The aloe vera plant has been used to aid detoxification for many years. The inner lining of the leaves is used as a laxative while the gelatinous gel between the leaves are used externally on skin.
Aloe vera is available as a tablet, capsule or could literally be harvested from a plant at home, dried and carefully chopped to a fine powder. Be certain your aloe vera has not been grown with pesticides, however.
Detoxification symptoms are designed to cleanse the colon. As with any detoxification program, some people who are "toxic," or have not undergone a directed cleansing program before, may experience headaches, flu-like symptoms or other minor discomfort for a few to several days.
Consult your physician or health care professional before using aloe vera for a directed detoxification program.
Identification
Aloe vera is easily grown in gardens or even indoors and is handy to keep in the kitchen.
Aloe vera used for a directed detox can be purchased at health food stores or online.
Its Latin names include Aloe Africana, Aloe arborescens, Aloe barbadensis, Aloe spicata and bitter aloe. These refer to different types of aloe vera plants.
Capsules used for colon cleansing may be made from one or several different types of aloe vera.
Significance
Regular, directed detoxification programs are a hallmark of alternative medicine. Not everyone should do it as it can create great abdominal cramping or pain for some people. Very overweight people or people with a history of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), for example, should consult their doctors first.
Using aloe vera as a mild laxative can easily clear up minor constipation. This is significant, as it is a convenient way to manage an occasional but important health issue.
People may overeat or travel and eat unfamiliar food that is hard to digest. If you skip more than a day without having a regular bowel movement, you probably will not feel well: using aloe vera in these cases should do the trick.
Adapting your eating and exercise habits long-term can help you avoid constipation without relying on aloe vera or other laxatives.
benefits
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), dried aloe vera leaves are a type of "dried latex... that has traditionally been used as an oral laxative."
NIH also states that "there is strong scientific evidence in support of the laxative properties of aloe latex, based on the well-established cathartic properties of anthroquinone glycosides (found in aloe latex)."
In general, a healthy individual can consume aloe vera for colon cleansing if she closely follows the labels on the aloe vera product.
People seek out detoxification programs to lose weight, to alleviate occasional minor constipation or as a regular practice done two or three times a year. For example, it is common for some people to undergo a direct detox program between the seasons.
Misconceptions
The primary misconception is to believe that one can reverse a lifetime of unhealthy eating habits that result in severe constipation and weight gain from using aloe vera as a laxative and starving.
This is clearly an extreme example, however, if you are using laxatives to lose weight, be forewarned. See your doctor instead for an assessment and advice.
Laxatives of any type can be habit-forming and weaken the colon and reduce peristaltic action, or one's normal ability to have a bowel movement daily.
Prevention/Solution
If you are severely constipated or have regular bouts of indigestion, flatulence or have a history of irritable bowel syndrome, see your physician.
These health issues should not be "solved" by taking laxatives, which can result in a painful detoxification or incomplete cleansing that will leave you feeling worse.
You might have to go to a colon hydrotherapist to gently clear the gastrointestinal tract or be in a hospital to relieve severe impacted constipation.
If you are taking aloe vera for a directed detoxification program, follow the label directions. If you find you have a loose stool or are miserable, reduce your dosage and do not use for more than one day.
If your symptoms continue, see your doctor. Stay well hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids (not soda or coffee).
Tags: aloe vera, detoxification program, directed detoxification, some people, aloe latex