In this case I decided to swallow my skepticism. When a fellow survivor says it works, I'm more inclined to give it a shot.
Aloe is a member of the liliaceae family - in other words, it's related to the lily. Garlic and onion are also in this family of plants. The inner part of the plant leaf produces aloe gel, which is used in topical applications like skin lotion and cosmetics; aloe juice, made with aloe gel and water, is for internal use.
In an article from Better Nutrition, Dr. J. Jamison Starbuck explains that aloe gel contains glucomannan, which works as an anti-inflammatory and aids in wound healing; it also helps stop itching. Aloe gel has been used topically to treat burns, wounds, abrasions, skin ulcerations, psoriasis and frostbite.
Dr. Starbuck cites a 1995 study which indicates that psoriasis can be managed efficiently with a topical aloe vera cream. After four weeks of active treatment, 45 percent of the study participants were considered "cured," Dr. Starbuck writes. They were evaluated using the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI). Study participants reported no adverse symptoms or allergic reactions.
The word "cure" always makes me a little nervous when applied to psoriasis, since there is no known cure. Perhaps "remission of symptoms" would be a better term. But any reduction in symptoms are welcomed by people with psoriasis, particularly when the treatment carries a low risk of side effects.
Donovan J. Anderson, M.D., has come up with a psoriasis treatment regimen that incorporates aloe. This regimen includes regular application of topical aloe, large doses of aloe drinking juice and supplements of megavitamins and antioxidants. Top this off with a strict all-natural diet that excludes junk foods and includes lots of fresh fruits and vegetables.
The only contraindication to aloe that I'm aware of applies to people with fibromyalgia who are taking guaifenesin. Dr. Devin Starlanyl, who has written two outstanding books on fibromyalgia, explains that aloe and salicylates fit certain receptors better than guaifenesin, therefore they block the effectiveness of guaifenesin. If you have both fibromyalgia and psoriasis, you and your doctor should decide together if aloe would be of more benefit to your skin than guaifenesin is to your body. For me, the psoriasis came first, it's more resistant to treatment and I'm not taking guaifenesin, so aloe was an easy choice.
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