The Canary Islands are famous for their Aloe Vera products and plants can be seen growing all over the Islands. Aloe Vera is well known to be an excellent treatment for sunburn, as a moisturiser, as an anti inflammatory and even as a laxative. Preliminary studies suggest that aloe juice may help lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 (adult onset) diabetes.
(http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff307/sankofasoothers/aloe_vera.jpg)
I decided to do some research after buying some pure Aloe Vera while I was away and found some more interesting facts....
Precautions:
The use of herbs is a time honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease. Herbs, however, can trigger side effects and can interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, you should take herbs with care, under the supervision of a health care provider.
Aloe gel is considered safe when applied to the surface of the skin, but should not be applied to open or deep wounds. In rare cases, it may cause an allergic reaction, mainly a skin rash. If you develop a rash, stop using the gel.
Taking aloe latex orally may cause severe intestinal cramps or diarrhea and is not recommended. Pregnant women should never take aloe latex because it may cause uterine contractions and trigger miscarriage. Nursing mothers should not take aloe latex either because the effects and safety for infants and children are not known.
Possible Interactions:
If you are currently being treated with any of the following medications, you should not use aloe vera without first talking to your doctor. Do not take aloe for 2 weeks prior to any surgical procedure as it may cause increased bleeding during surgery.
Medications for diabetes -- The combination of aloe vera and glyburide, a medication used to treat type 2 diabetes, may help control blood sugar and triglyceride (fat) levels in the blood. People with diabetes who use aloe either alone or in combination with other medications must be monitored closely by their doctor to make sure blood sugar levels don't fall too low (a condition called hypoglycemia).
Digoxin and diuretics -- Because taking oral aloe can decrease levels of potassium in the body, aloe latex should not be used by people taking diuretics (water pills) or digoxin (a medication used to treat irregular heart rhythms and congestive heart failure). These drugs also lower potassium levels in the body, so a combination of aloe and digoxin or diuretics could cause potassium levels to fall too low.
Lidl sell it here for £1.99. ;D ;D
Do they? I must see if they sell it in Dublin too. One of my Sons finds it better than Hydrocortizone for his skin. In fact it is the only thing that works for him.
fifi they have one pitiful plant left and they are now onto these instead: http://www.lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/lidl_uk/hs.xsl/offerdate.htm?offerdate=33061 (http://www.lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/lidl_uk/hs.xsl/offerdate.htm?offerdate=33061) std wee flowers.
Will let you know when they are back on sale again.
kenny
Thanks Kenny. :)
If you are in the UK ready to travel the Banana Boat Aloe Vera Gel is on offer as a BOGOF. Its for the large bottle 475ml i think. Have heard some amazing stuff about Aloe Vera so off to get some today in time for my hols to the lovely island :D 8)
i meant to also put its in Boots :)
Use wot you fancy but Banana Boat Soothing Aloe After Sun etc etc had squat aloe vera in it last time I bought it. Plus it contains alcohol which dries the skin. Time ago, I complained to Boots about misleading shoppers by calling it Aloe Vera when it had so little in it. The gal said that their buying committee had approved it so therefore it must be alright ! So since then have used Hawaian Tropic which really is nearly all aloe vera. But presumably Fuerte has to be the ace place to buy the real stuff. Just saying.
Thanks for that Conniebee :) i havent tried it yet, on bought it on recommendation so will see what its like. But i will defo get some from FUE when we go :D
The "health" shops in the UK sell the gel in large tubes very inexpensively ( about £3.00) and is marked as 99% Aloe Vera - much cheaper than on the Island, where I have always been surprised at the cost of the home grown products!
I burnt my hand with the hair straightners when I was away and the pure Aloe vera healed it in days. Very impressive.