Today's Daily Health Tip

A Closer Look at Aloe Ferox
by Jennifer Good

Native to Africa, aloe ferox (also known as cape aloe or bitter aloe) is renowned for its remarkable natural colon cleansing benefits. As an effective natural laxative and colon cleanser, it is probably the strongest of the colon stimulating herbs. Aloe ferox is among the tallest of the more than 400 aloe species and can be found in the Cape Region of South Africa. Compared to the more widely known Aloe vera, Aloe ferox produces 20 times more bitter sap and has higher nutrient concentrations.1

It is used mainly to make bitter aloes for laxative purposes and sometimes to treat arthritis. A 2004 study looking into the effects of aloe ferox on irritable bowel syndrome found that 30% of the participants on the aloe showed either clinical remission or improvement. Only 1% of participants on the placebo exhibited the same results. Based on this study, it is thought that taking aloe for four weeks could reduce symptoms of IBS.2

Laboratory experiments have also shown that aloe ferox stimulates the growth not only of lymphocytes, which are an important part of the immunological defense mechanisms, but also of fibroblastic cells in skin and connective tissues and can help soothe and heal tissue in the intestinal tract.

Numerous scientific studies on aloe gel are demonstrating its analgesic, anti-inflammatory, wound healing, immune modulating and anti-tumor activities as well as antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties. The aloe juice has been shown to lower cholesterol and triglycerides while demonstrating anti-diabetic activity.1

In addition, Aloe ferox is used to create a non-bitter gel that can be used in cosmetics, and is reported to have wound healing properties.3 A 2008 study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology comparing compounds from aloe ferox with compounds from other aloe genus on wound healing indicated that aloe ferox exhibited therapeutic properties, aided in the healing process, and inhibited some microbial growth.

Aloe ferox has been harvested as a medicinal plant for over 200 years. Today, however, while it is not yet threatened with global extinction, the species has become extinct in several localities where harvesting and urban expansion pose a threat. To combat this threat, Aloe ferox is currently listed on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), and a number of the plants can be found in protected areas within South Africa.4 Nevertheless, limited amounts of aloe ferox powder can be (and are) legally exported (mostly to the European Union) and then re-exported and used in nutritional products worldwide.5
Learn more on how Jon Barron uses Aloe ferox (also known as cape aloe) in his colon correcting formula here.

For more great topics on natural health visit the website, JonBarron.org!

Resources:
1 - http://www.aloeferox.us/faq
2 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15043514
3 - http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantab/aloeferox.htm
4 - http://www.arkive.org/bitter-aloe/aloe-ferox/
5 - http://www.traffic.org/species-reports/traffic_species_plants1.pdf
http://www.jonbarron.org/herbal-library?qt-herbal_library=0#qt-herbal_library