Aloe vera reduces acute radiation proctitis in patients receiving radiotherapy

Aloe vera is a medicinal plant that has been found effective against a wide variety of health concerns. A study published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine investigated the benefits that an ointment of three percent aloe vera on patients suffering from acute radio proctitis (ARP).

• The double-blind placebo-controlled trial involved 20 patients suffering from ARP from external beam radiation therapy.
• The participants were divided into two groups. One group received a placebo while the other was given aloe preparation three percent, one gram of which the participants had to take twice every day for four weeks. They were asked to rate their symptoms – rectal bleeding, abdominal/rectal pain, diarrhea, or fecal urgency – according to severity at baseline and then weekly for four weeks.
• Using the data gathered, the researchers formed a symptom index that ranged from 1 to 16, with 16 being the most severe.
• A questionnaire gauged the impact of the symptoms on the patients’ daily lives.
• Results showed improvements in the symptom index for diarrhea, fecal urgency, clinical presentation total, RTOG total, and lifestyle. The treatment did not reduce hemorrhage and abdominal/rectal pain.

The researchers concluded that the treatment was able to improve the symptoms of a significant number of patients.

Learn about the benefits of natural cancer treatment at Cancer.news.

Journal Reference:

Sahebnasagh A, Ghasemi A, Akbari J, Alipour A, Lashkardoost H, Ala S, Salehifar E. SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT OF ACUTE RADIATION PROCTITIS WITH ALOE VERA: A PRELIMINARY RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED CLINICAL TRIAL. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. November 2017;23(11):858–865. DOI: 10.1089/acm.2017.0047