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Propolis is a resinous substance that honey bees collect from tree buds, sap flows, or other botanical sources. It is used as a sealant for unwanted open spaces in the hive.

Propolis is believed to prevent diseases and parasites from entering the hive, and to inhibit bacterial growth.

The name of “propolis” came from the Greek words “pro”- before and “polis”- city. The meaning was assigned when Geek naturalists noticed that bees are using that substance to seal their “cities”, or hives, from unwanted intruders. Some sources attribute the word “propolis” to Aristotle dating back to 350 B.C. Propolis has a long history of medicinal use. Greeks have used propolis for abscesses; Assyrians have used it for healing wounds and tumors; and Egyptians have used it for mummification. It still has many medicinal uses today.

Propolis also called Bee Glue, is rarely available in its pure form. It is usually obtained from beehives and contains mixture of other bee products: beeswax, bee pollen, and royal jelly. It also contains 22 amino acids, B-complex vitamins, and aromatic oils.

Natural medicine practitioners use propolis for the relief of various conditions, including inflammations, viral diseases, ulcers, and burns. It is also believed to promote heart health, strengthen the immune system and reduce the chances of cataracts. Many beekeepers recommend a piece of propolis kept in the mouth as a remedy for a sore throat.

When choosing the best Aloe Vera product you have to look at few basic aspects of preparation:

1^st – Aloe Vera product stabilized, boiled or pasteurized

2^nd – What parts of Aloe Vera were used in preparation process

3^rd – The amount of Aloe Vera used in Aloe Vera product, problems with dilution, adulteration pesticides use

1. Aloe Vera product stabilized, boiled or pasteurized. What the difference?

In order to keep Aloe Vera fresh a special methods and preservatives are used in a process.

The method that keeps all active ingredients intact is called stabilization.

Stabilized Aloe Vera product has all original ingredients of the plant while boiled or pasteurized products do not.

Enzymes that responsible for detoxification of our body are perished at 53C degrees. Boiling or pasteurization completely destroys the enzyme's

functionality.

2. What parts of Aloe Vera are used?

When leaves of Aloe Vera cut they demonstrate two important substances.

The one that located closer to the leaf skin is the yellow-brown colored sap mainly exuded wherever the green surface of the leaf is cut.

This yellow, latex-like slightly bitter liquid contains anthraquinones .

Aloin , also known as Barbaloin, is an example of anthraquinone. 

It is an irritant and has been used for many years as a laxative ingredient.

The other substance situated in the interior of the leaf the transparent fibrous liquid Aloe Gel – the most efficient component of the plant.

Aloe Gel recently became very popular for its special therapeutic properties.

Aloin that has been used for centuries as a laxative is not longer generally recognized as a safe and effective by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (beginning May 2002).

Aloe Gel has gained respect as a product used for nutritional drinks, as moisturizer and as a healing agent in cosmetic and natural medicine industry. 

Chemical analysis has discovered that this clear Aloe Gel contains active ingredients including vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, proteins, polysaccharides and biological stimulators.

There are many articles with studies of Aloe Vera benefits but it is not always mentioned what parts of the plant or what Aloe product were used for the study  and how the Aloe product was prepared. 

For successful and objective conclusion of the study it is important to specify what part of the plant was employed in study of the plant’s medical properties.

Any studies that fail to declare it will likely to confuse the outcome of the study rather than clarify it.

Any company that doesn’t make clear what part of the plant was used in a product may contain mixture of both parts and eventually compromise the usefulness of the product for the most purposes where Aloe Vera is usually used.

3. The amount of Aloe Vera used in Aloe Vera products, problems with dilution and adulteration

Government regulations state that the ingredients must be listed in order, starting with the highest volume component.

Due to Increased popularity of Aloe Vera and growing demand for Aloe Vera products market got flooded with poorer quality Aloe Vera products.  

Those products have fewer amounts of Aloe Vera by using dilution with water or adulteration with cheaper non-Aloe solids without clear label declaration.

This tendency plays negative role in Aloe Vera reputation industry and lower the known Aloe Vera benefits value.

For the purpose of setting standards for the purity of Aloe Vera the industry created non-profit trade organization The International Aloe Science Council (IASC). The IASC bases in Texas and provide the certification of purity and genuineness of Aloe Vera products.

IASC Members List provides list of all registered companies and organizations.

First Aid Kit is a necessary thing to have in every home and car. First Aid kit is a collection of supplies and equipment used in giving first aid. It can be assembled by individual or purchased complete.

Variation of the content of first aid kit based on several reasons: knowledge and experience of the one putting it together, the different requirements of the area and region where it will be used.  

The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) recommends to every household to have a first aid kit to help to respond to any minor or more serious medical emergencies.

ALOE VERA GEL is one of the elements of a First Aid Kit recommended by The American College of Emergency Physicians. Aloe Vera Gel can help “to relieve skin problems, including burns, itching and dryness.”

On Wikipedia website Aloe Vera Gel is also recommended for topical medication in a First Aid Kit. Aloe Vera Gel - “used for a wide variety of skin problems, including burns, sunburns, itching, and dry skin; used as a substitute for triple-antibiotic gel to keep a wound moist and prevent bandages from sticking”.

Besides Stabilized Aloe Vera Gel for skin that called Aloe Vera Gelly Forever Living Company has other excellent product – Aloe First Spray.

Aloe First Spray of Forever Living is an excellent addition to any first aid kit. It based on stabilized Aloe Vera gel, Bee propolis and Allantoin. Aloe First is designed to soothe the skin after minor cuts, scrapes, burns, and sunburn. This pH-balanced spray is easy to apply to even sensitive skin.

Watch Video by ABC News where Dr. Mehmet Oz reveals all necessary things all should have in their First Aid Kits.

References:

1.   Home First Aid Kit by American College of Emergency Physicians

2.    Windale, Rose. "Saving lives with Emergency Medicine"

3.    Wikipedia.org/First_aid_kit

Stye also known as Hordeolum, is Staphylococcus aureus bacterial infection of the oil glands of the eyelid that appears as a small red bump on the base of the eyelashes.

The most common and simple way to treat it is to apply a clean, worm wet washcloth for about 5 minuts, for 3-4 times a day. 

It called compressing and can also relive swelling and pain.

Other effective treatments of the stye involve using herbs that used topically as well as orally. Aloe Vera known antibacterial properties can help in killing bacteria that caused the stye.

Fresh Aloe Vera leaf inner gel or 100% pure, stabilized Aloe Vera Gel or juice can be used for the application.

If you prefer to use fresh Aloe leaf then cut it lengthwise and apply the inner pulpy tissue of the leaf directly on the stye. Otherwise use the pure, quality and stabilized Aloe Vera gel or juice.

Keep eye pack soaked in Aloe juice or Aloe leaf pulp for 20 minutes and change it frequently over a one hour time span. Aloe will ease the pain and inflammation.

Good idea will be to mix chamomile tea with Aloe juice and continue to apply the eye packs soaked in this mixture. It will help to stop the inflammation.  For the complete treatment continue this procedure at least 3 times a day for a few days until the problem disappears completely.

Refferences: “The Grate Aloe Book “ by Alessandro Bassetti ans Stefano Sala – 4.9.6, p.80.

•    www.medicinenet.com/sty/article.htm

•    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stye

•    www.mamaherb.com/eye-stye-home-remedy-using-aloe-vera

•    herbs.ygoy.com/2008/11/27/eye-stye-remedies

Aloe Vera Juice or Gel can be consumed orally and can help relieve arthritis joint pain.

Arthritis is a group of conditions involving damage to the joints of the body. The name came from Greek words arthro- – joint + -it is – inflammation.

The main symptom and complain of victims of arthritis disease is inflammation of one or more joints, which results in pain, swelling, stiffness, and limited movement.

Inflammation is a reaction of the body on injury and characterized  by swelling, pain, redness, heat and loss of function.

There are over 100 known different types of arthritis. The most common types are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and autoimmune diseases.

Autoimmune diseases are illnesses that occur when the body's tissues are mistakenly attacked by their own immune system.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of the joints, inflammation of the tissue around the joints, as well as in other organs in the body. It most typically affects the small joints in hands and feet.

Rheumatoid arthritis causes a painful swelling that can eventually result in bone erosion and joint deformity.

In addition, rheumatoid arthritis can also affect the whole body with fevers and fatigue. The swollen area is normally red in color and described as inflamed. The redness is caused by the blood supply to the ‘damaged’ area being increased.

Various arthritis treatments are available.

Conventional treatment includes use of anti-inflammatory drugs and steroids, typically cortisone injections or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Analgesic (painkillers) and anti-inflammatory drugs, including steroids, are used to suppress the symptoms. These certainly can relieve the painful effects but unfortunately do not repair damaged tissues.

There can also be undesirable side effects, particularly thinning of the skin and osteoporosis, potential to cause stomach ulcers.

Non-pharmacological treatment includes physical therapy, occupational therapy and nutritional therapy.

Natural  treatment includes herbal remedies.

Science has authorized a number of herbal substances as effective remedies for arthritis. Herbs are a more natural way to relieve arthritis pain, and are free of side effects associated with many prescription and over-the-counter drugs.

The fallowing natural remedies are known to help for arthritis :

• Boswellia,
• Devil's Claw, Ginger,
• Green-Lipped Mussel Omega 3 Oil,
• Turmeric plant (used to flavor food and has been used as an anti-inflammatory in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine for centuries),
• Ashwagandha plant
• Aloe Vera.

Aloe Vera is believed to reduce severe joint and muscle pain associated with arthritis. When applied directly to the area of pain, Aloe Vera penetrates the skin to sooth the pain.

Studies have found that ingestion of Aloe Vera on a daily basis can prevent and cause a regression of adjuvant arthritis (AA).

Aloe Vera can also inhibit the autoimmune reaction associated with certain forms of arthritis, in which the body attacks its own tissues.

Repairing damaged tissue by regenerating cells is a function at which Aloe Vera has been shown to be most successful. It is not only relieves the painful symptoms but also helps to disperse damaged tissue – a type of detoxification process.

Aloe Vera may be taken both internally as a Juice and Gel or externally as a Gel applied to the painful joint.

Taking it both ways Aloe Vera’s deep penetration may show maximum benefit. The degree of success with this treatment varies considerably from person to person. With some, relief and improved joint flexibility is virtually immediate – an apparent ‘magical’ cure, while in others, the process can take much longer and the degree of recovery may not be so great.

According to the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association (JAPMA) Aloe Vera can help prevent arthritis and reduce the inflammation in joints already affected by arthritis (study was published at 1994).

Researchers injected animals with a bacterium to cause arthritic symptoms, specifically inflammation and swelling. To determine if it could prevent arthritis, aloe (150mg/kg body weight) was injected under the skin daily for 13 days. Physical measurements were taken daily to determine the amount of swelling and inflammation. Several compounds from aloe showed anti-arthritic activity, according to the researchers. One organic acid in aloe reduced inflammation by 79.7% and suppressed the autoimmune response by 42.4%. Another aloe compound -anthraquinone reduced inflammation by 67.3% but had no effect on the autoimmune response.

Is Aloe Vera safe as a herbal treatment for arthritis?

In 1997, a researcher at the University of San Antonio conducted a study  using lab animals to observe any negative effects of drinking Aloe daily.

No harmful effects were found even at high levels. In contrast, the test animals who received Aloe Vera daily had significantly lower levels of leukemia, heart disease and kidney disease, and they lived 25 percent longer than the rats that did not receive Aloe Vera.

Update: Fasting is recommended and important procedure to cleanse the antigen-antibody complex from joints, where they remain as a part of immune defense system. Also Aloe should be taken for several month until significant results. Take 4 tablespoon (50ml) of pure Aloe Vera Juice or Gel, 2 times a day in the morning before meal and in the evening before bed. Take it with 1 glass of water or any juice. Aloe Vera juice or gel can also be use topically to ease a strong neuralgia.

Refference: “The Grate Aloe Book “ by Alessandro Bassetti ans Stefano Sala.p160 4.10.1

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