What is labeled today as complementary and alternative medicine has its roots in the historic practice of an eclectic medicine in the United States as well as in other cultural traditions around the world. Five selected alternative medical traditions are presented which illustrate their origins, range, and applications. Their persistence in the contemporary United States, and efforts to integrate them into the mainstream health care setting indicates their ongoing role and value to society.
Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller) is a perennial succulent belonging to the Liliaceal family, and is called the healing plant or the silent healer. As a result of its use as folk medicine, it is claimed that aloe vera has wound and burn healing properties, and antiinflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects. Aloe vera is used in a variety of commercial products because of these therapeutic properties. It is being used as a whole extract, however, and the relationship between the components of the extract and its overall effect has not been clarified. A more precise understanding of the biologic activities of these is required to develop aloe vera as a pharmaceutical source. Many attempts have been made to isolate single, biologically active components, to examine their effects, and clarify their functional mechanism. This review focuses on the relationship between the isolated aloe vera components (ie, glycoproteins, anthraquinones, saccharides, low-molecular-weight substances) and their presumed pharmacologic activities.
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