Bowel Does Not Work Due to Long Term Use of Aloe

by Roberta
(South Africa)

I have been drinking an aloe juice ( brand name removed, no advertisement or name-calling ) for the past 6 years and have decided to stop. I thought it was a natural thing but I've been told by a few doctors that its not good for long term use and can cause colon cancer. My problem now is that my bowel does not work at all because its been so dependent on ( brand name ). HELP!!! What do i do????

Candy's response:

Dear Roberta,

More than two weeks is considered long-term internal use, and your consumption of aloe vera juice lasted six years...

The side effects are:

1.Depletion of potassium. The situation can be worse if you are also taking diuretics which are considered potassium-wasting.

2.This subsequently leads to toxic buildup of calcium in the bloodstream.

3.For women who take calcium carbonate for osteoporosis they can end up with kidney damage.

4. Cardiac disease.

5. Yes, even Hepatits.

As for colon cancer, it is about the laxative compound found in aloe called aloe-emodin which scientists have been debating if it could damage colon cells...Theoretically, if you follow the instructions, aloe juice does not cause cancer or genetic damage. The general chances of you and I getting colon cancer is 4 per cent. Stopping aloe vera after twenty weeks gives the body a chance to recuperate from the effects. For folks who have taken aloe vera or any herbal laxative for a year and develop colon changes, the risk of developing colorectal cancer within five years is 3 per cent.

Some IBS folks report availability of aloe products in which the aloin ( from the latex/bitter aloe ) and emodin are removed to make them "suitable for long term consumption." But, I am not in a position to endorse edible health products. So I am sure you have become wiser from this experience and try to be more discreet.




References

1.Prescription for Herbal Healing: An Easy-To-Use A-Z Reference to Hundreds of by Phyllis A. Balch

2.Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects by Iris F. F. Benzie, Sissi Wachtel-Galor