Aloe vera as Treatment of Barrett Esophagus and Heart Burn

Aloe Vera to treat Barrett's oesophagus
Aloe vera plant has thick leaves which contain thick gel. This gel has a great medicinal value and used to treat superficial burns and wounds.

• Health Benefits of Aloe vera

The extract of Aloe Vera is found in many shampoos, lotions and sunblocks. The leaves of aloe vera and gel are used to make juice which can be taken orally and is very helpful in the treatment of acid reflux, heartburn, Barrett's oesophagus and constipation. Aloe vera contains many useful substances that have a great nutritive and medicinal value and it is approved by FDA as a flavouring agent and it is extremely safe to use.
Acid, in general, is injurious to tissue. Stomach acid can also cause damage to the walls of the stomach. But our stomach produces thick mucus that covers the inner wall of the stomach and protects it from the burning effect of acids. Our small intestine produces a large quantity of sodium bicarbonate which neutralizes the stomach acid when it enters into the small intestine. On the other end, gastroesophageal sphincter prevents the reflex of stomach acid to the oesophagus. The lining of the oesophagus is prone to acid damage so chronic acid reflux cause erosion and ulceration of inner oesophagal wall. Chronic acid reflux results in changes in the inner oesophagal lining and converts it to intestinal type which can withstand acid more than the normal oesophagal epithelium. This condition is called Barrett's oesophagus and it can lead to oesophagal cancer.
So from the above mechanism of Barrett's oesophagus, we know that acid reflux is the main culprit and Aloe vera can help us to reduce this acid reflux significantly. If you have symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease and your doctor also has confirmed it then, first of all, you should avoid those foods that trigger acid reflux. You should start aloe vera slowly, start with once a day dose. This will help to avoid the side effects especially diarrhoea. Make a juice of lining of aloe vera leaves and gel and take this juice 20 minutes before the meal to treat acid reflux and Barrett's oesophagus. This will also help to reduce future symptoms. Start with Once a day then after some time you may increase the frequency to twice or thrice a day. If you develop severe diarrhoea stop taking the aloe vera juice and consult your doctor.
Beware that prolong use of aloe vera may increase the risk of colorectal cancer but short-term use doesn’t do that. So you should use aloe vera for few weeks only not for months. Pregnant women and children shouldn’t take aloe vera juice orally. If you have any chronic disease such as kidney failure, heart disease or diabetes etc then consult your doctor before taking aloe vera.