Staining - Intestinal and Skin

Our exteriors aren’t the only stain-able parts. We can also stain on the inside. In fact, one often hears about intestinal staining. What is the truth about intestinal staining and is it dangerous or is it not? What do the educated people say about this?

Pigmentation is the discolouration of the skin, showing as dark (hyperpigmentation) or light
(hypopigmentation) skin patches. Primary causes are genetic factors, skin disorders, adverse reactions from medicines, sun damage, hormonal factors and pigment deposition.

Melanocytes are skin cells that produce pigments (melanin) responsible for skin color The coloring reaction is triggered by a specific enzyme. If too energetic, the enzyme may enlarge melanocytes and/or increase their number, which in turn, cause their darkening. When the enzyme functions poorly, no melanin is formed and normal skin color is lost.

A freckle is a darkened melanocyte, whereas a lentigo is a flat layer of melanocytes grouped together.
Those small flat dark-brown spots on your skin are called simplex lentigines, whereas the larger,
patchy-looking sun/liver spots are called solar lentigines. A mole is a multi-layer clogging of
melanocytes and those white confetti-like spots are called iIdiopathic gutatte hypomelanosis, a form of hypopigmentation.

Many pigmentation conditions are caused by melanocyte changes, but some may be due to
deposition of non-melanin pigments in the tissue. For example, dark under-eye circles and
discoloration from chemotherapy and anti-malaria medicines result from pigment deposition, either
from poorly circulated blood or specific medicinal molecules.

Is it possible to reverse pigmentation?

Treating pigmentation may be impossible, unfeasible or require medical invasion, especially when due to genetic factors, skin disorders or medicinal effects. However, some hyperpigmentation disorders are home-treatable by topical products that contain depigmentation actives.

Optimal actives concentrate on the cause of pigmentation: either normalize over-active enzymes or
“dissolve” deposited pigments. It is important that the selected actives should only “de-colorise” overcolored areas.

An active that simply bleaches out skin is hazardous, may lead to color loss in normal skin and skin irritations. Many “skin whitening” products contain these hazardous actives.

Pigment deposition in the tissue may be treated by actives that mimic the body’s way of dealing

with bruises. 

When bruised, small blood vessels rupture and spill blood into the tissue. Iron molecules in the spilled blood lend the familiar blue color to the bruised skin. “Clean-up” enzymes are  subsequently released, which gradually degrade the spilled molecules until they completely disappear. Color changes (blue, violet-green, brown, yellow, and then normal tone) reveal this degradation process.

Reversal of pigmentation is very slow as de-pigmentation requires dedicated treatment over a period of 6-12 months.

Hormonal patches and sun/liver spots may be treated with Energizing Serum, SpotLess Crème and Moisture 4Him. These products contain botanical active to reverse hyperpigmentation in a safe and natural manner..

Energizing Serum and SpotLess Crème contain comparable concentrations of depigmentation actives and as a result are equally potent. However, Energizing Serum is part of the anti-aging skin range and as such, also contains actives to revitalize/energise an aging skin.

SpotLess Crème is better suitable to be used for depigmentation of younger skin (e.g. for hormonal discolouration), whereas Energizing Serum is more suitable to be used for depigmentation of a mature skin (e.g. sun/liver spots). 

 

Since the serum is a more expensive product, individuals with mature skin might find it economical to use SpotLess Crème (rather than the serum) for spots on the hands.

Men and women suffer equally from sun/liver spots. These spots are often quite evident on the head surface of balding men. 

Moisture 4Him offers depigmentation and hence improvement of the appearance, to male consumers.

Eye Cream contains botanical actives to stimulate capillary circulation and clean up non-melanin pigments in under-eye dark areas.

Aloe bitters: internal staining?

Melanosis coli is the condition of having a stained colon. The dark-brown color of
the aloe bitters is due to the chemical anthraquinone, an important chemical in medicines that treat certain cancers, malaria, Alzheimer’s and constipation.

Prolonged use or abuse of anthraquinone leads to a stained colon ─ long been considered a 

harmless condition. However, in recent years researchers became worried about a possible link between a stained colon and colorectal cancer because individuals with stained colons appear to have many more polyps in their colons than those without the condition.

However, subsequent medical studies revealed that colon polyps do not undergo pigmentation,
whereas other colon skin does. Hence, the polyps in a stained colon are very easy to 

detect – looking like little light spots against the stained colon background. 

In a normal-colored colon, the color of the colon and polyps are the same and their detection is more difficult, especially the small ones.

Hence, there was found to be no connection between the number of polyps and anthraquinone.
Anthraquinone does not form polyps. HOWEVER: it was found that individuals who regularly misuse or abuse laxatives have more colon polyps than those with regular (natural) bowel movements.

Laxatives: use or abuse?

Laxative abuse may be classified into four groups: (1) as part of an eating disorder(e.g. anorexia); (2) as crutch to “stay regular”; (3) to enforce fast weight loss (e.g.weightlifters); (4) to inflict diarrhoea in order to “cleanse the system”.

Laxatives (natural or synthetic) are intended to alleviate an acute health problem. When used
chronically, it becomes an abuse. Abuse may lead to many other problems such as an increased risk of colon cancer, electrolytic and acid/base imbalances, tiredness, bloatedness, fast weight gain

when discontinued and increased long term constipation.

Normal bowel movements result from a combination of water and fibre (from fruits and dietary
roughage). Those with insufficient fruit, whole foods or water intake are likely to suffer from chronic
constipation.

Chronic use of laxatives “unlearns” the body to perform natural bowel movements and require ever increasing doses to “stay regular”. Sometimes it is necessary to “get the body going”, but thereafter the diet should be adjusted in order to avoid laxative dependence.

Fabulous Fibre Bitter should not be used as chronic laxative. One tablet/capsule a day suffices to impart the health benefits of the aloe bitters without forcing bowel movement. A larger dose (2-3
capsules/tablets) is only advised for an acute problem. If constipation persists, one should see a
physician.

Products to promote health:

Fabulous Fibre Bitter contains anthraquinone. Besides the medical benefits mentioned, it also has many other benefits, including improvement of various skin conditions, joint stiffness, inflammation and pains.

Small quantities of bitters (taken over a period of at least 2-6 months) contribute to the improvement of these conditions.

Fabulous Fibre Regular is a fibre-filled capsule that supplements one’s daily need for fibre. One capsule a day adds sufficient fibre to a diet without being a laxative stimulant. Higher doses have purgative effects. Drink sufficient water when using this supplement.

Whole-leaf Aloe Juice is an excellent supplement for general intestinal health. The dosage for health maintenance is only 15-75 mL per day.

Larger doses are beneficial for immune system boosting, e.g. at the start of colds and flu. Due to the fibre content of the Aloe ferox plant, very large doses might also have a purgative effect.

Doctor’s opinion: Certain physicians advise their patients to refrain from aloe bitters. Doctors are intelligent, professionally trained individuals who do not base their advice on senseless, unsubstantiated reasons and usually have good reasons for their opinions. 

If you do not agree with a doctor’s advice, get a second opinion, but be very careful of playing doctor to your customers as you may endanger their lives.

Stay Healthy, Reduce Stress in your life and be Happy!









Reference - Aloe Ferox Newsletter, Dr. Elsabe Cloete Aloe Ferox Africa