One of the many injustices
allopathic medicine has perpetrated is to label cancer a terminal disease.
Popular culture has accepted the concept “cancer as death sentence” and
constantly puts forth hypnotic suggestions to this end. This creates within us
a self-fulfilling scenario. The very real power of the mind and a broken spirit
can sabotage one’s healing process.
After cancer surgery, I felt like a victim of random life
experience and this eroded my sense of self and confidence. I know one’s
thinking, as well as the chronic diseases, can be corrosive to mind, body, and
spirit. But after reading Father Romano’s book, one feels empowered and
hopeful. His Aloe recipe can be utilized as therapeutic, preventative, or
adjunctive.
Aloe Isn't Medicine, And Yet It Cures! (1997), written by Father Romano Zago, OFM, gives
the reader a sense of empowerment. Chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, or
heart and kidney issues can make us feel helpless, out of control.
Father Romano Zago, who also wrote Cancer Can Be Cured,
included within the appendix a scientific
monographic including a history of Aloe Vera and Aloe Arborescens. Father
Zago's books have received acclaim in the field of alternative medicine on five
continents. In Aloe Isn't Medicine, And Yet It Cures! he presents the curative properties of Aloe. The book
describes a recipe and plan for curing over 100 types of illnesses.
Father Zago’s recipe for preparing Aloe juice medicinally
and treatment plans are clearly explained in his books and are relatively
simple. Although Zago describes a process where one grows the plant and
processes it at home, he does explain how to use commercially produced Aloe
juice in the recipe. It is essential to buy good quality juice that comes in a
dark bottle.
The Aloe Vera plant has been used by many civilizations
medicinally for thousands of years. The Sumerians were first to document the
medicinal properties of the plant. Ancient Egyptian papyrus documents have been
found noting at least 12 Aloe Vera formulas treating everything from skin
disorders to the internal workings of the body. Aloe Vera was widely used in
India, 375 B.C. The powers of Aloe Vera are mentioned in the Bible. Aloe was
one of the most frequently prescribed medicines during the 18th and 19th
centuries. It continues to be one of the most commonly used herbs in the United
States
The Aloe Vera plant is a succulent belonging in the genus
of aloes and the tall, spiky leaves grow like long rosettes. Aloe prefers dry,
warm conditions but is basically pretty hardy. Many of us have grown this plant
for it’s essential beauty relatively unaware of its true healing power. As a
child I knew it and used it as “the burn plant.”
The medicine is extracted from the plant leaves. Cut off
the leaf removing the thin outside layer of green flesh from one side exposing
the gel-like interior. The gel-like substance contains the healing
constituents.
Until the 1940’s the healing power of Aloe Vera was
anecdotally established, not based on scientific evidence. However since then,
there are a growing number of rigorous scientific studies and evidence that
proves the benefits of Aloe Vera. The top benefits of Aloe Vera:
High in Vitamins & Minerals: including A, C, E, folic
acid, choline, B1, B2, B3 (niacin), B6, one of the few plants that contains
vitamin B12; some of the 20 minerals found in include: calcium, magnesium,
zinc, chromium, selenium, sodium, iron, potassium, copper, manganese.
Aloe Vera is high in amino acids and fatty acids. Amino
acids are the building blocks of protein include18-20 amino acids, with all 8
essential amino acids.
Aloe Vera is an adaptogen. It has the ability to boost the
body's natural ability to adapt to external changes and resist illness
stimulating the body’s defense and adaptive mechanisms to cope with stress
(physical, emotional and environmental stress like pollution.)
Aloe helps with digestion issues, which are related to many
disease states. It soothes and cleanses the digestive tract improving
digestion. As an adaptogen, it helps with either constipation or diarrhea to
regulate your elimination cycles. It can be a remedy for irritable bowel
syndrome as well as acid reflux.
Aloe helps to decrease the amount of unfriendly bacteria
and in the gut keeping healthy intestinal flora in balance. As a vermifuge, it
helps to rid the body of intestinal worms.
Aloe Vera is a gelatinous plant food. The benefit eating
gelatinous plant foods is that as the gel moves through the intestinal tract, it absorbs toxins along the way to be eliminated.
Aloe alkalizes the body. Disease cannot manifest in an
alkaline environment. It is recommended the diet be 80% alkaline forming foods
and 20% acidic. As an alkaline forming food, it helps to balance overly acidic
dietary habits.
Some research demonstrates that Aloe Vera extract injected into the
blood multiplies the oxygen transportation and diffusion capabilities of red
blood cells. A study published in the British Medical Journal (2000), beta
sitosterol, found in Aloe Vera, helps to lower cholesterol.
The Aloe Vera polysaccharides stimulate the white blood
cells enhancing the immune system’s fight against viruses. Aloe has a high
level of anti-oxidants, which help combat the unstable compounds known as free
radicals, contributing to the aging process.
Aloe is used to reduce or prevent fever.
Aloe Vera has many benefits for the skin: burns,
abrasions, psoriasis and even to bug bites; helps relieve pain of wounds;
relieves or prevents itching; disinfectant, anti-biotic, anti-microbial, germicidal, anti-bacterial, anti-septic, and also
helps to treat fungal and viral infections.
Aloe reduces inflammation, which helps with painful joints
due to stiffness and helps improve joint flexibility.
TOXICITY, CAUTIONS & CONTRA-INDICATIONS: No known
toxicity. However, Aloe is not recommended for use internally for more than 10
days, as it can cause laxative dependency (this refers to ingestion of pure aloe, not to Zago's Aloe recipe.) Long-term use of aloe latex may
cause potassium deficiency and result in irregular heartbeat and weakness (Perhaps potassium supplementation would be appropriate.) Potential Drug Interactions: Aloe should not be taken internally if you are
taking the following drugs: digoxin (Lanoxin), diuretics, steroids, drugs for
irregular heartbeat, and drugs that cause potassium loss. It may cause blood sugar
levels to become too low, especially if combined with blood sugar medications.
Although I have not tried Father Zago’s recipe, my
Alternative physician, who also has MD credentials in allopathic medicine,
suggested that I drink Aloe Vera. The gelatinous texture was not palatable to
me. Perhaps Zago’s recipe would be different—I intend to try creating it.
However, I did find a dried form of Aloe that I was
willing to try. It is somewhat difficult to digest but by mixing it into Kefir
milk (a yogurt drink), I found the Aloe easily digested.
The corrosive nature of chronic diseases, to mind, body,
and spirit, and the hypnotic suggestions of
powerlessness, looming misery, pain and death fostered by our current culture
can be countermanded. Father
Zago’s book, Aloe Isn't Medicine, And Yet It Cures! empowers us to heal ourselves. I believe part of the
strength of the treatment plan lies in taking self-responsible action. Aloe
seems to be a wonderful adjunctive therapy if you choose not view it as primary
treatment.
http://www.ehow.com/about_4762069_medicinal-uses-aloe-vera.html#ixzz2sCP88sjo
umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/aloe
http://www.thealoeinstitute.org
Zago, Romano.
Aloe Isn't Medicine, And Yet It Cures!,
(March 13, 2009) iUniverse Publishing. ISBN-10: 1440125767, ISBN-13:
978-1440125768
http://www.herbalist.com/articles/details/21/ALOE+VERA
