Aloe vera

The inner leaf of the aloe vera plant contains a substance called mannose which is an essential polysaccharide. These sugars in combination with proteins are used by the body on the surface of each cell to communicate.“Saccharides enable cells to give and receive instructions, to respond to each other’s needs,” “Virtually every change within our multicellular bodies, from conception to death, is to some degree mediated by this language of sugars”*

For a menopausal woman the adrenals are the main source of hormone production apart from a small amount from the ovaries.

The process of hormone production is complicated. The hypothalamus signals the pituitary gland to inform the adrenal glands to produce hormones.   So aloe vera by enhancing cell communication is going to have a beneficial effect on the efficiency of the body in regulating hormone production.

Aloe vera has been used as a healing plant for centuries. In India, aloe vera has been used by Ayurvedic doctors as one of the herbs for menopausal symptoms particularly women displaying a Pitta type of menopause. A main symptom picture of Pitta patients is extreme hot flushes.

In Chinese medicine mannose, in the form of shitake, cordyceps, and reishi mushrooms are used to increase hormone production and libido, in both men and women.

The menopause is a time when other chronic diseases can be triggered. Aloe vera can have a beneficial effect on arthritis because of its anti-inflammatory properties, and diabetes, as mannose helps lower blood sugar and triglyceride levels. It is also useful to control thrush and candida, because of its anti fungal properties.

*Reference: Sugars that Heal by Emil I Mondoa M.D, and Mindy Kitei published by Ballantine Books

Information written by the talkhealth medical panel

Last Reviewed: 1 November 2010
Next Review Date: 1 November 2012