Treatment of gastritis with aloe: how to take

Aloe is considered one of the most popular folk remedies that can cure many diseases. For example, if you take aloe for gastritis, you can quickly stop the development of the inflammatory process, restore the mucous membrane and even strengthen the immune defense. The juice of the plant is taken in its pure form, or made from it mixtures with other medicinal ingredients. Such combinations help make the medicine more effective and pleasant to use.

Indications

Can you use aloe for gastritis?

Gastritis is a disease that often alternates between periods of exacerbations and remissions. If a person is predisposed to such exacerbations, has acidity disorders, then aloe can really help. The plant is also suitable for preventing gastritis.

Aloe is most often used in the following ways:

• Every morning for a month, shortly before breakfast, take 10 drops of fresh juice. The treatment is repeated every six months.
• 3-4 times a year for 21 days in the morning eat the pulp of one aloe leaf, chewing it well and washing it down with warm water.
• Eat 1 teaspoon of juice daily and wash it down with the same amount of honey. The medicine can be washed down with warm water.

When starting treatment for gastritis, it is necessary to remember other rules that will help you recover faster and prevent further relapses of the disease. You need to completely revise your diet, exclude spicy and fatty foods. It is important to give up smoking, drinking alcohol, etc. The daily routine also requires revision: you need to find time not only for work, but also for rest, because constant stress contributes to the appearance of a new attack of gastritis. Walks in the park, in the forest have a good anti-stress effect. Following such simple advice in combination with taking aloe will speed up recovery.

Aloe for gastritis with high acidity

The juice from the lower leaves of aloe slows down the development of the inflammatory process in the stomach walls with excess acid, eliminates the feeling of unpleasant burning behind the breastbone, helps the mucous membrane to recover, and relieves pain (and quite quickly).

The following composition perfectly eliminates excessive acidity:

• 200 ml of raw potato juice is prepared in a juicer;
• add 2 tablespoons of aloe juice and the same amount of honey;
• This remedy is taken on an empty stomach in the morning, approximately 25-35 minutes before breakfast.

The drink is prepared every morning, since it loses its medicinal properties during storage.

Aloe for atrophic gastritis

Atrophic gastritis is a serious problem that must be treated by a doctor. Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory therapy, drugs to improve enzymatic activity and gastric motility are usually prescribed. And only in the intervals between exacerbations of atrophic gastritis is it permissible to carry out treatment with folk remedies - for example, with the aloe plant.

The most popular recipes for atrophic gastritis are:

• 200 ml of honey is combined with 500 ml of sea buckthorn oil and 100 ml of aloe juice. The remedy is taken 1 tbsp. before meals three times a day, for a long time.
• 20 drops of propolis alcohol tincture are mixed with the same amount of aloe juice, diluted with water and taken before meals three times a day for 3 weeks.
• 1 tbsp. of dry mint leaves is brewed with boiling water (200 ml), infused until cool, filtered. Add 1 tsp. of honey and 1 tbsp. of aloe. The entire volume is drunk during the day, in several doses, shortly before main meals.

Aloe for erosive gastritis

Erosive gastritis is a serious pathology that is accompanied by the formation of significant damage to the mucous tissues of the stomach. With such a diagnosis, the patient should never prescribe treatment for himself or stop the therapy prescribed by the doctor. It is possible to use folk methods for erosions, but only in combination with the main drug therapy. Aloe for gastritis is perfect as such an additional folk remedy.

The use of plant juice for erosions should continue for at least two months. It is drunk in the amount of 1 teaspoon a quarter of an hour before meals, three times a day. It is optimal to wash down the medicine with warm water and honey.

It should be noted that it is not advisable to prepare juice for future use, as it will quickly spoil. It is stored in the refrigerator for no more than a day.

If the damage to the stomach is significant and the pain does not subside, then you can increase the dosage slightly - to about 1 dessert spoon three times a day.

Aloe for gastritis with low acidity

Insufficient acidity in the stomach is often accompanied by increased gas formation and impaired digestion. Aloe in combination with honey, raspberries and plantain successfully combats such symptoms. The remedy is prepared as follows:

• squeeze out 1 teaspoon of aloe juice and the same amount of plantain juice;
• brew raspberry leaves in boiling water (1 tbsp. leaves per 200 ml of water), leave until cool, squeeze and filter;
• mix all ingredients, add 1 teaspoon of honey;
• Take the medicine 15 minutes before meals, 100-150 ml.

It is important that the honey used to prepare the medicine is natural and not artificial. Using fake honey can aggravate the problem, and instead of benefiting the patient, it will only harm the body.

Benefits

Benefits and medicinal properties of aloe

Aloe Vera contains 75 potentially active components: vitamins, enzymes, minerals, sugars, lignin, saponins, salicylic acids and amino acids. [ 1 ]

Vitamins: The presence of vitamins with antioxidant properties is especially important - these are ascorbic acid, tocopherol, vitamin A and group B. It also contains vitamin B12, folic acid and choline. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals.

Enzymes: Contains 8 enzymes: aliase, alkaline phosphatase, amylase, bradykinase, carboxypeptidase, catalase, cellulase, lipase, and peroxidase. Bradykinase helps reduce excessive inflammation when applied topically to the skin, while the others help break down sugars and fats.

Minerals: calcium, chromium, copper, selenium, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium and zinc. They are necessary for the proper functioning of various enzyme systems in different metabolic pathways, and only a few are antioxidants.

Sugars: Monosaccharides (glucose and fructose) and polysaccharides: (glucomannans/polymannose). These are derived from the mucilaginous lining of the plant and are known as mucopolysaccharides. The most well-known monosaccharide is mannose-6-phosphate, and the most common polysaccharides are called glucomannans [beta-(1,4)-acetylated mannans]. Acemannan, a known glucomannan, has also been found. Recently, a glycoprotein with anti-allergic properties called alprogen and a new anti-inflammatory compound, C-glucosylchromone, have been isolated from aloe vera gel. [ 2 ], [ 3 ]

Anthraquinones: 12 anthraquinones have been found, which are phenolic compounds traditionally known as laxatives. Aloin and emodin act as analgesics, antibacterial and antiviral.

Fatty acids: contains 4 plant steroids; cholesterol, campesterol, β-sysosterol and lupeol. All of these have anti-inflammatory properties, and lupeol also has antiseptic and analgesic properties.

Hormones: auxins and gibberellins, which help in wound healing and have anti-inflammatory effects.

Others: Contains 20 of the 22 amino acids required by humans and 7 of the 8 essential amino acids. It also contains salicylic acid, which has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Lignin, an inert substance when included in topical preparations, enhances the penetration of other components into the skin. Saponins, which are soap substances, make up about 3% of the gel and have cleansing and antiseptic properties.

Mechanism of action

Medicinal properties: Glucomannan, a mannose-rich polysaccharide, and gibberellin, a growth hormone, interact with growth factor receptors on fibroblasts, thereby stimulating their activity and proliferation, which in turn significantly increases collagen synthesis after topical and oral application of Aloe vera. [ 4 ] Aloe not only increased the collagen content of the wound, but also changed the collagen composition (more type III) and increased the degree of collagen cross-linking. Due to this, it accelerated wound contraction and increased the strength of the resulting scar tissue. Increased synthesis of hyaluronic acid and dermatan sulfate in the granulation tissue of the healing wound was reported after oral or topical treatment. [ 5 ]

Effect on UV and Gamma Radiation Exposure of Skin: Aloe vera has been reported to have a protective effect against radiation-induced skin damage. [ 6 ], [ 7 ] The exact role is unknown, but after application of aloe vera, the antioxidant protein metallothionein is formed in the skin, which scavenges hydroxyl radicals and prevents the suppression of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in the skin. It reduces the production and release of immunosuppressive cytokines derived from skin keratinocytes such as interleukin-10 (IL-10), and therefore prevents UV-induced suppression of delayed-type hypersensitivity. [ 8 ]

Anti-inflammatory action: Aloe vera inhibits the cyclooxygenase pathway and reduces the production of prostaglandin E2 from arachidonic acid. Recently, a new anti-inflammatory compound called C-glucosylchromone has been isolated from gel extracts.

Effects on the immune system: Alprogen inhibits calcium influx into mast cells, thereby inhibiting antigen-antibody-mediated histamine and leukotriene release from mast cells. In a study on mice previously implanted with murine sarcoma cells, acemannan stimulated the synthesis and release of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor from mouse macrophages, which in turn initiated an immune attack that led to necrosis and regression of cancer cells. [ 9 ] Some small molecule compounds are also able to inhibit the release of reactive oxygen radicals from activated human neutrophils. [ 10 ]

Laxative effects: Anthraquinones present in Aloe vera peel are a strong laxative. It increases the water content in the intestines, stimulates mucus secretion and increases intestinal peristalsis. [ 11 ]

Antiviral and antitumor activities: These actions may be due to indirect or direct effects. The indirect effect is due to stimulation of the immune system and the direct effect is due to anthraquinones. The anthraquinone aloin inactivates various enveloped viruses such as herpes simplex, varicella and influenza. [ 12 ] In recent studies, the polysaccharide fraction has been shown to inhibit the binding of benzopyrene to primary rat hepatocytes, thereby preventing the formation of potentially cancer-causing benzopyrene-DNA adducts. Induction of glutathione S-transferase and inhibition of the tumor-promoting effects of phorbol-myristin acetate have also been reported, indicating a possible benefit of using aloe gel in cancer chemoprevention. [ 13 ], [ 14 ]

Moisturizing and rejuvenating effect: Mucopolysaccharides help bind moisture to the skin. Aloe stimulates fibroblasts, which produce collagen and elastin fibers, making the skin more elastic and less wrinkled. It also has a binding effect on the superficial exfoliating epidermal cells, gluing them together, which softens the skin. Amino acids also soften hardened skin cells, and zinc acts as an astringent, tightening pores. Its moisturizing effect has also been studied in the treatment of dry skin associated with occupational exposure, where aloe vera gel gloves improved skin integrity, reduced the appearance of fine lines and reduced erythema. [ 15 ] It also has an anti-acne effect.

Antiseptic effect: Aloe Vera contains 6 antiseptic agents: lupeol, salicylic acid, urea nitrogen, cinnamic acid, phenols and sulfur. All of them have an inhibitory effect on fungi, bacteria and viruses.

Thus, aloe is used for gastritis due to its healing properties:

• regeneration (restoration) of internal tissues of the stomach;
• destruction of pathogenic microorganisms (antimicrobial action), reduction of the activity of E. coli;
• strengthening the immune system;
• inhibition of the inflammatory process;
• healing of erosions, ulcers.

The plant components that have anti-inflammatory properties also have an analgesic effect and help damaged tissues recover.

In case of acidity disorders, aloe activates regeneration, blocks atrophic processes, eliminates bloating, and generally normalizes the function of the digestive organs.

Contraindications

Contraindications

The first important contraindication to taking aloe for gastritis is high blood pressure. The juice of the plant increases the spasm of the vascular network and thereby worsens the patient's condition. With severe hypertension, aloe can provoke a hypertensive crisis.

It is not recommended to take products containing aloe for other diseases and conditions:

• in case of severe liver and kidney dysfunction;
• for any malignant processes in the body;
• for benign tumors (cysts, polyps, etc.);
• in case of hypersensitivity, tendency to allergic reactions.

Aloe treatment should be approached with extreme caution if the patient suffers from diabetes: the plant contains poly and monosaccharides that can affect blood sugar levels.

Pediatricians do not recommend offering aloe products to children under 14 years of age. And it is definitely forbidden to treat small children under three years of age with the plant juice.

It is no less risky for pregnant women to take aloe: there is evidence that the juice can cause fetal death or spontaneous abortion.

Complications

Possible complications

Before you start treating gastritis with aloe, you need to take into account some points that will help you avoid complications:

• It is necessary to adhere to the recommended dosages. Aloe juice does have healing power, but this does not mean that it can be drunk in any quantities. In case of anthraglycoside overdose, signs of intoxication may appear, enterocolitis, hematuria may develop.
• Aloe has a bactericidal effect on gastritis, and not selectively, but directly. As a result, the microflora necessary for the intestines dies along with pathogenic microorganisms. With unjustified long-term treatment, dysbacteriosis may develop. To prevent such a complication, you need to think about prevention in advance and additionally take probiotics or consume fermented milk products.
• The juice and pulp of aloe leaves are suitable for treating gastritis, but not the outer shell of the plant. Those patients who prefer not to waste time preparing the medicine, but to eat the leaves whole, expose themselves to danger. The skin of aloe contains a natural substance called aloin, which, when consumed in large quantities, can provoke the development of malignant neoplasms.
• Treatment of gastritis with aloe is not recommended for women over 40-45 years old, since during this period their body is rebuilt, pre-menopausal conditions occur, and at this stage the risk of developing cancer can increase.

Aloe will not harm gastritis and will even help a lot if the treatment is carried out correctly, strictly adhering to the recipe and recommendations of specialists.