Why Does It Work and How Does It Work?

Why Does It Work?

It works by providing a rich cocktail of nutritional elements whose combined action and balance produce a more powerful effect than would be expected from the addition of the individual components. This is bacause they work as a team, enhancing each other's effect - known as synergism. It also has adaptogenic properties which means it is a substance which increases non-specific resistance of an organism to adverse influences such as infection or stress.

Where Does It Work?

Aloe Vera, because of its nutritional qualities and antitoxident properties, helps firstly to prevent injury to epithedial tissues, an where they are damaged, it promotes healing.
Antitoxidants fight fight the destructive "free radicals", the unstable compounds produced by our metabolism and found in environmental pollutants. They are thought to cause various ailments including some cancers as well as contributing towards the ageing process.
An epithelium is an anatomical term defined as follows: "An epithelium is a layer of cells that covers the body or lines a cavity that connects it."
Our largest epithelium is our skin, but also included are the lining of the gut, the bronchial tubes an the genital tact. No wonder that aloe works just as well on damaged skin as it does, say, on an inflamed bowel or in asthma.

How Does It Work?

Its natural anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial action combined within its nutritional constituents promote cell growth and therefore healing. However, it is not only helpful for people with problems; most people taking it report a greater sense of well being - they just feel better or they report feeling calmer and less anxious.
I believe this last comment is due to aloe's second effect on the immune system which you may say becomes balanced or fine tuned and therefore more efficient at defending the body from attack.

In Conclusion

Aloe Vera is not a panacea for all ills and there is no magic about it. I believe it works primarily in the two areas mentioned previously - epithelial tissue and the immune system. This is largly backed up by anecdotal evidence, as many thousands of people over the centuries have reported benefit for various skin cmplaints such as eczema, psoriasis, ulcers, burns, acne, even stings and bites. They have found relief for bowl disorders such as colitis, diverticultis and Irritable Bowl Syndrome. Other conditions resulting from a disordered immune system such as arthritis, asthma and ME (post viral fatgue syndrome) and LE (lupus) have improved after a regular ingestion of Aloe Vera gel.
Aloe Vera therefore has a complimentary role to play in the management of various conditions. It is very important however that people should always seek the advice of their doctor when the diagnosis is in doubt or where a condition does not improve. Self diagnosis can be extremely dangerous as many serious conditions can mimic more simple ones.