How safe is Aloe Ferox Bitters when used for constipation?

How safe is Aloe ferox bitters when used for

constipation?

Constipation is not a disease, but the inefficient functioning of

a biological process. Research on constipation have shown

that Aloe ferox bitters is an effective laxative for acute

constipation and that the bitters does not present any safety

risks for short- or long-term use in this regard.

However, research for one bowel condition should never simply be extended

for self-treatment of other bowel conditions. For example, chronic constipation

may be a sign of an underlying disorder, which should be identified and treated

as such. It may also be a sign of a low-fibre diet or even a high-fibre diet but

with insufficient water intake ̶ both these can be corrected by lifestyle changes

and does not require any dietary supplements for a long-term solution.

Individuals with bowel diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease or

diverticulitis are not advised to use bitter supplements or laxatives since these

increase symptoms of the disease. Long-term use of Aloe ferox extracts to selftreat

diseases is counter indicated, since safety of any product for a specific

condition should be tested for that condition and cannot simply be assumed

from safety reports for other conditions.

Liver health & Aloe ferox

The LIVER is one of our vital organs without which we cannot survive. Since the

liver supports almost every organ in the body, its malfunctioning is severely

debilitating.

In various scientific studies on damaged livers, researchers found a significant

improvement in liver health after treatment with Aloe ferox bitters. Also, those

treated with bitters had much lower damage to their livers than control groups

after other treatments that are known to affect the liver.

This is great news to those who suffer from liver problems as well as those who

have to take medicines that might have adverse effects on the liver. Dose: take

1/4 - 1/2 tablet of Fabulous Fibre Bitter (or a small bitter crystal) every day to

assist in the health of your liver.

Interesting facts about stained colons

Research reports of the 80’s and 90’s questioned the use of

anthraquinones (found in aloe bitters) as a potential risk of

colon cancer because these substances stain the colon.

What does the latest research say?

From studies done between 2000 and 2013 it was shown

that colon staining could be ascribed to many different reasons and that it

cannot be linked to cancer or the risk thereof. Some interesting facts from

these studies:

• Colon staining is due to a natural intestinal pigment (lipofuscin) that

deposits in the colon lining and is not due to the brown pigment found in

bitters.

• Lipofuscin only deposits on normal colon linings and not on growths.

Therefore, during a colonoscopy polyps, glands and other growths

appear “bright” against a stained colon. This actually helps to see lumps!

• The use of bitters does indeed cause staining of the colon. Staining

occurs within 4 months of continuous use and disappears within 12-15

months after discontinuation.

• Study participants, who used bitters for a long period, were compared to

one another to determine if long-term use can be linked to cancerous

growths. Interestingly, healthy patients used bitters on average for about

2 years longer than sick patients – with no indication of cancerous

growths!

• Inflammatory bowel disease causes colon staining – even if

anthraquinones were never used before.

• Many patients with colon growths (benign or malignant) have never used

any laxatives – neither bitters nor others. Also, many of these patients

show no signs of stained colons.

• Undesirable colorectal growths are strongly linked to gender, age and

smoking. These are more predominant in males and the incidence also

increases with aging and with smoking habits.

A Testimonial from one of our customers:

A few years ago I purchased some Aloe Ferox Gel & Bitter Crystals from a vendor at an African Street Fair.  

I was born with a physical deficiency that caused lifelong constipation. As a child I was always sick with fevers because my body was not eliminating properly. I've tried so many things to remedy this condition, from avoiding constipating foods, eating high fiber diets, whole grains, psyllium & flax seeds, to drinking more water, prunes / juices, probiotics, various herbs like senna, triphala, teas, both natural and OTC laxatives, prescription medicines, detox cleanses, enemas, colonics, massage, castor oil internally and external packs, special yogic exercises, etc...

Some were effective temporarily but eventually the condition would return. Some were very expensive, messy or inconvenient. Others caused tremendous pain, cramping, bloating, gas or diarrhea. And sadly, most of these solutions left me even more constipated after I stopped using them, promoting dependence or reducing natural peristalsis as lazy bowel syndrome after using them long term.

This vendor explained how the bitter crystals worked, and I thought being natural it was worth a try. I followed the instructions taking a tiny dose before bed with water, and by morning I was regular with no pain, bloating or cramping, and the results for me were almost miraculous. It was hard to believe such a tiny dosage could have such a powerful balancing effect with no negative side effects.

Aloe Ferox Bitter Crystals are the only product I use now when constipated. I've never experienced any negative side effects from them. The product lasts a very long time so the cost of use is minimal compared to other products/ treatments I've tried, with no mess or inconvenience, They are easy to travel with and something I would not want to be without. It is the only product I have found that works well for me.

The Aloe Ferox skin gel also was almost as miraculous in healing sunburns overnight. I love being in the sun but don't like to use sunscreen because most contain unhealthy ingredients and block natural vitamin D production. This gel helps heal and prevent my skin from that leathery look I used to get after heavy sun exposure. Another wonderful product I would not want to travel without!

Source:

Aloe Ferox Newsletter Oct/Nov 2013 and Testimonial from our customer MS

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

Acne and Pimples

ACNE AND PIMPLES

Acne manifests itself as annoying spots, sometimes only a few blackheads, but often skin patches covered with whiteheads, red papules and pustules. All these manifestations arise from blockage or inflammation of hair follicles. Irrespective of its severity, acne chews on one’s self-confidence. In fact, its psychological impact may be so significant that it may affect one’s quality of life and even one’s employment opportunities.

What causes acne? Acne is caused by hormonal stimulation of the oil glands, thickening of the skin and accumulation of dead cells inside the hair follicle. The excess oil and dead cells become nutrients for normal skin bacteria, raising their numbers abnormally high. These excess bacteria release enzymes that cause inflammation and puss. The latter become nutrients for other (normal) skin bacteria, also raising their numbers to unhealthy levels.

The vicious cycle has begun: more oil and dead cells, more enzymes, more puss, more bacteria… and the problem gets worse fast. Although acne is caused by hormonal imbalances, there are a number of external triggers that may lead to acne.

Types of acne Blackheads and whiteheads are non-inflamed acne, called comedones. Papules are red bumps, whereas pustules are small tender cysts. Papules and pustules are inflamed acne.

A blackhead or a whitehead is a plug of oil and sloughed-off cells inside the hair follicle. With whiteheads, the plug is covered with skin and it has a whitish color. With blackheads, the plug is not covered by skin and as a result of its contact with the air it oxidizes and hence becomes black. Inflammation and swelling associated with papules and pustules indicate the presence of bacterial infection(s).

How many people suffer from acne? The prevalence of acne under teenagers varies between 87% and 94%. A small number of people retain this undesirable problem after puberty and a few have it before puberty! Being such a common problem, it is surprising that there are still some myths about acne.


THE MOST COMMON MYTHS ABOUT ACNE

Myth: Acne is caused by environmental factors, dietary intake or personal hygiene.

Truth: Acne is caused by a genetic predisposition. If a poor exercise programme or facial routine and junk food were causes of acne, many grownups would suffer from severe acne after each winter. However, one cannot simply let go of all that self-discipline because if hormones are not in good balance, poor habits may exacerbate the acne problem!

Myth: The perfect facial cleanser will clear acne. Truth: Because poor personal care is
not the cause of acne, improved personal care is not the solution either. In fact,
excessive cleansing and scrubbing can compromise the skin's protective barrier.
Irritated skin is more prone to allergic reactions than healthy skin and some allergic reactions
cause papules. Very dry skin is easily sensitized by chemicals and environmental
factors. It is therefore important NOT to strip the skin from all its natural moisture.

EXTERNAL TRIGGERS OF ACNE
The most common external triggers include re-contamination, self-induced irritation, drugs and topical products.
Because acne often includes a bacterial infection, opportunities for re-contamination have to be minimized.
Therefore: wear a clean shirt daily, change pillow cases regularly and touch the skin only with clean hands.
Compulsive scratching or harsh treatment of the skin may also increase the severity of acne. Drugs and topical products can cause eruption of acne.
Common drugs include steroids and high doses of vitamin B. It is important to carefully read the insert for potential dermatitis side effects when using any medication. Some of the most common ingredients in cosmetic products that may cause acne eruption are natural oils such as olive oil and sweet almond oil. Take note that these are not problematic drugs or ingredients, but only for individuals affected by acne.

WRONG USAGE OF ANTI-ACNE PRODUCTS
Bodily processes take time. A fractured bone takes approximately 45 days to heal… see?... it takes time. Some are slightly faster and some are slow:

Try and go to the restroom directly after 3 cups of coffee (before church)…
nothing! Only after the body has followed its own pace, it will let you know
its time - usually half-way through the sermon!

Food tends to be slow - one excessive meal will luckily not fatten you up overnight, but consistent overeating will most definitely do that. Just try it for a month and see… The same is true for acne. With proper treatment, an acne-skin can become beautiful – in about 6 weeks.

It will not happen overnight irrespective of how much one squishes, scrubs, paid for the products or how much product one applies. The life-time of a single pimple is a few days. With proper care one can reduce the severity and possibly also the duration of the pimple. Both over-usage and under-usage of anti-acne products increase the problem.

Common mistakes when treating acne + pimples:
• Excessive cleansing and scrubbing.
• Squishing and popping pimples: increase the risk of re-contamination and scarring.
• Over-usage of anti-acne products: leads to increased sensitivity and dryness of the skin.
• Under-usage of anti-acne products causes individuals to move from one product to the next without much success.
• Impatience with treatment: causing individuals interchange between products or stop the treatment altogether.
Using too many different products creates side-effects that interfere with the products’ normal functioning.
• Stopping the use of anti-acne products once the skin seems clear. Don’t! Treatment should continue for several months to completely clear up underlying bacterial infection and probably until hormones have completely stabilized (18+ years).


TREATMENT OF ACNE
Products that promote proper shedding of the epidermis and reduce the excess oil are most beneficial to treating
blackheads and whiteheads. Inflamed acne is always an indication of bacterial infection and needs to be treated with
anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial products. See the relevant text boxes below for treatment. If acne becomes
worse, it is likely due to uncontrolled bacterial infection under the upper layers of the skin. In this case, it may be
necessary to use oral antibiotics or even stronger dermatological medicine. Avoid permanent psychological scarring
by seeing a doctor/dermatologist.
Important treatments that contribute to a beautiful skin -
• Drink plenty of water – flushing the system eliminates toxins that may worsen the problem.
• Steam regularly – this is a cheap and very effective way to control acne breakouts.
• Avoid dry and sensitive skin by using a moisturiser that does not promote acne.

Caring for blackheads and whiteheads:
• Cleanse dirt and reduce excess oil. (Foaming Cleanser of/or Facial Wash Regular / 2x daily)
• Steam twice a week after cleansing. Purify the pores. (Facial Mask /1x weekly)
• Remove dead cells. (Refining Scrub /1x weekly)
• Restore moisture balance. (Vanishing Cream of/or Whole-leaf Gel /after cleansing)
• Promote hormonal balance. (Radical Image /2x daily)

Caring for infected acne:
• Cleanse dirt and reduce excess oil and bacteria. (Facial Wash Bitter /2x daily)
• Steam every second day after cleansing.

• Purify the pores. (Facial Mask /1x weekly)
• Remove dead cells./ (Refining Scrub /1x every 10-14 days but not on irritated skin.
• Reduce bacterial infestation, inflammation and swelling. (Super Aloe Gel and/en Bitter Aloe Gel).
• Restore moisture balance. (Vanishing Cream or/of Whole-leaf Gel /after cleansing.)
• Promote hormonal balance and reduce infection.
(Radical Image /2x daily Val-u-Life /1x daily, Fabulous Fibre Bitter /½-1x daily)

Article from Aloe Ferox Newsletter 4/2012

Aloe Ferox Bitter Crystals and their uses

Aloe Ferox Bitter Crystals and their Beneficial effects

 Why Should you consider using Aloe Ferox Bitter Crystals or Aloe Ferox Fabulous Fibre Bitters?

In order to ensure detoxification it is essential to prevent constipation and assist the liver to
prevent the accumulation of toxins in the body that can result in diseases.

The Aloe Ferox bitter as detoxifier is effective to:
• prevent constipation
• assist the liver to eliminate toxins

Additionally bitter is:

• potent antibacterial and antiviral agent effective for:
• peptic ulcers,
• urinary infection and gastroenteritis,
• herpes and influenza virus
• liver protective and is used prevent cancers.

HOW DOES THE BODY ELIMINATE TOXINS?

Our bodies are continuously exposed to toxins. They are in food, water and the environment
and gets absorbed into the blood stream. These toxins are removed from the blood stream
by the liver and are eliminated via the gastro-intestinal tract.

Since the liver dumps wastes into the intestines it is essential to prevent constipation.

Keeping the bowels clean and moving is a major step in regaining our health since the
bowels are crucial in the elimination of toxins. When the bowels slow down, toxins are NOT
eliminated and are reabsorbed and carried back to the liver for recycling and elimination
thus toxin levels increase.

If these toxins persist in the liver and gastrointestinal tract they can cause irritation and
inflammation making you more susceptible to disease and infection. Common toxicity
symptoms are fatigue, headache, elevated cholesterol, lower back pains, allergies and
indigestion.

Detoxification will restore proper functioning of the organs, cell membrane integrity and
control inflammatory responses. Effective for autoimmune and skin diseases and help
resolve mental disorders and depression.

THE ALOE BITTER DETOX:

Aloe ferox is well known for its medicinal properties. The bitter leaf juice is best known for
its use as a laxative.

Digestive system;

The active constituent in the bitter is the anthrones. They are degraded in the colon by
bacteria to aloe-emodin, which function as a stimulant laxative (Blumenthal 1998). The
cathartic and laxative effect of aloe bitter is caused by its influence on the motility of the
colon.

Resulting in:
• accelerated intestinal passage of feaces and toxins
• increased water content in the faeces making the stool softer.
In addition to its purgative effect the bitter substance the scientific literature documents
various medical applications.
Anti-microbial

The aloe-emodin in bitter has been shown to inhibit the growth of Helicobacter pylori, which is responsible for peptic ulcers (Wang 1998). Similarly, the bitter is antibacterial thus preventing gastroenteritis and urinary tract infection (Reynolds 1999).

Aloe bitter was also found to be virucidal by disrupting the coating of the herpes and influenza virus (Sydiskis 1991).

Liver
The benefit of aloe-emodin on the liver has also been documented. In diabetics the liver
detoxification function is impaired resulting in liver damage. Can (2004) showed that the
bitter had a protective effect on liver injury preventing tissue damage. Additionally, it
lowered blood sugar levels by 34%, which is beneficial for insulin control.
Chung (1996) demonstrated the liver protection effect of aloe-emodin by increasing the
alcohol elimination and the disappearance of alcohol from the body by 45% and 50%,
respectively.

Anti-cancer activity
Kuo (2002) has demonstrated that aloe-emodin induced cancer cell disintegration and acted
as an effective anticancer effect in human liver cancer. Similarly, Pecere (2000) found that
aloe-emodin did not inhibit fibroblast proliferation while selectively inhibiting human
neuroectodermal tumour cells. Aloe-emodin has also been shown to inhibit leukemia by
inducing cell disintegration (Chen 2004).
It is clinically proven that the use of anthranoid laxatives, even in the long term, does not
cause cancer (Nusko 2000).

TOXICITY AND CONTRAINDICATIONS:
In large dosages the aloe bitters can cause severe diarrhea and intestinal cramping.
Chronic use can lead to potassium loss, may reduce absorption of drugs due to decreased
bowel transit time and may cause intestinal dependence on laxatives.
Aloe bitters is not recommended for people with intestinal obstruction, intestinal
inflammation, appendicitis and abdominal pain of unknown origin.



REFERENCES:
BLUMENTHAL, M., BUSSE, W.R., GOLDBERG, A., HALL, T. et al. 1998. German Commission
E Monographs. Austin:American Botanical Council and Integrative Medicine Communications.
CAN, A., AKEV, N., OZSOV, N., BOLKENT, S., ARDA, B.P., et al. 2004. Effect of Aloe vera leaf
gel and pulp extract on the liver in type II diabetic rat models. Biol. Pharm. Bull. vol.27. no.5. p
694-698.
CHUNG, J-H, CHEONG, J-C, LEE, J-Y, ROH, H-K & CHA, Y-N. 1996. Acceleration of the
alcohol oxidation with aloin, a quinine derivative of aloe. Biochemical Pharmacology. vol.52. p
1461-1468.
KUO, P-L, LIN, T-C. & LIN, C-C. 2002. The antiproliferative activity of aloe-emodin is through
p53-dependent and p21-dependent apoptotic pathways in human hepatome cell lines. Life
Sciences. vol.71. p 1879-1892.
NUSKO, G., SCHNEIDER, B., SCHNEIDER, I., WITTEKIND, C. & HAHN, E.G. 2000. Anthranoid
laxative use is not a risk factor for colorectal neoplasia: results of a prospective case control
study. Gut. vol.46. no.5. p 651-655.
PECERE, T., GAZZALO, V., MUCIGNAT, C., PAROLIN, C., et al. 2000. Aloe-emodin is a type of
anticancer agent with selective activity against neuroectodermal tumors. Cancer Research.
vol.60. p 2800-2804.
REYNOLDS, T. & DWECK, A.C. 1999. Aloe vera leaf gel: a review update. J. of
Ethnopharmacology. vol.68. p 3-37.
SYDISKIS, R.J., OWEN, D.G., LOHR, J.L., ROSLER, K-H. A. & BLOMSTER, R.N. 1991.
Inactivation of enveloped viruses by anthraquinones extracted from plants. Antimicrobial
Agents and Chemotherapy. vol.35. no.12. p 2463-2466.
WANG, H., CHUNG, J., HO, C., WU, L. & CHANG, S. 1998. Aloe-emodin effects arylamin Nacetyltransferase
activity in the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. Planta Medica

How Much Aloe is there in Aloe Ferox Skin Care products?

How much aloe is there in the Aloe Ferox skin care products?

Sometimes one sees a skin product that claims to “contain 80% aloe”. It surely sounds
amazing, don’t you think? But is it possible? Advertisements that make these kinds of
assertions are phrased in such a manner to allow for different interpretations, hoping
that the prospective buyer will make the “best” assumption from the clever words.

Take note of the different meanings of the phrase “contains 80% aloe”:

1. 80% of the total composition of the particular skin product consists of raw aloe
while other ingredients accumulate to only 20% of the total composition (this is usually what the advertisement would want one to believe).

But it may also mean:

2. The skin product contains some aloe extracts, and the composition of the extract is 80% raw aloe and 20% other ingredients like solvents (this is usually the correct interpretation!).

Two technical problems exist for topical application of skin products containing plant materials, namely
(1) by their very nature, plant materials degrade (rot) to reunite with their natural environment;

(2) plant materials are ordinarily not skin-friendly – their natural moisture is either sticky, oily, has a strong fragrance, makes the skin itch, or simply irritates the skin. Using a high concentration of these materials in a cosmetic product requires strong preservation to preclude rotting.

Furthermore, skin unsuitability/incompatibility of the final product is commonly directly related to the concentration (%) of plant materials in the product.

However, the phrase “contains 80% aloe” creates the impression that a product of which the final composition contains 80% plant material is more effective than a product of which the final concentration contains 10% aloe. 

This is pure nonsense and preys on the ignorance of consumers.

Scientists working on bio-active materials always specify TWO limits for effectiveness. The first is the lowest concentration required to impart skin benefits. In some cases, this lowest concentration is as low as 0.1%. The upper limit indicates the maximum concentration of the material that will have maximum benefits. Beyond this maximum, there is no additional skin improvement irrespective of the excess. In fact, above the upper limit, the plant may potentially become a skin irritant or be toxic.

Aloe Ferox has done many tests to estimate the maximum aloe concentration in a skin product. The minimum beneficial concentration is approximately 1.5% for water-soluble and 0.5% for oil-soluble aloe extracts. Above 10% water-soluble aloe extract, the final product becomes sticky and will probably create a coating on the skin that looks like dandruff as it peels off during the day. Above 2% oil-based aloe extracts, the final product becomes very oily. The aloe concentrations of Aloe Ferox cosmetic creams, as well as the concentration of Super Aloe Gel are within the limits discussed above. Whole-leaf Gel contains 10-20% aloe extracts, which is still perfectly safe, but which explains why the product is stickier than the other products. The aloe extracts used at Aloe Ferox contain 95 - 100%
aloe.

What does it mean if a product is pH balanced?

The pH of a substance is a scale to measure the acidity or alkalinity of the substance. The scale is like
a short ruler. It has only 14 units with 7 being the middle, hence being neutral. Below pH 7, a
substance is considered acidic and above 7, a substance is considered alkaline (soapy). The farther
the measurement from 7, the stronger the acidity or alkalinity. The pH value of human skin is
between 4.5 and 6.5. All manufacturers of personal care products should measure the pH of the final
product and adjust (balance) the pH if it falls outside skin pH levels, otherwise the product is likely to irritate the skin.

Usually, the pH of a product falls very slightly for some time after it has been manufactured. Therefore, a pH balanced cream is one where the pH has been adjusted to 5.5 - 6.5 during manufacturing to allow for a slight decline and also to prevent the product from irritating the skin.

All Aloe Ferox creams are designed, manufactured and tested to fall within these guidelines. All Aloe Ferox products are pH balanced.

Arthritis and You

The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which is mainly the

degeneration of the cartilage in the joints. It can also involve the lining

of the joint (synovial lining) and the underlying bone.

The body is in a constant process of building new cartilage as it is wearing

down, which is primarily made up of collagen fibres, glycoproteins and proteoglycans.

As the joint begins to wear down, it causes increased stress to the bone. In response the
bone actually becomes denser (spurs forming around the joint).

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system attacks
itself. This causes inflammation of a joint's connective tissues, such as the synovial
membranes, which leads to the destruction of the cartilage.

CAUSES:


1. Osteoarthritis: is a degenerative joint disease most often the result of aging. It can
also develop because of injury such as bones broken, intense physical activity as in
athletics or a defect in the protein comprising the cartilage.

2. Rheumatoid arthritis: is an autoimmune disorder.
a. It may be caused by a viral infection that sets off the immune response in
which the synovial membrane falls under attack.
b. Stress suppresses the immune system increasing pro-inflammatory
cytokines, which create inflammation.
c. Poor nutrition may also contribute to the onset of rheumatoid arthritis.

SYMPTOMS:


• Early morning stiffness reduced ability to move joint.
• Mildly swollen joints.
• Joint pain.
• Redness of skin and warmth around joint.
• Fever and weakness.

LIFESTYLE:

Avoid, Strictly Limit, and/or Minimize:

Most common food culprits to eliminate:
* alcohol, caffeine and sugar
* citrus, salt
* red meat, dairy products high in saturated fats

The most commonly observed vitamin and mineral deficiencies in people with RA are:
* folic acid, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin E, folic acid,
* additives, soft drinks
* flour, potatoes
* eggplants, red peppers, tomatoes

Food allergies and abnormal bowel function (i.e. leaky gut) may combine and
result in toxins and undigested proteins to enter the blood stream. The body
produces antibodies to battle these gut derived foreign antigens creating an
inflammatory reaction when the specific food is digested.

These antibodies formed to attack the (leaky gut) toxins also cross-react and
attack joint collagen. calcium, magnesium, zinc and selenium.

Use Freely, Emphasize, Maximize

 Consume a diet that focuses on whole unprocessed foods.
* Whole grains, legumes, vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds. (high in antioxidants)
* Eat lots of fish (salmon, mackerel, sardines, etc.)

Exercise:
* reduces joint pain and stiffness, builds strong muscle around the joints, and increases flexibility and endurance.

SUPPLEMENTS


Aloe Ferox:

Fabulous Fibre Bitter: contains aloin, emodin, anthraquinones, saponins, zinc,
selenium and mannose that help to alleviate the symptoms of arthritis.

Whole leaf Aloe Juice:
* Improves immune function.
* Stimulates fibroblasts for the growth and repair of synovial membrane.

Omega 3 (3 – 6 capsules per day): improves immune system.
* Helps fight inflammation by producing prostaglandins that down regulates
inflammation.

Joint Support (3 per day):
*Glucosamine Sulfate: is an amino sugar that is the primary building block of
proteoglycans (give cartilage its elasticity). It is selectively incorporated into
joints and improves joint lubrication, protects joints from further damage,
reduces pain and inflammation. It also promotes the incorporation of
sulphur into cartilage.
o Devil’s Claw: improves mobility and physical functioning of joints, reduces
pain and inflammation.

Muscle Gel/Winter Eeze: helps to sooth aching joints and muscles.

Other:
• Vitamin C (500 to 1000 mg 3 times per day): its primary function is the
manufacture of collagen that holds our bodies together (connective tissues,
cartilage, tendons, etc.).
*Vital for wound repair, healthy gums, prevents easy bruising.
* Essential for immune system functioning.
* Important antioxidant.

REFERENCES:

MURRAY, M.T. 1996. Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements. Three Rivers Press:New York.
p. 409-412.
STRAND, R.D. 2002. What your Doctor doesn’t know about Nutritional Medicine may be Killing
you. Thomas Nelson:Nashville.

IBS- Irritable Bowel Syndrome

I have yet again discovered that most chronic diseases have a strong link with emotional distress – and IBS is no exception.

Life is filled with all kinds of stresses and laughter is an excellent way to de-stress.

I hope these make you smile:

• Smile, it's the second best thing you can do with your lips.
• Always remember you're unique... Just like everyone else.
• Hard work has a future payoff. Laziness pays off now.
• Madness takes its toll. Please have exact change.
• I'm going to graduate on time, no matter how long it takes.
• The trouble with the gene pool is that there's no lifeguard.
• I used to have a handle on life, but it broke.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) must not be confused with Inflammatory Bowel Disorder (IBD) like ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, which is characterized by ulcers and inflammation in the intestinal lining.

With IBS, however, the symptoms of abdominal pain, cramping and alternating constipation or diarrhoea can’t be explained because there isn’t any visible inflammation or damage to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract as in IBD.

Normally, food moves through the digestive system due to a constant rhythmic contraction and relaxation of the muscles in the walls of the GI tract (peristalsis), which is controlled by the nervous system. However, when these peristaltic contractions slow down or speed up it causes constipation or diarrhea. Abnormal contractions can also occur that cause the GI wall to go into spasm, which can be extremely painful.





Subsequently, IBS can be classified as:

• IBS-C: constipation is predominant when nerves signal the GI tract to have less frequent contractions.
• IBS-D: diarrhoea is predominant when nerves signal the GI tract to have more frequent contractions.
• IBS-A: alternating stool pattern is caused when nerve signals are sporadic causing both diarrhoea and constipation.

Therefore IBS is described as a hyperactive or hypersensitive digestive system (spastic colon) due to lack of, or excess stimulation by the nervous system.

Unfortunately, medically there is no cure for IBS, however, you can do a lot to alleviate the symptoms.



In order to control IBS it is essential to isolate the foods that cause the most grief and find a suitable substitute. It is also important to keep in mind that since IBS is mainly triggered by stress, food that normally doesn’t pose a problem may become a trigger food during a stressful day.

1. EAT natural foods like vegetables and fruit rich in soluble fiber and its associated nutrients. DRINK plenty of water.

2. AVOID the following:

• Artificial sweeteners may cause severe cramping and trigger diarrhea.
• Sugar contributes to bloating due to bacterial fermentation.
• Preservatives in food can trigger IBS.
• Carbonated drinks may push gas bubbles into the intestine and contain lots of sugar.
• Coffee is a laxative and can give you abdominal cramps.
• Alcohol irritates the gut lining and upsets digestion.
• Fatty and fried foods as well as cow’s milk can be hard to digest.

3. SUPPLEMENT your diet:

• Whole-leaf Aloe Juice provides soluble fibre that doesn’t irritate the gut lining.
• Fabulous Fibre Bitter assists in alleviating constipation.
• Omega 3, which is called nature’s Prozac, alleviates depression and other mental problems.
• Body Basics provides the necessary minerals and vitamins that are depleted during chronic stress.
• Calci-Boost provides both calcium and magnesium that have been shown to calm an overactive nervous system.
• Vitamin C helps the adrenal glands to produce cortisol to allow normal metabolic functioning of the body.

Replacing the culprits with healthy food choices will not only solve your health problems but also save you a lot of discomfort and pain.

(Marsden, K. 2003. Good Gut Healing. Piatkus:London)

How to Reduce Stress and have a Healthy Colon:

IBS is primarily caused by stress and is typically associated with other stress-related disorders such as anxiety and depression as well as PMS, Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).

All these disorders point to past traumatic events or abuse and ongoing psychological stress.
What these disorders have in common is a lack of the “happy” hormone SEROTONIN and a fatigued adrenal gland, which cause a deficiency in the stress hormone cortisol. It may sound like a good thing, but you can’t function properly with a shortage of cortisol.

In order to cope with the stresses of life it is helpful to use
• Get-a-Grip, which is a mild herbal anti-depressant that helps the GI tract to function properly.
• Slim & Trim, which contains a herb that boosts serotonin to normal levels and alleviates the symptoms of these disorders


This article was originally published in the Aloe Ferox Africa Newsletter, by Ronnie Ambachtsheer (BSc Clinical Nutrition)

Please visit our website at www.aloeferox.us to find a distributor
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Sources:

(Gershon, M.D. 1999. The Second Brain. Harper:New York
Marsden, K. 2003. Good Gut Healing. Piatkus:London)