Beth, Sorry it took me so long to reply. Toxic is a strange word. It is sort of like 'allergy' in the world of pharmacology. When taking an antibiotic people/animals often experience GI problems and some will call it an allergy. It is not it is more like a side effect than an allergy. Toxic is the same kind of thing. When something causes damage to say the kidney, liver, CNS (central nervous system), retina, lungs or heart I would certainly call it toxic. When it causes loose stool or diarrhea I would be less inclined to call it toxic.
With respect to Aloe vera, the skin of the plant contains a factor than can be a strong laxative. In juice form this is a less potent problem as the skin is not present. There are groups that have tried to extract the active immunoregulatory components of aloe and removed the laxative effects. Mannatech is one such organization. They sell a product called ambotrose. If one prefers to avoid the possible GI effects they could try this. So, to the best of my knowledge, the plant itself can cause severe diarrhea, the juice less so and the processed Ambotrose virtually no problems with GI issues. Hope this helps, and Gary I forgot, but I will get the abstracts to you. Jenny On Mon, Mar 29, 2010 at 10:05 PM, <create_me_...@yahoo.com> wrote: > I don't know anything about this, so forgive me if this is an ignorant > question, but isn't Aloe Vera toxic to cats? I know our rescue adopted out a > cat that got very ill from munching on her new owner's Aloe Vera Plant. > Beth > ------Original Message------ > From: jbero tds.net > Sender: felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org > To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > ReplyTo: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] FeLV Positive Young Mom Cat & Babies > Sent: Mar 28, 2010 7:51 PM > > Gary, > > You ask a loaded question. Technically oral 'acemannan' is not yet > available. What I was referring to was the oral form of sugars that > are an extract from the aloe vera plant. The best product would be an > organic all natural aloe vera juice preparation. There are a few good > ones out there. > > With respect to specific papers supporting it's efficacy. Well, this > is convoluted. Largely because felv is so unpredictable and it's hard > to say whether any of these treatments are really doing anything > anyway. Having said that, there are many papers written about the > value of aloe vera poly- and mono-saccharides in viral infections and > immune support. In reference to felv specifically most studies have > been done around the IP injection. There is a paper comparing the use > of IP injection and oral preparation in fiv cats - comparable results > in each group. I don't have access to pub meb from this computer, but > can get it from work and send you the abstract. To me the big issue > is whether or not things are absorbed through the oral preparation - > the fiv paper supports that it does and most of what I know about > intestinal absorption supports easy passive and active diffusion of > the sugars. Additionally any IP injection would also require > absorption into the vascular system. > > To the best of my knowledge no specific research has yet been done or > at least published to answer your exact question. Although it always > nice to have evidence to support actions, sometimes the data just > isn't there. I still believe in the value of acemannan and believe it > can be used orally if only as a support measure in assisting the > immune system. > > I have recently, however, spoken with a number of holistic vets who > have better success with a oral supplement known as Moducare - it is a > plant sterol derivative known to modulate the immune system. Some of > them have also expressed support of the Standard Process feline immune > support supplement. Who knows. > > I wish there was a straight forward easy answer to this disease. I > really do, but I haven't found it yet. I will keep searching and I > hope that if you find anything of value that you share it with me. > Thanks and I will send you the paper when I can. > > Jenny > > On 3/26/10, Gary <gcru...@centurytel.net> wrote: > > > > I would be very interested in the source of the oral product and the > > protocol for FeLV cats. Also, any articles or studies relating to the > use > > of oral Acemannan. > > > > Thanks, > > > > Gary > > > > jbero tds.net wrote: > > > >> Minnie, > >> > >> 3. Acemannan - a supplement known to help fight off the virus. I would > >> get > >> them on an oral dose of this daily. > >> > >> > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Felvtalk mailing list > > Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > > http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org > > > > _______________________________________________ > Felvtalk mailing list > Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org > > > Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry > _______________________________________________ > Felvtalk mailing list > Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org > _______________________________________________ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
