Xref: utzoo sci.bio:3956 sci.chem:2574 misc.consumers:24671
Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!mit-eddie!uw-beaver!zephyr.ens.tek.com!tektronix!sequent!mntgfx!msellers
From: msellers@mentor.com (Mike Sellers)
Newsgroups: sci.bio,sci.chem,misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Aloe, Aloe...
Message-ID: <1990Nov25.025235.15265@mentor.com>
Date: 25 Nov 90 02:52:35 GMT
References: <2144@ac.dal.ca> <4188@kitty.UUCP>
Organization: engr
Lines: 46

In article <4188@kitty.UUCP> larry@kitty.UUCP (Larry Lippman) writes:
>In article <2144@ac.dal.ca>, bthill@ac.dal.ca writes:
>> I am curious about the nature of the chemical in Aloe plants that has healing
>> qualities.  I'd appreciate any information posted here or mailed to me.
>
>   [...]
>	I am not aware of any "healing" properties of aloe, other than
>to promote defecation.  I have seen soap and cosmetic products which
>allege to contain aloe, and I know of *NO* proven benefit to be derived
>from the inclusion of aloe or its derivatives in any such product!
>
>	Since the "general public" does not really know what aloe can or
>cannot do, and since the ingredient name aloe seems "exotic", it is a
>marketing ploy which sells soap and cosmetic products.  Just as useless
>as "lemon" in dishwashing detergents...
>
>Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp.  "Have you hugged your cat today?"

I think you've just set yourself up for a flood of anecdotes relating the
Truly Wondrous and Unique Qualities of our friend, Aloe.  :-)

Semi-seriously, it does seem to have some moisturizing properties, which
can help with burns.  Yes, this is anecdotal (mea saurus), but I got my
first really bad sunburns in the Philippines (like 2" long blisters on the
tops of my ears when I got a military haircut as part of being an extra
in "Apocalypse Now" -- but that's a different story :-) ), and aloe was
quite effective in easing the pain, moisturizing the burned areas in the 
short term, and apparently reducing peeling in the long term.  If I have a 
choice I will use aloe or an aloe-derivative on sunburns, as in my 
non-controlled experience it seems to soothe them better than other 
available products.  I don't know about all the products that claim to 
contain aloe (I suspect the "exotic" nature is a marketing gimmick as you 
suggest), but aloe does have more than just to promote defecation (!).

Come to think of it, I'd imagine _real_ lemon juice would aid in washing
dishes as the acid might tend to break up heavy oils -- the same reason
people squeeze it on their fish!  Lemon scent might be another story, except
that even that probably has some value for those people who cannot abide
the smell/taste of detergent in the back of their throat.


-- 
Mike Sellers     msellers@mentor.com     Mentor Graphics Corp.

"I used to think that the brain was the most wonderful organ in my
body.  Then I realized who was telling me this." -- Emo Phillips