Aloe Vera and thyroid health

[Eddie83]

Izabella Wentz is claiming that aloe can be good for people with thyroid/Hashimoto's issues.

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

I'd be very cautious about consuming aloe vera. Even though drinks that contain it are available in supermarkets.

(Many mentions of aloe are the work of a multi-level marketing company. We have had to delete many such posts here over the years. Obviously not your post, Eddie83, but that is why all posts about aloe vera get my attention. )

Abstract below indicates the possibility of serious issues in some cases.

Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol. 2017 Sep;41(4):e39-e42. doi: 10.1016/j.clinre.2016.10.002. Epub 2016 Nov 14.

Aloe vera-induced acute liver injury: A case report and literature review.

Parlati L1, Voican CS2, Perlemuter K3, Perlemuter G4.

Author information

Abstract

Recent data suggest that herbal and dietary supplements are the second most common cause of liver injury. We herein report a case of acute liver injury in a 68-year old female caused by ingestion of Aloe vera. Upon discontinuation of the oral Aloe vera, liver function tests (LFT) returned to normal levels. Thus, it is crucial to consider the use of herbal products as causative agents of acute liver injury.

Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.

PMID: 27856182

DOI: 10.1016/j.clinre.2016.10.002

[radd in reply to helvella]

helvella,

I read it is to do with what part of the plant is used.

I can’t remember the exact facts or which part is health giving, & which poisonous but if it were the stem (for example) that was undesirable, then unscrupulous companies were incorporating this into aloe mixes that claimed to contain only leaf (for example).

Eddie83,

Isabella states there was s study showing it helped in reducing thyroid antibodies & improved thyroid hormone levels but I read of another study that showed it may lower thyroid hormone levels. I did try a little in a drink for a while to help heal a sore gut but haven’t tried proper doses for reasons above.

[mado in reply to helvella]

Hello there. When is it safe to use herbal remedies? I have a highly qualified professor of Chinese herbs who I have been having herbs from for years. I would go as far as saying that the herbs have saved me from years of antibiotics and unnecessary pain. I have had herbs for thyroid problems as well as diabetes, but mostly these days I have them for asthma and mucus problems ( I hardly ever get chest infections now). For me these herbs have been a necessary expense. I do agree that we need to be cautious about over the counter herbal supplements.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to mado]

I think we need to be cautious with any remedies. Having someone who really has the knowledge and understanding is a huge part of making them safe.

We have seen a lot of remedies which have some positive effects - but also some which can be negative.

I am absolutely not against, for example, herbal remedies. But I am very sceptical when individual remedies are promoted. The selection of which remedies to use depends on the individual so a company pushing, say, aloe vera, is doing so without regard to us. Just to sell more aloe vera. Every positive thing about it is listed - often in big letters. Every negative thing tends to be left unsaid or referred to in the fine print. With the catchall disclaimer of telling you to consult your doctor before using.

[Welchy1]

Izabella Wentz makes A LOT of claims.... proceed with caution, low expectations a pinch of salt and be prepared to fork out lots of cash on supplements

[greygoose in reply to Welchy1]

Oh, I do so agree with you!

[haggisplant in reply to Welchy1]

I agree too. I read her stuff and rarely does it match with my experiences of 22 years with no thyroid function, especially when I’ve been very well.

FWIW for example, I’ve always thought exercise supports conversion and had once worked out how that works via some medical sleuthing; last night I read a paper that has proven this in those who are on thyroxine. To me that’s a primary fundamental piece of FREE advice for all patients (as long as levels are stabilised) - obviously with gentle pacing if you’re not well to start with or have additional issues.

There’s probably a few pieces of useful info from her, certainly some people do have absorption issues and need a change in diet, some do have serious conversion issues, but the rest is snake oil.

[Welchy1 in reply to haggisplant]

Great post Haggisplant, I think there is definitely room for a socially responsible blogger/vlogger to dispell all of this snake-oil marketing

[Hidden in reply to Welchy1]

Personally, I am very wary of self-proclaimed thyroid/adrenal specialists who make sweeping claims like that. My opinion is mainly based on having walking into that trap in the past and realising the hard way many claims simply aren't true. I am especially suspicious of people who sell their own supplements (often at hugely inflated prices) and/or promote their own book(s).

[Fruitandnutcase]

As others have said I would be very careful about getting involved with the world of Aloe Vera and its sales people. They are all very friendly and helpful but what they really want to do is push their product and recruit new disciples so that they can climb their way up the ladder and make more money.

We had what appeared to be a lovely friendly couple who swore by taking Aloe Vera who attended our gym for a while, complete with their leaflets which they would leave in a prominent position amongst other leaflets and which I would keep hiding, because I had come across the couple previously and knew that although they were very friendly they also ran an AV pyramid selling business and were ‘hard sell’.

At one point they were selling to an elderly lady who attended the medical referral classes. I don’t know the ‘hows or whys’ but after a while they stopped coming to the gym and the leaflets disappeared.

So my advice for what it’s worth would be to be very careful when it comes to getting involved with what seemed to me to be the murky and very expensive world of Aloe Vera and I agree with the others about Isabella Wentz, from what I remember her treatments involved buying a lot of products.

[Ell17]

Taking internally (small doses) makes my bladder burn like fire. Supposedly it is supposed to be soothing. And it may be for some, but not so much for others, especially if you have an issue with latex.

However, I don't have a problem using small amounts externally when mixed with carrier oils.

[NatChap]

It's great for skin problems but I wouldn't be ingesting it 😕

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Have now read to the end. Think it is worth highlighting the precautions:

Precautions

It’s important to note that some individuals may be sensitive to anthraquinone compounds, which are present in aloe latex (taken from the outer skin of the plant) and aloe whole leaf extracts. (Rootcology’s Aloe is tested for anthraquinone, and the content is below a detection limit of 0.1 ppm.) Due to its laxative effect, aloe latex may also cause a loss of minerals, such as potassium and sodium.

It is also important to note that one study reported the component aloin (found in aloe vera latex) to have carcinogenic activity. In this study, aloe vera (whole-leaf extract) caused intestinal irritation and acted as a carcinogen within the large intestine of rats. However, the concentration, as well as the strength, was over ten times the amount that someone would take in a daily dose, equaling a very high dose of 14.4 grams. Additionally, this study used whole-leaf extract (which contains the aloe latex from the outer rim, as well as the gel from the inside of the plant), which is different than the aloe vera juice or gel that I recommend.

Aloe vera may also interact with certain medications. For example, it should not be taken in combination with, or alongside, cardiac glycoside drugs, as it can increase potassium depletion and increase the risk of toxicity. Aloe should also not be taken with corticosteroids, including prednisone and prednisolone. There may be other medications that may interact with aloe, so please consult with your practitioner to review your current list of medications, before starting supplementation.

Furthermore, aloe vera is not recommended to be taken orally during pregnancy, as it can potentially act as a uterine stimulant during pregnancy. It also should not be used orally when breastfeeding, as some of the active compounds can be secreted through breast milk.

As always, it is important to consult with a practitioner before starting this, to ensure the dosage and supplement is right for you.