It is said that unless your digestive system is healthy your body cannot be healthy.
It is true as this is where what we eat is absorbed and then used for body function.
Without a good digestive system, our body cannot absorb nutrients and thus cannot remain healthy.
But there are various disorders which affect our digestive system. Let us discuss a bit about them first.
Digestive disorders affect the gastrointestinal or GI tract. The various parts of the digestive tract are esophagus, stomach, small and large intestine, pancreas, liver, and gallbladder.
Some common digestive disorders are gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or heartburn and irritable bowel disease.
There are various other digestive diseases, some of which are gallstones, hemorrhoids, pancreatitis, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis and more.
Some symptoms include diarrhea, constipation, bloating, bleeding, nausea and vomiting, stomach pain, weight loss or weight gain and incontinence.
Tests to determine the type of digestive disorder you suffer from include colonoscopy, endoscopy, ultrasound and others.
Medications are usually used to treat most simple digestive disorders. For more serious disorders, surgeries or organ transplantation may be required.
A change in diet and lifestyle modifications like exercising and losing weight can also help deal with certain digestive disorders.
Aloe Vera For Digestion
The gel taken from the succulent leaves of the aloe vera plant has been used topically to treat skin burns and infections and wounds.
Aloe vera gel is the jelly-like liquid got from the center of each leaf.
Aloe latex is yellow in color and found below the plant’s skin and contains anthraquinone glycosides that are said to have powerful laxative properties.
Aloe vera gel, on the other hand, does not contain anthraquinones but instead contains glycoproteins, polysaccharides and various vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, sterols, and lipids.
Aloe vera has been used extensively not only for its wound healing properties but also for its ability to improve digestive health.
The bowel can sometimes get lined with unabsorbed food residues.
This in turn affects the way essential nutrients get absorbed causing nutrient deficiency.
The colon can get affected and this causes problems with digestion like diarrhea, abdominal pain and constipation.
Aloe vera juice taken daily for a few weeks is said to aid digestion, loosen food particles and get rid of residual food.
It also helps with detoxification and acts as a natural healer of ulcers or lesions found in the digestive tract.
Aloe vera contains many enzymes, vitamins, amino acids and minerals that can help in treating symptoms of IBS.
It can prevent diarrhea and ease constipation, bloating and stomach discomfort.
Aloe latex got by drying the inner lining of aloe vera leaves has been used as an oral aid for constipation.
Aloe vera can increase bile production and this can break down fats, therefore preventing constipation.
Further studies are required to establish the safety and benefits of aloe vera taken over long periods for constipation.
Digestive problems can be relieved, prevented and got rid off by adopting simple lifestyle changes. Stress is one major cause of imbalance indigestion.
Stress also leads to digestive problems like peptic ulcers or IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). To avoid stress, try relaxation techniques and try to eliminate situations that cause stress.
Eat at correct mealtimes, eat slowly and do not gulp food, stop smoking, do not binge drink and lose excess weight to get rid of various digestive disorders.
Aloe vera extracts taken orally are said to improve the functioning of the digestive tract and improve its ability to absorb nutrients efficiently. It can improve appetite and stimulate bile flow.
Being an antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal agent, it can reduce chances of infections of the digestive tract.
Aloe vera sap is said to provide relief for indigestion, ulcers, heartburn, and IBS.
The enzymes in aloe vera improve blood circulation by dilating blood vessels. This can increase blood cells that can then fight off infection.
Dosage
Aloe vera extracts can be used to treat symptoms of various digestive disorders. Aloe vera can be used to soothe symptoms of GERD and heartburn.
Read label instructions for dosage. While there is no particular 'prescribed dosage' for aloe vera but aloe vera latex is a natural laxative and 50-200mg aloe latex taken once a day for not more than 10 days can help with constipation.
However, it can cause bowel muscle contractions and must be used very carefully. 100 ml aloe vera juice taken twice daily, for 4 weeks can improve symptoms of ulcerative colitis. For Crohn’s disease, refer to label instructions on the appropriate dosage. Both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis come under digestive problems like IBD.
Precautions
Applying aloe vera gel on the skin usually does not cause any side effects. However, it must not be applied on deep or open wounds and burns.
Some people may develop an allergic reaction to topical aloe vera. Excess dosage of aloe latex causes diarrhea and intestinal cramps.
Pregnant and breast feeding women should not take oral aloe latex without prior consultation. Those with heart or kidney disease, liver disease, electrolyte imbalance, appendicitis, ileus must also avoid taking aloe latex by mouth.