Aloe and ME

In this section I focus on Aloe and ME. I also think this supplement has a lot to offer patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and post viral fatigue syndrome.

I take a quick look at what ME is and provide two stories from patients who have had significant benefit from aloe vera gel.

One female patient of long standing has become my authority on Aloe and ME. She also told me about the failure of what she now realizes are inferior products.

In North America, you're more likely to hear stories about "aloe and fibromyalgia" as the terms used across the world differ.

At the end of this page you'll find a link to a link to a BBC radio programmer that recently reviewed alternative treatments for ME. 

Myalgic encephalopathy (ME)

• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)
• Post-Viral Fatigue Syndrome (PVFS)
• Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS)
• Fibromyalgia (in North America)

Patients may experience some or all of the following: fatigue (which can be severe and debilitating - enough for some patients to require permanent bed rest, or wheelchair use); joint and muscle pain; disturbed sleep; stomach and bowel problems (which a lot of people refer to as “irritable bowel syndrome” and often seem to experience this as an additional problem, rather than an aspect of the ME); disturbances of memory and concentration.

One of my patients can find conversation exhausting when she is particularly ill with her ME – she simply cannot concentrate sufficiently to follow a train of thought.

Some people are very aware that this condition began with an infection or illness of some sort. that's where the term "post viral fatigue syndrome" For others it develops slowly and insidiously.

For many, the condition – even if it improves – does so only partially. Many people are confined to the house (and even to bed) for months and years (as was the case in one of the examples that follow).

Rest is the main treatment. This seems to be particularly important in the early or acute stages of illness and during any relapse. There is no generally effective treatment.

Now let's listen to what two patients had to say about Aloe and ME.

Aloe and Fibromyalgia: Patients' stories

He had contracted ME in his early thirties after a sustained period of work-related stress. His condition resisted all the efforts he made to overcome it.

By the time he heard about Aloe and ME, he was desperate. He had been confined to bed for years and was suicidal. He saw no prospects of ever returning to work. His life was intolerable. He had tried a number of alternative approaches. Nothing helped.

He was advised to begin Aloe vera gel. Within two months his strength was beginning to return, and within six months, he was able to resume working.

At the time he told the story, he had been over working again and his health had begun to suffer. He took two weeks off and began to take the gel once more. Happily, his condition responded and he recovered quickly.

Since then he had continued to take a daily quantity of gel, and had remained healthy, fit and active ... able to pursue a normal life in every respect.

The second example is a woman who I have treated for ME with homeopathy. She has had a reasonable amount of success, and credits homeopathy with restoring some quality to her life.

After I heard the above story, I suggested she try aloe vera. I learned a lot about aloe and ME from her response.

At times - when the homeopathy has not been working well – she has had a similar level of benefit from drinking aloe gel. That is, not remarkable, but enabling her to maintain most daily activities. She has not been able to return to work.

Her story is important because she has sometimes used preparations of different qualities. She is certainly of the opinion that full strength aloe vera gel has benefits that some other less concentrated preparations do not have.

This site contains more information on the health benefits of aloe vera.

To find information on its uses in:

• burns and sunburn (including a note on how it may offer protection against skin cancer);
• inflammation, inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis) and
• psoriasis ...

... return from this "Aloe and ME" page to the Health Benefits of Aloe page.

Once you're there, scroll down to find links to the conditions you're interested in.

And .... last, but not least: here's the link to the (November 2007) BBC discussion. When you get there, click on "ME Series - Alternative Treatments."

Return to health benefits of natural juices home page