In her book Kate Gilbert mentions she believes using Aloe Juice helped her control inflammation and reduce meds levels. Plus in her case it may have also possibly restored gut health which may have been the cause of her PMR.
Lots of ‘possible’s’ and ‘maybe’s’ so there seems to be no research or scientific view on this but was wandering if the forum had any inputs into the use of Aloe Juice?
After reading Kate's book, I did try it, but cannot say hand on heart it did anything for my reductions...but like her I was quite some way into my journey [her PMR, me GCA] - and probably was nearing remission anyway.
What's the relationship between gut health and PMR? Not sure I've heard that before.
Small paragraph in Kate Gilbert’s book. She feels one of the possible causes of PMR occurs when a faulty gut that is not filtering good from bad bacteria and other nasty’s allows some of the ‘bad stuff’ to enter the blood stream thus triggering an immune (over) reaction. By healing the gut, the normal filtering mechanism is restored and mostly ‘good stuff’ enters the blood stream.
There are a lot of anti-inflammatory foods which can be easily searched on the internet. Green leafy vegetables, berries, grapes etc.
The extract from Kate’s book has not convinced me but always worth a try especially if it is not harmful. If you speak to a medical herbalist they will probably say that herbal remedies take 3 months for their effect. Not saying this is the case with Aloe Juice but 1 month does not long enough to get results was mentioned. Look how long you are on strong medication for? So patience maybe needed. But it may just give you that little boost to support your medication and resolve your condition quicker.
Choosing quality food will support you. Juicing or soups just add another set of nutrients to your body.
Complementing the ‘mainstream’ approach with personalised healthy eating and complements, as long as there are no known downsides, plus exercise, certainly seems to make sense.
Exactly. I have just made a spinach soup with onions, rosemary etc. Both veg are anti inflammatory. Spinach is also quite rich in calcium and magnesium, for extra nutrients for my bones. Soups have become an addition to my meals or I will drink it mid-morning instead of tea. Oh yes, it was delicious too.
Thanks. I've got tons of gut issues myself, so was interested to hear of a possible connection.
Good bacteria in the gut plays a vital role in so many aspects of health, including the immune system apparently. One of the downsides of antibiotics is they are indiscriminate. One of the GPs at our surgery told me to double the dose of probiotics when on A/Bs and afterwards for a week, then resume as normal.
I know from many health issues that if my gut isn't happy my auto immune PMR, lyme, mcas, dysautonomia, depression is really bad. 70% your immune system is in your gut and 90% ish serotonin is made in gut. Happy gut equals happy brain and body. Well to an extent with all the health crap we all deal with. inflammation is a B!!! 😫I see a huge difference if I eat bad my depression and all my health issues get much worse. Hope this helps a lil. 😊💚
The relationship between gut biome and PMR isn't yet well studied. When I was diagnosed with PMR my GP put me on a special diet (very low carb, anti-infammatory). This was follwed up by testing my gut biome relative species numbers. Issues with overgrowth of bad bacteria were treated. The usual follow up didn't happen because of Covid. When we got back to it I went through a second gut biome adjustment. See my previous posts about this.:
healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...
healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...
I'm now tapering from 3.5mg to 3mg by the DSNS method. Was I finally able to get below 5mg after a few years of trying unsuccessfully because of the gut biome adjustment? Or has enough time passed and getting below 5mg has nothing to do with it? We can't tell the difference because you need a well designed clinical trial to approach those sorts of questions. A clinical study would give overall confidence that gut biome adjustment helps compared to no adjustment. It still wouldn't be definitive about me as individual case. Such is the relationship between individuals and population studies.
I’ve read several books on gut health and how our generation has been at the mercy of the food industry and poor or ineffective regulation leading to widespread consequences such as huge increases in diabetes, coronary diseases, cancers etc. Super processed foods, and its effects on the human digestive system is increasingly being flagged as a root cause to many ailments and s huge cost to society and to individuals. The Mediterranean diet has long been hailed as a marker for better gut health and overall well being. Like several other forum members I have adopted a strict anti inflammatory diet - let’s see where this takes things!
Tried it for 1 month after reading the same book. I can't say it helped. No more/no less than any of the other stuff they sell and market to people looking for natural solutions, ie. don't waste too much money!
Fair enough, thanks, I am actually quite mindful of that.
I don’t think 1 month of drinking Aloe Juice can credibly mend anything but, circumstantially, I did damage the lining of my gut several years ago by taking Naproxen for osteoarthritis knee pain (have had KR 5 years ago) do it sort of struck a chord with me, and the gut disfuncionality thing sort makes sense so will try for a few months. It’s all natural, not expensive and appears not to have any downsides. Plus the upsides would be a blessing! But agree it is unlikely to be silver bullet!
I have a friend who has recommended it to me but says its a long term thing, you stay on it so a month won't make any difference.
I think much of what Kate said in her book was very much her experience rather than general. It has been discussed on the forum in the past - and I honestly can't remember anyone for whom it achieved a lot.
I grow Aloe Vera in a pot in the kitchen. One thing it does help is burns, I am forever burning myself on the cooker, I just break a piece off and rub it onto the burn. Aloe Vera also is advocated for several things and can be used as a skin cream and for health drinks. healthline.com/health/7-ama...
We have an organization called Consumer Lab which testes supplements, vitamins and other remedies. They recently found that many aloe preparations do not have actual aloe in them or small amounts.
I tried drinking aloe for the abdominal pain after antibiotics for H pylori; it didnt help and tasted sour.
The aloe plant does work for burns.
I do the same as Piglette. It is brilliant for burns. I grabbed the handle of a pan that had been in the oven. I shoved the hand under cold water for 20 mins but still the palm began to blister. Then cut the Aloe leaf spread the juice over and over the burn and voila! All perfectly fine! Not even sore! I have tried drinking it but I can’t say it has helped. But it can’t do harm.
As for gut health I am sure we are going to hear more about that as a cause for many conditions. It was mentioned in a documentary about Parkinson’s as an interesting possible trigger.
Yes, the gut seems to be responsible for many things. So being mindful about what we put in it makes sense (says she after red wine and chocolate last night !) As we can see it work to heal burns, it does the same in the gut. But no use using a poor quality one. Get the best. Forever living is pure Aloe.. It is expensive though
I think you draw a good conclusion here Blossom i.e that if it's good for burns it follows that it may help inflammation. Worth a try...?
I am also of the opinion that there must be something we do that causes this reaction/ inflammation and that getting into a healthy range weight wise and doing everything we can re gut health can only help our bodies to restore our health. Mine came on after flogging myself up mountains trying to repair a broken heart and drinking too much alcohol with consoling friends. I’m now, years later, able to climb stairs again lol , and focus very strongly on eating a wholefood diet. I don’t like the taste of aloe but I’m all for improving good gut bacteria.
They are finding gut bacteria more and more important in physical and mental health, I agree. However as I am someone who has for years and years eaten mostly a plant based diet so loads of veg, fruit, nuts and seeds; make my own kefir; have oats, leeks and onions to feed the gut bacteria - I think that for myself it must have been a virus. I would love something in our diets to work but so far, unlike rheumatoid arthritis, nothing so far researched has been found to help.
Interesting! That's conclusive evidence then that it's more than the gut and a healthy diet. I definitely think it's a virus. I remember when I first got it it felt like a virus, and each time I have a flare it feels like one too - shivery, stiff neck etc. but its interesting too how it is so closely connected to our emotions too - stress and upsets make us worse.
That is most likely the immune system ramping up for another go.
It has been looked for but no evidence has been found for a single virus that is the cause of PMR - patients' histories are so varied that a single cause of any sort has not been found. It is a deranged immune system reacting to a lifetime of insults and while a viral infection may have been the straw that broke the camel's back, it wasn't the only factor.
I agree about the ‘single virus’. I was interested that for some it was covid or the covid vaccine that initiated it. We are complex bodies.
Shingles and flu vaccines- and shingles and flu - can also be apparent triggers. It is impossible to do a controlled study because some of the potential triggers are so nebulous that they are difficult to identify. And some are so removed from the final realisation PMR is present that the link isn't seen. No two people have the same history,
I found out that I was allergic to aloe after using an after sun lotion, whole body hives and burning rash. Then I accidentally used a face cream, ouch! It’s amazing how many products have it in them.
Are you sure it was the Aloe and not one of the many chemicals they put in most sun creams and face creams?
I can’t really be sure but I don’t have problems with lotions usually, except the new much touted hyalorondic acid. I seem to be allergic to that too! Oh well. Wrinkles for me!
Wrinkles?
Not whilst you’re on Pred -but they do have a habit of returning once you’re off it.
I’m also allergic to aloe how strange it’s a healer well it figures.
hi polygolfer! After reading Kate Gilbert’s book, I too tried the Aloe Vera juice. Frankly I didn’t think it helped at all. I hated the taste. But I only tried it for a few days. Wish you luck.
I am not suggesting that there is no conceivable link between diet, gut biome, physiology and the severity or duration of various health conditions. In the case of this claim in the book by Kate Gilbert, however, is it possible that she did and simultaneaously did not take aloe, in order to make an objective comparison?
what about probiotics?
My point is that her claim is merely anecdotal and has no statistical or scientific basis, unless there is evidence from a wider cohort - which there may be, if more people can report similar benefits of aloe.
And, yes, there are links between diet, gut biome and health. Aloe juice seems to contain some soluble sugars and polysaccharides, organic 'fruit' acids, protein, amino acids, and salts:
Zhang et al . Journal of AOAC International Vol . 101, no . 6, 2018, 1741-1751, doi.org/10.5740/jaoacint.18...
which may help some conditions (e.g. it can have a laxative effect). But that may be no better - or worse - than e.g. apples.
I would want to do some research on the safety of drinking anything unusual before I tried it. I think I've read it's not a good idea...
Celery Juice to fight inflammation 
Aloe Vera Gel
Grapefruit juice?
Cherry juice for inflammation 
Difficulties treating gastritis
