after it dries. It works amazingly well both topically and internally. You will love it if you try it. In Texas we can buy the big leaves in the produce section of many grocery stores. Anyone can easily grow it themselves as long as they don't let it freeze. When you use fresh you know exactly what you're getting.