From "Fundamentals Of Aloe Vera Mucopolysaccharides"
by Ivan Danhoff, MD at http://wholeleaf.com/aloeverainfo/al...ccharides.html

"The Aloe vera mucopolysaccharide (MPS) is a long chain sugar molecule composed of individual mannose and glucose sugar molecules connected together. There is wide range in the size of the mucopolysaccharide molecule.

The varying sizes determine their healing properties:

Small
50-600 molecules
Reduces inflammation - which is involved in such diseases as ulcerative colitis, arthritis, and gastric reflux. Also helps with the reduction of blood sugar with both type I and II diabetes.

Medium
up to 1,500 molecules
Where as vitamins and minerals can only function outside the cells, mucopolysaccharides are very effective intracellular antioxidants and free radical scavengers - very important in preventing and treating arteriosclerosis, heart disease and Parkinson’s disease. With the ever increasing pollution on the planet and loss of nutrients in the soil, the increase in free radicals and loss of cellular oxygen will only become worse with time. This makes Aloe vera mucopolysaccharides even more important than ever.

Large
up to 5,000 molecules
Has a direct anti-bacterial and anti-viral effect. Important with all the new infectious diseases cropping up and the older ones becoming more virulent from long term use of antibiotics.

Very Large
up to 9,000 molecules
The very large molecules are immune modulating, which have a powerful healing effect on AIDS, cancer and many different immune system disorders. It is also this large molecule that causes the body to produce a natural chemical, tumor necrosis factor, that functions to shut off the blood supply to tumors."



There is a huge amount of information available at the home page for the above
http://wholeleaf.com/aloeverainformation.html

Thanks for the excellent research. The information seems to suggest that the benefits I am experiencing may not just be wishful thinking. I almost want to say that the aloe is acting like an agonist only better and without the side effects. The particular brand I have does have a fair amount of sugar/honey in it and I'm not sure if that is helping as well or just likely to help me put back some of the weight I've been losing. I will make a point to find some juice without sugar to see if it works as well.
I found some interesting references on the web specifically regarding aloe and Parkinson's. Of course, if you search around the web you will find something something that claims to cure everything... the more costly... the better the "cure." At least aloe is cheap and generally good for you anyway. It also seems to grow easily in pots or in the ground or those of you who have a green thumb. There are also some mentions of a mild laxative quality to aloe... which sure doesn't hurt either.
http://all4women.co.za/health/3241.html