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 Thayer's: Witch Hazel with Aloe Vera, Original Astringent 12 oz US $11.97 
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 Thayers Peach Witch Hazel with Aloe Vera Formula 12 oz US $9.95
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 Vickery & Clarke Natural Apothecary Aloe Vera & Cucumber Face Tonic 4 floz/118mL US $10.99
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 Aloe Vera Sea Mineral Face Toner w/ Hyaluronic Acid Dead Sea Salt Kelp Organic US $12.49
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 Babaria Aloe Vera Revitalizing Facial Toner 400ml US $9.47
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 Thayers Witch Hazel Aloe Vera Astringent 12 oz US $7.99
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 VOV Aloe Vera set 10ml Toner Toning+10ml Moisturizer US $3.93
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![[ETUDE HOUSE] BB Magic Mist 50ml / Chamomile extract, Aloe vera Gel / +Samples](http://www.rowellcapital.com/images/plus/extra39Z413384582_0143.jpg) [ETUDE HOUSE] BB Magic Mist 50ml / Chamomile extract, Aloe vera Gel / +Samples US $8.09
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 THAYERS Witch Hazel ROSE PETAL 12 oz. ALCOHOL-FREE TONER Aloe Vera moisturizes US $8.50
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 Thayers Witch Hazel Aloe Vera Astringent Pads 60 ea US $6.99
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 Dead Sea Toner-Aloe Vera + Chamomile + Vitamin A H&B US $13.99
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 Thayers Rose Petal Witch Hazel Aloe Vera Alcohol Free US $17.30
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 Cucumber Witch Hazel W/ Aloe Vera-Alcohol-Free- Thayers US $21.74
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 Nature Imju Moisture Aloe Vera Smooth Facial Toner 500m US $31.52
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 Lavera FACE TONER ALOE VERA (50ml) US $10.90
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 THAYERS Witch Hazel PEACH 12 oz. ASTRINGENT with Aloe Vera softens refreshes US $8.50
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 Thayers Natural Remedies Lavender Witch Hazel with Aloe Vera 12 fl oz US $8.95
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 Mario Badescu Aloe Vera Toner (8 oz) US $15.00
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 Mario Badescu Aloe Vera Toner (16 oz) US $26.00
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 Puretem Purevera Facial Moisture Skin Toner Lotion ***100% Organic Aloe Vera*** US $28.00
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 Thayer's: Witch Hazel with Aloe Vera, Peach Astringent 12 oz US $11.97
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 SKIN TONER With Mild Astringents of ALOE VERA Soothes US $9.45
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 THAYERS Witch Hazel w/ ALOE VERA #60 astringent pads tannins cooling cleansing US $7.10
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 THAYERS Witch Hazel LAVENDER 12 oz. ALCOHOL-FREE TONER with Aloe Vera moisturize US $8.50
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 Thayers Lemon Witch Hazel Aloe Vera Astringent 12 oz US $7.99
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 Thayers Rose Petal Witch Hazel Aloe Vera Formula Toner US $7.99
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 Aloe vera moisture skin Softner Toner Alcohol free150ml US $9.90
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 DESERT ESSENCE Facial Cleansing pads Cleaning Green Tea or Gentle aloe Vera 50ct US $4.49
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 Thayer's: Witch Hazel with Aloe Vera, Original Toner 12 oz US $11.97
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 AHA Aloe Vera Renewal Face Toner Glycolic Acid 98% Organic Anti-Aging Acne US $12.99
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 DINUR ALOE VERA BALANCING LOTION for Dry/Sensitive skin US $21.00
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 Thayer's: Witch Hazel with Aloe Vera, After Shave 4 oz US $8.38
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 THAYERS Witch Hazel ORIGINAL 12 oz. astringent with aloe vera refreshes cleanses US $8.50
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 THAYERS Witch Hazel LEMON 12 oz. ASTRINGENT with Aloe Vera cleanses refreshes US $8.50
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 Earth Science Aloe Vera Toner & Freshener Dry/Sensitive US $9.79
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Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera and Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by chronic or recurring immune system activation and inflammation within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) are two major forms of IBD. It is estimated that in the United States at least 1 million people suffer from IBD and about 30,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. (1) To date there is no cure for IBD, therefore current treatment strategies have focused on relief of major symptoms including pain, diarrhea and constipation. Results from current treatments are highly variable and usually inadequate. As a result IBD patients have increasingly turned to alternative medicinal approaches to manage IBD and it symptoms. Recent surveys have shown that about 50% of IBS patients use some type of alternative approach that either complements traditional medicine or replaces traditional medicine altogether. (2, 3)
There are strong familial correlations suggesting there are genetic factors that predispose certain individuals to development of IBD. There are also correlations with environmental factors, which may explain why some individuals, with apparent genetic predispositions, never develop IBD while others do. Environmental factors include diet, smoking, pollution, industrial chemicals, infection, occupation with white-collar workers at higher risk, and many others. It also clear from spontaneous cases in people with no family history of IBD, that other factors, yet to be defined, are at play. But whatever the causes, IBD is a serious, debilitating, and sometime fatal disease for which there is no cure and no satisfactory palliative treatment.
While the causes remain unclear, the underlying disease mechanisms and cascade of events are better understood. Regardless of the cause, the initial disease process is inflammation of the mucosal epithelium lining the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Approximately 70% of the immune system is located in the gut. Therefore, the immune system plays an important role in GIT function and GIT health has a major impact on immune function. Inflammation of the GIT sets into motion a cascade of secondary events that perpetuate inflammation, erode immune health, stimulate production of the excess acid, and reduce production of important hormones, such as gastrin, secretin, cholecystokinin and grehlin, that regulate the digestive process. Acidic conditions in the GIT stimulates over production of mucus by the mucosal epithelium. The acidic environment also leads to wound-like damage to the walls of the GIT, which can ultimately perforate if left untreated. The acidic environment leads to reduction of friendly probiotic bacteria, whose function is to facilitate digestion, further disrupting the normal digestion process. Probiotic bacteria are replaced by harmful bacteria that in turn perpetuate the cycle of inflammation. With reduced probiotic bacteria the inflamed, acidic, and wounded GIT loses its natural abilities to properly receive, digest, and process food, which leads to a variety tertiary intestinal problems such as diarrhea, constipation, bloating, and gas to name a few.
Aloe vera has been recognized and coveted as a medicinal plant for thousands of years. Aloe vera has been used to treat a wide range of medical conditions including diseases of the GIT and wounds. The Aloe vera leaf can be divided into the two major components. The first is the tough outer rind from which aloe "latex" is derived. Several active ingredients of the latex have been identified. Most of these have potent laxative properties. For that reason, they will not be discussed further here. The second major component of the Aloe vera leaf is the inner leaf gel (aloe gel). While aloe gel contains many positive and beneficial ingredients, including vitamins, minerals, and polysaccharides, the primary active ingredient is Acemannan. Acemannan is a high molecular weight, long chain polysaccharide composed of three monosaccharides (mannose, glucose, and galactose in a 3:1:1 ratio. Through modern research many of the beneficial medicinal activities associated with aloe gel are now attributed to Acemannan. Acemannan's activity is critically dependent upon its molecular integrity, which can be compromised by several commonly used steps in the manufacturing process thus reducing its activity or rendering it inactive altogether.
Acemannan is a potent immunomodulator. (4) Unlike immunostimulatory or immunosuppressive molecules, which push the immune system exclusively in one direction or another, immunomodulators balance the immune system helping to return it to a more normal state. Several scientific studies have shown that Acemannan is an immunomodulator having the ability to bring the immune system back into balance. In particular, Acemannan through its immunomodulatory functions has the ability to function as a potent anti-inflammatory agent. (4-6) And more specifically Acemannan has been shown to have potent anti-inflammatory activity on human colorectal mucosa. (7) Collectively these data suggest that oral administration of aloe gel or Acemannan preparations may be beneficial as part of a comprehensive treatment strategy for IBD by addressing the underlying root cause of the disease.
Aloe vera has been shown to reduce the production of stomach acid. (8, 9) Over production of stomach acid has been implicated as a major complicating factor of IBD. Over production of stomach acid can damage the lining of the GIT, perturb the balance of friendly probiotic bacteria and unfriendly bacteria, and stimulate inflammation. Many therapeutic approaches have been developed in an effort to control stomach acid production in IBD patients. Some have been modestly effective, while many others have been largely ineffective in the majority of IBD patients. Aloe gel acts directly on acid producing cells to reduce acid production. Among many benefits, reduction of stomach acid will stop chronic injury to the cells lining the GIT, promote healing of the GIT, and help break the cycle of inflammation.
Aloe vera was perhaps first recognized for its wound healing properties. (5,6,10,11) Inflammation and acidic conditions of the GIT of IBD patients leads directly to injury (wounding) of the mucosal epithelium. Aloe vera's potent wound healing activities act directly on fibroblasts and epithelial cells of the GIT to first stimulate the production of collagen which fills in the wound creating a matrix for new cells to begin to fill in the wound. Acemannan then stimulates cells adjacent to the wound to migrate into the collagen matrix, proliferate, and differentiate to complete the healing process. Wound healing is a critical step in the reduction of symptoms and remission of IBD. Chronic inflammation and acidic conditions deters wound healing. Aloe vera's anti-inflammatory properties and acid reduction activity creates an environment that promotes the natural wound healing process.
Aloe vera has anti-pain activity. (12-14) Because of the over production of acid and wounding of the gut IBD patients often endure chronic pain. While some pain relievers may provide short-term relief but chronic use of pain relievers may have significant side effects and can often exacerbate the underlying causes of abdominal pain. Therefore, alternative approaches to pain control, such as Aloe vera, are much needed in the management of IBD.
Aloe vera has probiotic activity. (15) Probiotics, or friendly bacteria, play an important role in GIT health, digestion, and health of the immune system. A healthy balance of friendly bacteria and unfriendly is approximately 85% to 15% respectively. However, because of diet, life style, and stress it has been shown that many people have an unfavorable balance of friendly to unfriendly bacteria, which can lead to many digestive and immune disorders. In particular, inflammation and acidic conditions in the GIT of IBD patients inhibits growth of friendly bacteria and promotes the growth of unfriendly bacteria. In addition to its acid balancing and immune balancing activities which helps promote the growth of friendly bacteria, Aloe vera also has a natural probiotic activity, which further promotes the growth of friendly bacteria and promotes restoration of a healthy balance of friendly and unfriendly bacteria.
On the surface Aloe vera would seem to be the miracle cure for IBD and in fact some clinical trials have shown potent efficacy of Aloe vera in IBD patients. (8,16) However, there are also reports of clinical trials, and anecdotal reports from individuals, where Aloe vera failed to demonstrate efficacy. How can that be? First, we now know that many of the methods for preparation of Aloe vera commonly used in the past adversely affect the molecular integrity of Acemannan reducing its activity or rendering it inactive. (7,18) Careful reading of the methods of preparation used in these failed studies, and based on what we know today, suggest that Aloe vera preparations used in many trials would have had dramatically reduce activity, if any activity at all. In fact, many of these methods or preparation are still in use resulting in wide disparity of Acemannan content in Aloe products on the shelf today. (19,20) According to these surveys only about one third of the products on the market at the time had minimally acceptable amounts of Acemannan while most (two thirds) had little or no Acemannan content. To achieve the best possible results in the treatment of IBD patients should be careful to only select Aloe vera products that have been prepared and quality controlled to the highest standards. Second, IBD is a highly complex disease with multiple causative factors and multiple complex factors that perpetuate the disease, making it unlikely that any single product will provide complete relief. However, for those who do respond, Aloe vera represents a legitimate addition to traditional treatment or alternative to failed traditional treatments.
AceAloe+ is a new Aloe vera product that contains the highest and most consistent Acemannan content of any Aloe product on the market today. For the manufacture of AceAloe+, aloe plants are grown and harvested under certified organic conditions. The aloe leaves are processed using a proprietary method that preserves the integrity and activity of the primary active ingredient. AceAloe+ has been formulated with a proprietary blend of all natural herbs that both complement and enhance the natural activities of Aloe vera making it the most potent Aloe vera product on the market. AceAloe+ comes in capsule form with a recommended dose of 2 capsules a day.
Click here for a free copy of the AceAloe+ brochure
Literature Cited
1. Hanauer SB. Inflammatory bowel disease: epidemiology, pathogenesis, and therapeutic opportunities. Inflammatory bowel diseases. 2006;12(5):S3-S9.
2. Hussain Z, Quigley EMM. Systematic review: complementary and alternative medicine in the irritable bowel syndrome. Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics. 2006;23(4):465-471.
3. Kong SC, Hurlstone DP, Pocock CY, et al. The incidence of self-prescribed oral complementary and alternative medicine use by patients with gastrointestinal diseases. Journal of clinical gastroenterology. 2005;39(2):138.
4. Im SA, Lee YR, Lee YH, et al. In vivo evidence of the immunomodulatory activity of orally administered Aloe vera gel. Arch Pharm Res. Mar 2010;33(3):451-456.
5. Choi S. The wound healing effect of a glycoprotein fraction isolated from aloe vera. British Journal of Dermatology. 2001;145(4):535-545.
6. Choi S, Chung MH. A review on the relationship between Aloe vera components and their biologic effects, 2003.
7. Langmead L, Makins RJ, Rampton DS. Anti-inflammatory effects of aloe vera gel in human colorectal mucosa in vitro. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. Mar 1 2004;19(5):521-527.
8. Blitz JJ, Smith JW, Gerard JR. Aloe vera Gel in peptic ulcer therapy; preliminary report. Journal AOA. 1963;62.
9. Yusuf S, Agunu A, Diana M. The effect of Aloe Vera A. Berger (Liliaceae) on gastric acid secretion and acute gastric mucosal injury in rats. Journal of ethnopharmacology. 2004;93(1):33-37.
10. Choi SW, Son BW, Son YS, Park YI, Lee SK, Chung MH. The wound-healing effect of a glycoprotein fraction isolated from aloe vera. Br J Dermatol. Oct 2001;145(4):535-545.
11. Davis RH, Donato JJ, Hartman GM, Haas RC. Anti-inflammatory and wound healing activity of a growth substance in Aloe vera. Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association. 1994;84(2):77.
12. Davis RH, Leitner MG, Russo JM. Aloe vera. A natural approach for treating wounds, edema, and pain in diabetes. Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association. 1988;78(2):60.
13. Eshghi F, Hosseinimehr SJ, Rahmani N, Khademloo M, Norozi MS, Hojati O. Effects of Aloe vera Cream on Posthemorrhoidectomy Pain and Wound Healing: Results of a Randomized, Blind, Placebo-Control Study. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2010;16(6):647-650.
14. Vogler BK, Ernst E. Aloe vera: a systematic review of its clinical effectiveness. Br J Gen Pract. Oct 1999;49(447):823-828.
15. Sinnott RA, Ramberg J, Kirchner JM, et al. Utilization of arabinogalactan, aloe vera gel polysaccharides, and a mixed saccharide dietary supplement by human colonic bacteria in vitro. International Journal of Probiotics and Prebiotics. 2007;2(2/3):97.
16. Langmead L, Feakins RM, Goldthorpe S, et al. Randomized, double blind, placebo controlled trial of oral aloe vera gel for active ulcerative colitis. Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics. 2004;19(7):739-747.
17. Femenia A, Garcia-Pascual P. Effects of heat treatment and dehydration on bioactive pollsaccharide acemannan and cell wall polymers from Aloe babadensis Miller. Carbohdrate Polymers. 2003;51:397-405.
18. Im SA, Oh ST, Song S, et al. Identification of optimal molecular size of modified Aloe polysaccharides with maximum immunomodulatory activity. Int Immunopharmacol. Feb 2005;5(2):271-279.
19. Bozzi A, Perrin C, Austin S, Vera F. Quality and authenticity of commercial aloe vera gel powders. Food Chemistry. 2007;103(1):22-30.
20. Turner CE, Williamson DA, Stroud PA, Talley DJ. Evaluation and comparison of commercially available Aloe vera L. products using size exclusion chromatography with refractive index and multi-angle laser light scattering detection. Int Immunopharmacol. Dec 20 2004;4(14):1727-1737.
About the Author
Dr.Cowsert received his Bachelors of Science degree from the University of Florida,
(Gainesville). Dr. Cowsert received his PhD from Georgetown University Medical School (Washington, DC) where he focused on the molecular biology, immunobiology, and pathology of Human Papillomaviruses. He completed his postdoctoral studies at The National Cancer Institute (Bethesda, MD). Dr. Cowsert has over 20 years' experience in the biotechnology industry where he has held positions of increasing responsibility from Senior Research scientist to executive C-level management positions. During his tenure in the biotechnology
industry Dr. Cowsert lead multiple drug discovery teams and worked on multiple drug development teams with direct interactions with the FDA. Much of Dr. Cowsert's scientific work has been supported by over $5M in highly competitive government grants from the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute. Dr. Cowsert has written many peer reviewed scientific articles and book chapters and has been an Editor for a peer reviewed scientific journal for 10 years. He has been an invited speaker at many international scientific meetings and is an inventor on 140 issued US Patents.
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