The Alternative Medicine Cabinet: Aloe Vera for Burns
By ANAHAD O'CONNOR
Anahad O’Connor, who writes the “Really?” column for The New York Times, explores the claims and the science behind various alternative remedies that you may want to consider for your family medicine cabinet.
The Remedy: Aloe Vera
The Claim: It heals burns.
The Science: Aloe vera gel may very well be the crown jewel of skin-soothing treatments for damaged skin. And for good reason: Numerous studies have provided evidence that it can heal the minor burns and scrapes that a harsh world can inflict on sensitive skin. Scientists suspect that has to do with the gel’s anti-inflammatory properties.
One randomized study by a team of surgeons in 2009, for example, looked at 30 patients with second-degree burns and found that aloe cream completely healed minor wounds in less than 16 days, compared to 19 days for silver sulfadiazine, a common antibacterial cream used to treat burns.
To be sure, not every study has had conclusive findings. Another one published in the journal Burns in 2007 looked at data from four different studies that included a total of 371 patients with various types of wounds and burns. The authors stopped short of recommending aloe vera gel for all burn and wound healing. “However,” the authors stated, “cumulative evidence tends to support that aloe vera might be an effective intervention used in burn wound healing for first to second degree burns.”
In other words, experts say, for severe wounds that go beyond superficial damage to the skin, medical attention is needed. But for sunburns, blisters and small burns that cause minor pain, redness or damage that is limited to the top layers of skin, aloe vera could make a difference.
“There are factors in aloe that help the cells regenerate and heal faster,” said Dr. Lawrence D. Rosen, a pediatrician at the Whole Child Center in Oradell, N.J., who recommends it to his patients. Dr. Rosen suggests keeping an aloe plant in your home. Or simply purchase a leaf or two from the market and break it open when needed, he said.
The Risks: According to the National Institutes of Health, when used topically, aloe vera gel has no significant side effects.
MY THOUGHTS
this aloe vera (sabila to us) is getting to be my real favorite. it helps hair grow, it cures pimples and rashes. and then it can treat burns. i wonder if this plant would grow in a condo unit where's there's no sunlight...
Showing posts with label aloe vera. Show all posts
Showing posts with label aloe vera. Show all posts
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Natural Remedies for Hair Loss
Natural Remedies for Alopecia Areata
By Cathy Wong, About.com Guide
Updated October 27, 2007
About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board
What is Alopecia Areata?
Alopecia areata is a hair loss condition that causes the rapid onset of round patches of baldness. The cause of alopecia areata is unknown, although in some cases, alopecia areata has been associated with autoimmune diseases.
People are often in good health. In approximately one-fifth of people who develop alopecia areata, there is a family history.
* Causes and conventional treatment of alopecia areata
* Photo of alopecia areata with pustules
Natural Remedies for Alopecia Areata
In most people with alopecia areata, hair usually grows back within a year without any treatment. The following are some natural remedies that have been explored for alopecia areata.
1) Essential Oils
A double-blind, placebo-controlled study examined the use of a combination of essential oils or a placebo oil in 86 people with alopecia areata. The combination oil was a mixture of thyme, rosemary, lavender, and cedarwood essential oils in a mixture of carrier oils (jojoba and grapeseed). This oil was massaged into the scalp daily. The control group used only the carrier oils for their massage, also daily.
After 7 months, 19 (44%) of 43 people using the essential oil blend showed an improvement compared with 6 (15%) of 41 people in the control group. Although no side effects were associated with the topical application of essential oils, they may cause allergic reactions in some people.
* What are Essential Oils?
* How to Use Essential Oils Safely
* Essential Oil Buying Tips
* Which Massage Oil is Best?
2) Onion Juice
A study published in the Journal of Dermatology examined the effectiveness of onion juice or placebo in people with alopecia areata. Twenty-three people with alopecia areata applied the onion juice twice daily for two months, and 15 people applied tap water twice daily for two months.
People in the onion group began to experience regrowth of hair after two weeks of treatment. At four weeks, hair regrowth was seen in 17 (73.9%) people and at six weeks, hair regrowth was observed in 20 (86.9%) people. Improvement was significantly higher among males. In the tap water control group, hair regrowth was apparent in only 2 people at 8 weeks.
3) Hypnosis
A preliminary study explored the use of hypnosis on hair growth and well-being in people with alopecia. The study involved 28 people with extensive alopecia areata, alopecia totalis, or alopecia universalis who did not respond to previous conventional treatments.
After treatment with hypnosis, all patients had a significantly lower score for anxiety and depression. Hair regrowth of 75% to 100% was seen in 12 people after 3 to 8 sessions of hypnotherapy. Total regrowth occurred in 9 of these 12 people. In 5 people, a significant relapse occurred.
There were major limitations to this study, however, including the small size of the study, the lack of a placebo group, and the fact that the study was not double-blind. Larger, well-designed studies are needed.
Sources
Hay IC, Jamieson M, Ormerod AD. Randomized trial of aromatherapy. Successful treatment for alopecia areata. Arch Dermatol. 134.11 (1998): 1349-1352.
Sharquie KE, Al-Obaidi HK. Onion juice (Allium cepa L.), a new topical treatment for alopecia areata. J Dermatol. 29.6 (2002): 343-346.
Willemsen R, Vanderlinden J, Deconinck A, Roseeuw D. Hypnotherapeutic management of alopecia areata. J Am Acad Dermatol. 55.2 (2006): 233-237.
MY THOUGHTS
hypnosis i've heard of. onion juice on the hair is something absolutely new. i remember how people get shocked when i told them "sabila" can cure acne. and now, aloe vera is everywhere. watch out onions!!!!
By Cathy Wong, About.com Guide
Updated October 27, 2007
About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board
What is Alopecia Areata?
Alopecia areata is a hair loss condition that causes the rapid onset of round patches of baldness. The cause of alopecia areata is unknown, although in some cases, alopecia areata has been associated with autoimmune diseases.
People are often in good health. In approximately one-fifth of people who develop alopecia areata, there is a family history.
* Causes and conventional treatment of alopecia areata
* Photo of alopecia areata with pustules
Natural Remedies for Alopecia Areata
In most people with alopecia areata, hair usually grows back within a year without any treatment. The following are some natural remedies that have been explored for alopecia areata.
1) Essential Oils
A double-blind, placebo-controlled study examined the use of a combination of essential oils or a placebo oil in 86 people with alopecia areata. The combination oil was a mixture of thyme, rosemary, lavender, and cedarwood essential oils in a mixture of carrier oils (jojoba and grapeseed). This oil was massaged into the scalp daily. The control group used only the carrier oils for their massage, also daily.
After 7 months, 19 (44%) of 43 people using the essential oil blend showed an improvement compared with 6 (15%) of 41 people in the control group. Although no side effects were associated with the topical application of essential oils, they may cause allergic reactions in some people.
* What are Essential Oils?
* How to Use Essential Oils Safely
* Essential Oil Buying Tips
* Which Massage Oil is Best?
2) Onion Juice
A study published in the Journal of Dermatology examined the effectiveness of onion juice or placebo in people with alopecia areata. Twenty-three people with alopecia areata applied the onion juice twice daily for two months, and 15 people applied tap water twice daily for two months.
People in the onion group began to experience regrowth of hair after two weeks of treatment. At four weeks, hair regrowth was seen in 17 (73.9%) people and at six weeks, hair regrowth was observed in 20 (86.9%) people. Improvement was significantly higher among males. In the tap water control group, hair regrowth was apparent in only 2 people at 8 weeks.
3) Hypnosis
A preliminary study explored the use of hypnosis on hair growth and well-being in people with alopecia. The study involved 28 people with extensive alopecia areata, alopecia totalis, or alopecia universalis who did not respond to previous conventional treatments.
After treatment with hypnosis, all patients had a significantly lower score for anxiety and depression. Hair regrowth of 75% to 100% was seen in 12 people after 3 to 8 sessions of hypnotherapy. Total regrowth occurred in 9 of these 12 people. In 5 people, a significant relapse occurred.
There were major limitations to this study, however, including the small size of the study, the lack of a placebo group, and the fact that the study was not double-blind. Larger, well-designed studies are needed.
Sources
Hay IC, Jamieson M, Ormerod AD. Randomized trial of aromatherapy. Successful treatment for alopecia areata. Arch Dermatol. 134.11 (1998): 1349-1352.
Sharquie KE, Al-Obaidi HK. Onion juice (Allium cepa L.), a new topical treatment for alopecia areata. J Dermatol. 29.6 (2002): 343-346.
Willemsen R, Vanderlinden J, Deconinck A, Roseeuw D. Hypnotherapeutic management of alopecia areata. J Am Acad Dermatol. 55.2 (2006): 233-237.
MY THOUGHTS
hypnosis i've heard of. onion juice on the hair is something absolutely new. i remember how people get shocked when i told them "sabila" can cure acne. and now, aloe vera is everywhere. watch out onions!!!!
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