Og vedrørende Aloé Vera, som mange sværger til, har jeg dette fra Marianne og Lars Seifert-Thorsen:
Teksten er skrevet af en deltager på Fancieres-Health som er bio-kemiker, så jeg vil påstå at hendes referencer er i orden og hun er en pålidelig kilde.
Jeg ved ikke om nogen af Jer kan bruge det nedenstående til noget. For mig beviser det blot at som med alt andet, så er naturmidler ikke helt ufarlige…
Aloe Vera is classified as poisonous. It is listed in many plant data
bases for animals as a plant that is known to cause problems in animals.
Dr. Jill Richardson, Veterinary Poison Information Specialist, ASPCA
Animal Poison Control Center provided a list of toxic plants to the
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center during the summer of 2002 and her
list also
included Aloe Vera.
There are over 200 species of Aloe, so in animals some variation in
symptoms may occur. It is also possible that no symptoms at all will
occur with a particular Aloe plant or Aloe product. Mostly Aloe acts as
a purgative and may cause gastrointestinal symptoms. It may also cause
allergic reactions and in some cases may cause abortions. The irritants
in the sap can be passed on to nursing kittens causing colicky symptoms
in them. Sometimes it will cause the urine to be stained red. One of
Aloe’s worst constituents (and there are hundreds) is a group of
anthraquinone glycosides.
From the newest PDR for Herbal Medicines, second edition (a very nice
reference for herbalists) is a list of the adverse reactions and results
of using Aloe Vera (in humans). Extrapolate or not for cats, as you
wish. Under dosage they start by saying “due to the side effects of the
drug, it is rarely used and is not recommended.” If used, they
recommended the
smallest dosage necessary to maintain a soft stool. Without medical
advice, Aloe should not be used for more than 1-2 weeks.
Adverse reactions:
cramping, heart arrhythmias, nephropathies, edema, accelerated bone
deterioration, with long term use leading to albuminuria and hematuria.
Hypersensitivity with nummular eczematous and papular dermatitis have
been reported with long term use of oral and topical Aloe preparations.
Loss of electrolytes through long term use - potassium is the most lost
mineral.
Potassium loss may result in hyperaldosteronism, inhibition of
intestinal motility, and the enhancement of the effect of
cardioactive medications an antiarrhythmic drugs. Potassium deficiency
is increased if thiazide diuretics, loop diuretics, licorice, and
corticosteroids are used concurrently. Some compounds in Aloe are
cytotoxic, genotoxic, and mutagenic. High doses may damage enteric
nervous tissue. Aloe Vera is not recommended during pregnancy and should
not be prescribed to
children under 12. The reference details how Aloe works for certain
conditions, and how it alters cellular function, etc., etc. No mention
was made of quality of herb.
From yet another reference - “An excessive dose may cause nephritis”
(Lampe and McCann 1985).
The USAEHA TECHNICAL GUIDE NO. 196 mentions Aloe ingestion may cause
vomiting.
In animals, it has been demonstrated that Aloe enhances the action of
hydrocortisone when combined with it in topical applications.
In Canada, their Veterinary New Drug List (a list containing
pharmaceutical ingredients - also commonly referred to as active or
medicinal ingredients) includes Aloe Vera. See: The Veterinary Drugs
Directorate
Like all herbs, Aloe is a drug. If you’re going to use it for you or
your cat you should be aware of the potential side effects. Aloe also
contains a variety of phenolic compounds. Phenols are a class of
compounds known to be harmful to cats and the effects of phenolic
compounds are additive and cumulative.