About a week ago, an old acquaintance sent me an article written by someone who claimed to have cured his prostate problems by cooking and eating cassava. I became concerned immediately after reading the article because some people do not realize that not all cassava species can be cooked and eaten like yam.
I spoke with a friend who has a farm about this article and also inquired about edible cassava. He shared a tragic story with me. He told me that his father almost died after eating cassava when he was young. His father was fortunate to survive, but the scars remain. Those who ate with his father all died.
I previously discussed cyanide when sharing the story of the woman who made cassava peels into flour to feed her family, which resulted in hospitalization and the loss of one family member. In humans, the clinical signs of acute cyanide intoxication include rapid respiration, a drop in blood pressure, rapid pulse, dizziness, headache, stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, mental confusion, twitching, and convulsions. You do not have to experience all these symptoms due to cassava consumption. If you must cook it, ensure it is the variety used like yam.
Last week, I began a discussion on aloe vera, a plant widely regarded as one of the most effective herbal remedies for skin conditions. Its gel-like components are known to heal the skin from various minor ailments, potentially improving skin texture and preventing wrinkles. Some preliminary evidence even suggests that topical aloe vera gel could slow skin aging.
In a 2009 study involving 30 women over the age of 45, those who took oral aloe vera gel saw increased collagen production and improved skin elasticity over 90 days. Reviews also suggest that aloe vera could help the skin retain moisture and improve skin integrity, which is beneficial for dry skin conditions.
Aloe vera is great for treating burns, sunburn, small abrasions, cuts, dry skin, frostbite, cold sores, eczema, psoriasis, and inflammatory acne. A team of plastic surgeons compared aloe vera gel to one percent silver sulfadiazine cream for treating second-degree burn wounds. They reported in the Journal of Pakistan Medical Association that burn wounds among patients treated with aloe vera healed significantly quicker compared to those treated with silver sulfadiazine. The researchers also noted that patients in the aloe vera group experienced significantly more and earlier pain relief.
Many people experience mouth ulcers or canker sores at some point in their lives. These usually form underneath the lip or inside the mouth and last for about a week. Studies have shown that aloe vera treatment can accelerate the healing of mouth ulcers. For example, a 2022 review of nine randomized controlled trials concluded that aloe vera treatment could accelerate the healing of mouth ulcers better than other interventions. It also offers a shorter healing time. Another study found that aloe vera gel not only accelerated the healing of mouth ulcers but also reduced the pain associated with them.
A 2014 study published online by Cambridge University Press looked at tomato plants coated with aloe gel. The report showed evidence that the coating successfully blocked the growth of many types of harmful bacteria on the vegetables. Similar results were found in a different study with apples, suggesting that aloe gel could help fruits and vegetables stay fresh and eliminate the need for dangerous chemicals that extend the shelf life of produce.
Additionally, aloe vera has been found to alleviate depression and improve learning and memory, according to a study published in Nutritional Neuroscience. This was after a study was conducted on mice, showing that aloe vera enhances learning and memory while also alleviating depression.
Other benefits of aloe vera include halting the growth of cancer tumors, lowering high cholesterol, boosting blood oxygenation, easing inflammation, and soothing arthritis pain. Aloe vera also protects the body from oxidative stress, prevents kidney stones, acts as a laxative, alkalizes the body, and cures ulcers. It is beneficial for digestive disorders and can reduce high blood pressure. The plant nourishes the body with minerals, vitamins, enzymes, and glyconutrients, prevents and treats candida infections, and functions as nature’s own “sports drink” for electrolyte balance.
Some evidence suggests that using aloe vera orally could improve symptoms in patients with IBS and constipation. According to Dr. Jesse P. Houghton, Senior Medical Director of Gastroenterology at SOMC Gastroenterology Associates in Portsmouth, Ohio, “It is one of the most well-studied benefits of the aloe plant; it acts as a natural laxative via two mechanisms — it provides hydration with its high water content and contains anthraquinones, which act as a stimulant laxative.”
Thanks to its natural anti-inflammatory properties, “aloe vera also serves as an excellent acne treatment,” explains licensed Naturopath and Head of Practice at Acupuncture Jerusalem in Israel, Jamie Bacharach. She adds, “Whether applied to pimples or general areas of redness and irritation, aloe vera has been found to soothe and diminish the appearance and prominence of acne and even acne scars.”
“Aloe is my favorite natural choice for treating sunburns,” says Dr. Adrienne Haughton, a dermatologist with Stony Brook Medicine in Commack, New York. “Aloe gel is cooling and has anti-inflammatory properties, so it will immediately provide some relief from the discomfort associated with sunburn.”
A study titled “Anti-Cancer Activity of Aloe Vera Ethanolic Leaves Extract against In Vitro Cancer Cells” by Karpagam et al., concludes that aloe vera ethanolic leaves extract was effective in treating cancer by inhibiting tumor growth with the highest cytotoxic activity. Isolation of active compounds responsible for such action is essential to treat cancer.
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