2200 BCE - Sumerian clay tablets found in the city of Nippur. Whole leaf Aloe used as a laxative agent no other uses are mentioned.
1550 BCE - Egyptian “Papyrus Ebers. ‘Whole leaf ground up and mixed with other medical agents - product boiled.” 12 formulas used for healing both internally and externally.
400 BCE - Aloe plant and processed product exported to Asia Whole leaf or sap boiled down for domestic use and exported. Traded extensively by Arabs throughout western Asia. Plant grown and used in India (a practice which continues today) as a healing agent both internally and externally. List of uses to extensive to include here.
50 BCE - Celsius, Greek physician. Aloe introduced into western medicine. Sap used as a laxative; no other usage mentioned.
41-68 CE - “Greek Herbal” of Dioscorides. First detailed description of the plant we call Aloe Vera. Notes that the sap, not the gel is the healing agent. States that the sap is collected and boiled down into a thick black mass for storage and transportation. Notes that the more bitter the aloe the more effective it is as a healing agent. Induces sleep, cleanses the stomach, treatment for boils, ulcerated genitals, heals foreskin, good for dry itchy skin irritation, hemorrhoids, bruises, stops hair loss, mouth pain, and stops bleeding of wounds, heals tonsillitis and diseases of the mouth and eyes.
23-79 CE - Pliny the Elder, a Roman physician, generally repeats the findings of Dioscorides. Adds that the juice checks perspiration and the boiled root heals leprous sores. States that fake aloe was being made and sold near Jerusalem, he calls it the “bastard kind”.
200 CE - Aloe had become an important part of Roman medicine. Used by physicians such as Galen, Antyllus, Aretaces, and many other southern European physicians. Used as described by Dioscorides and Pliny, with some additions.
700-800 CE - Chinese “Materia Medicas”, first use of aloe in China. Chinese referred to plant as Lu-hul, meaning “black deposit,” or “Hsiang-tqan “referring to the bitter taste of aloe. Notes aloe’s value as a sinus treatment and treatment of fever and convulsions in children. Also re-confirmed use as a treatment for skin diseases. Whole leaf ground and boiled down.
900 CE - AL-Kindi, Arab philosopher, engineer, and physician. States that aloe is an effective treatment for inflammatory pain, eye ulcers, melancholy, and other medical problems. He adds that aloe is used in Iran as a purgative, and in Egypt as a detersive to clean the digestive system and detoxify the entire body. Method of processing not mentioned.
1000-1300 CE - Dried sap and plant becomes a widely accepted healing agent throughout Europe.
1300-1500 CE - Processed aloe (dried sap) introduced to English medicine. Used throughout British Isles as a purgative and as a treatment for external wounds and diseases. Dried sap imported from Africa mainly from the islands of Socotra.
1500-1600 CE - Plant brought to new world by Spanish conquistadors and missionaries. Planted around Catholic missions and used extensively by missionaries and native population as a universal healing agent throughout Caribbean Islands, Central and South America.
1600-1700 CE - Plant developed as a commercial crop throughout Caribbean by Spanish, particularly the island of Barbados, and the Dutch planters, mainly on the island of Curacao. Sap extracted from plant and boiled down into a black mass for export, mainly to Europe
1700-1900 CE - Name Aloe Vera first used to describe plant by Carl Von Linne in 1720. Scientific name given, Aloe Vera Linne, also referred to today as Aloe Barbadensis Miller. Hundreds of papers and references published by physicians and laymen world wide describing aloe’s many uses as a healing agent. Aloe officially listed as a purgative and a skin protectant by the United States pharmacopoeia (U.S.P.) 1820.
1900 CE - Plant grown in warm regions world wide for its healing benefits, and as a commercial source of sap or purified Aloin. Fresh or dehydrated whole leaf sold as a treatment for radiation injuries; including ulcers, bums, dermatitis, and other skin injuries and diseases. Colonel H.W. Johnston, first commercial U.S. Aloe Vera farm, established in Florida 1912.
1934 CE - First modern medical paper published in the United States, C.E. Collins. Paper describes use of Whole Leaf Aloe to heal radiation dermatitis on the forehead of a 31-year-old female. Aloe healed dermatitis in approximately three months, skin returned to normal with little or no scarring and normal skin color. Collins and son report on the use of Aloe on fifty patients with radiation injuries, burns, ulcers, and dermatitis, paper states all fifty patients successfully healed. Used Aloe Vera leaf split in half or ointment made from combination of sap and gel. Ointment was described as having a yellow color and an offensive odor.
1936-1939 CE - Dr. Carroll S. Wright, M.D., Philadelphia, Adolph B. Loveman, M.D., Louisville, KY, Archie Fine, M.D., Cincinnati, OH, Samuel Brown, M.D., Cincinnati, OH, Dr. Frederick B. Mandeville, M.D., Richmond VA. All above used Aloe Vera leaf as described by Dr. Collins, with a few additional applications. All report that Aloe Vera heals radiation burns, ulcers, and dermatitis.
1940-1941 CE - T. Rowe, B.K. Lovell, and Lloyd M. Parks, note that aloe heals bums much faster than any other treatment available. Leaf does not need to be fresh to be effective. Healing agent is found in the sap and skin - not in the gel. Rowe states that product was heated to a high temperature (boiled) with no loss of healing effects. Researchers report that they found free aloe mannose in test samples. (Note: First researchers to report finding aloe mannose)
1945 CE - V. P. Filatov Russia, reported that boiled Aloe juice was a very effective treatment of a skin disease caused by parasites. Adds that drinking Aloe juice is an effective treatment for many types of lung disorders.
1947 CE - T.C. Barnes, Hahneunan Medical College and Hospital of Philadelphia, PA. Aloe Vera heals skin injuries at least one-third faster than any other treatment.
1950 CE - R.Y. Gottschall, stated that the sap from the Aloe Vera leaf is the healing agent. Experiment proved that boiled sap kills Tubercle Bacilli (Tuberculosis).
1953 CE - C.C. Lushbaugh, M.D., and D.B. Hale, B.S., performed studies for U.S. atomic commission. Aloe Vera heals radiation dermatitis and ulcers in test animals at least fifty percent faster than other treatments.
1956-1957 CE - N. Nordvinov and B. Rostotsky, Russia, stated Aloe prevents radiation bums and reduces time for healing from 30-45 days to 15-16 days in 2nd and 3rd degree radiation and fire burns, frostbite, cuts, blisters, etc. Greatly improves skin texture, eliminates dryness, itching, eczema, psoriasis, neurodermatitis and other skin diseases including cancer.
1956-1957 CE - S. Levenson and K. Somova, Russia, used Aloe extract (sap) for the treatment of periodontal disease. 150 patients were treated by injecting extract at the site of each affected tooth. Treatment completely eliminated periodontal disease in most if not all patients. Research concluded that aloe is a biogenic stimulator.
1959 CE - Gunnar Gjerstad and T.D. Rifler, reviewed data submitted by E.P. Pendergrass. They stated that the FDA admitted Aloe ointment regenerated skin cells, eliminated scarring and promoted regeneration of natural skin color, and all without toxicity. According to this paper, Pendergrass gave credit to traumatic acid for the ability to regenerate skin cells. Merks Index lists traumatic acid as a wound-healing hormone.
1963 CE - Julian J. Blitz, D.C., James W. Smith, D.C., and Jack R. Gerard,D.O. Aloe Vera emulsion (sap and gel mixed with mineral oil) was used to treat 18 patients with peptic ulcers. All patients had been treated with long term conventional therapy with little or no benefit. Each patient was given a daily dose of Aloe Vera emulsion orally. Researchers reported that 17 of the 18 patients completely recovered from all symptoms of peptic ulcers. Patient 18 left study after one dose with no follow up.
1967 CE - Dr. A Farkas and Robert A. Mayer M.D,. filed for and received U.S. patent on Aloe Polyuronide. Their patent application proposed that this was the active healing agent in various species of the Aloe plant, including Aloe Barbadensis Miller. (Note: This substance is a complex compound which contains four separate manriose compounds, similar to those described by Carrington Laboratories).
1969 CE - Dr. Eugene Zimmerman, and the Baylor College of Dentistry, performed an extensive study on the use of Aloe Vera as a treatment for dental-related disorders and its ability to kill or control various organisms including: Staphylococcus Aureus, Streptococcus Viridaus, Candida Albicans, Corynebacterium Xerosis, and the five strains of Streptococcus Mutant. Researchers concluded that Aloe is a very powerful anti-inflammatory and it kills a broad spectrum of microorganisms.
1973 CE - M. El Zawahry, M.D, M. Rashad Hegazy, M.D, M. Helal, B.Ph., Ph.Ch., Cairo, Egypt. Researchers used Aloe Vera (combination of sap and gel) to treat seborrhea, acne, alopecia, chronic leg ulcers, vulgaris, and hair loss. They said that aloe was highly effective against all of the above skin problems.
1975 CE - Robert B. Northway, D.V.M, reported that the plant was effective on ringworms, skin allergies, abscesses, hot spots, fungal infections, dermatitis, lacerations, and inflamed cysts, in animals.
1978 CE - Dr. G.R. Wailer, Oklahoma State University, reported that aloe contains a broad spectrum of free amino acids, free polysaccharide’s, and total saccharide’s released upon hydrolysis, sterols (mainly B-sitosterol) plus lupeol. Note: B-sitosterol is a powerful anti-inflammatory and anticholesterolmatic. Lupeol is a powerful pain killer and anti-microbial. The report adds that these active ingredients were found in the oil of the plant (skin or sap portion of the leaf).
1980 CE - Dr. Bill Wolfe D.D.S., P.A., Albuquerque, NM. Repeated work done in 1969 and once again showed aloe highly effective against Staphylococcus Aureus, Streptococcus Vindaus, Candida Albicans, Corynebacterium Xerosis, and the five strains of Streptococcus Mutant, and that it is non-toxic. Quickly relieves pain, eliminates soreness, irritation, swelling, and is a very effective treatment for herpes.
1980 CE - John Heggars, M.D., Chicago Burn Center. Demonstrated the ability of the Aloe Vera to heal third degree burns and frost bite up to six times faster than accepted modem medical treatment. Dr. Heggars concluded that healing effects were due to steroidal like compounds, (acts like cortisone), and salicylic acid. He further stated that aloe treatment eliminated scarring; normal skin color returned and unbelievably the aloe completely regenerated the hair follicles, and allowed for re-growth of hair in burned area. Said aloe was more effective in preventing and controlling infections than Silver Sulfadiazine.
1982 CE - John Heggers, University of Chicago Burn Center, reconfirmed the presence of salicylic acid in aloe. This is an aspirin-like compound, which explains why aloe helps control pain. It is also a powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial agent.
1983 CE - The National Aloe Science Council (NASC), reported to the FDA that it had developed a standard chemical finger print for Aloe Vera. Provided finger print and petitioned FDA to set U.S. standards for Aloe juice drink, Aloe Gel, and other topical products which claim to contain Aloe juice or Gel. NASC standard rejected by FDA.
1984 CE - Dr. O.P. Agarwal, M.D., F.I.C.A, Uttar Pradesh, India. Recorded that aloe had virtually eliminated heart disease, stress related disorders, and diabetes in over 4700 of the 5000 patients, which were followed for five years. All patients were instructed to take approximately 4 oz. of fresh Aloe Vera plant and 3/4 oz of the husk of isabgol and mix it with wheat flour to make a loaf of bread. Treatment consisted of eating one loaf of aloe bread per day.
1985 CE - Jeffrey Bland, Ph.D., Linus Pauling Institute. Drinking Aloe Vera juice improves protein digestion, helps normalize bowel habit, control yeast infections, promotes proper balance of digestive bacteria, relieves indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, acid stomach, and concluded that aloe juice has no toxic effects.
1986 CE - Doctors of Department of Medicine, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia, stated that the dried sap of the aloe plant is used in the Arabian peninsula for its ability to lower the blood glucose in diabetic patients. Paper concludes that aloes contain a hypoglycemic agent which lowers the blood glucose.
1987 CE - Dr. Rosalie Burns, M.D. Describes the disease commonly known as shingles (Herpes Zoster). She points out that shingles is caused by the same virus that also causes chicken pox and common herpes. Stated that sap from the leaves of the Aloe Vera plant is remedy for pain and speeds healing when spread over the blisters.
1987 CE1987 CE - Dr. H. Reg McDaniel Dallas, TX. Stated “Aloe extract may mimic AZT without toxicity.” Research shows Aloe Vera stopped progress of AIDS. Reports corresponding drop in antibodies to HIV and the number of free virus in blood samples. McDaniel further concluded that the aloe would control or kill many other retro viruses, including the viruses that cause the common cold, measles, mumps, chickenpox, flu, and other viral diseases.
1988 CE - Dr. Terry Pulse Dallas, TX., stated that 20 oz of whole leaf Aloe Vera juice was orally administered to 69 AIDS patients daily. Symptoms disappeared almost completely in 81 percent of the patients. Patients with the AIDS virus who showed no symptoms of the disease remain free of symptoms.
1989 CE - Researchers from Okinawa, Japan reported in the Japanese Journal of Cancer Research, that aloe contained at least three anti-tumor agents, emodin, mannose, and lectin. The researchers concluded that aloe controls pulmonary carcinogenesis and is effective in the treatment of leukemia and sarcoma and that it would prevent the development of tumors.
1989 CE - According to the Cosmetic, Fragrance, and Toiletry Association (CTFA), Aloe Vera is by far the most popular cosmetic and toiletry ingredient in the United States. Named as number one by over thirty-three percent of a cross section of consumers.
1990 CE - The following DVM and PhD’s presented a paper in Brussels Belgium, in April 1990, Jasbir B. Kohlon, Maurice C. Kemp, H.R McDaniel, Robert H. Carpenter, William M. Shannon, and Bill H. McAnalley. Research concluded that Aloe, or a substance extracted from it, is a very effective treatment against HIV-1 and other strains of the virus which cause AIDS. Research confirms that daily ingestion (20 oz. or more) can act as an immunization against the HIV infection. In HIV positive or AIDS patients, Aloe: (1.) keeps infected T-4 cells from reproducing the virus, (2.) either kills free virus in the blood or it stimulates the individual’s immune system to kill the virus or both, (3.) it stops the disease AIDS from developing in HIV positive patients and can completely reverse the disease in those with AIDS, and (4.) some patients become Syro-negative. (The virus or anti body to the virus can no longer be found in the blood.)
1991 CE - Ian R. Tizard, PhD, of Texas A&M, reported in the Journal of Molecular Biotherapy, that Aloe mannose was highly effective against feline leukemia and soft tissue cancer in cats and dogs.
1992 CE - Dr. James Duke, United States Department of Agriculture, approved the use of aloe mannose as a treatment of soft tissue cancer in animals and feline leukemia.
1994 CE - United States Food and Drug Administration approves aloe for human testing against the human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV), the virus which causes AIDS. M.D. Anderson, Cancer Center, study suggests that aloe can stop immune system damage caused by sunburn. According to the International Aloe Science Council (IASC), most major brands of cosmetics and toiletries contain less than two percent aloe. Most experts agree that a concentration of 25 to 40% is necessary for a cosmetic product to have any benefits. Dr. Wendell Winters, University of Texas Health Science Center, at San Antonio, reported Aloe contains at least 140 substances. Substances which control cell growth and division, reduce inflammation, stimulate the growth of white cells and other immune- function cells, wound healer, and infection fighter. Winters calls Aloe” a pharmacy in a plant.”