Aloe vera is a hardy, perennial herb that can be found in the southern United States, Mexico, Latin America, the Middle East, India, the Caribbean and parts of Asia.
You may already be familiar with Aloe vera. It is the main ingredient in many popular sunburn relief aids. Many households keep an Aloe vera plant in the kitchen, calling it a “Burn Plant” burn plant because the gel that seeps from the broken leaves can be dabbed on burns to soothe and aid in healing.
Aloe Vera Feline Leukemia Treatment:
Acemannan
Acemannan is a complex polysaccharide derived from the Aloe vera plant. It is used in as an immunomodulator. In veterinary medicine Acemannan (acetylated mannose) in injectible form has been approved for use in the treatment of fibrosarcomas and feline leukemia (FeLV).
Because of its high antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral effectiveness, acemannan is also being researched for use in the treatment of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and even HIV with promising results.
The [Feline Leukemia] virus is so lethal that once cats develop clinical symptoms they are usually euthanized. Typically more than 70% of cats die within 8 weeks of the onset of clinical signs. In a study of 44 cats with clinically confirmed feline leukemia, acemannan was injected (2 milligrams per kilogram) weekly for 6 weeks and reexamined 6 weeks after termination of treatment. At the end of the 12-week study, 71% of the cats were alive and in good health. –The Healing Power of Herbs by Michael T. Murray, N.D.
Unfortunately, the company that manufactured the the acemannan injection, CarraVet, is no longer able to manufacture the injection. I recently spoke with Kirk Meares, the president of CarraVet, concerning acemannan protocol for the treatment of feline leukemia (FeLV). He informed me that although the injection is no longer available many veterinarians are experiencing success using an oral acemannan protocol for the treatment of feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus. The name brands currently being used are Manapol and Verapol. The best price I found (link below) was Verapol on Amazon.com. The jar is a 90-day supply if given at 1 teaspoon per day, but will last much longer for a pet given on the protocol listed below.
The protocol these veterinarians are using is 1 teaspoonful of oral acemannan daily for 5 days, then 1/2 teaspoon daily for 4-5 weeks. If you see an improvement in your pet, you can continue at a rate of 1/2 teaspoon daily for an indefinite period.
I’d like to take a moment to personally thank Kirk Meares of CarraVet for taking the time to help me with this research project, and for sending documentation on studies done on acemannan. Carravet has a wonderful line of veterinary aloe vera products. Please check them out at CarraVet.com!
Update
Unfortunately, since the writing of this article in 2013, there have been many patents involving acemannan and it’s become hard for the average consumer to find in the pure, powder form. The next best thing would be to find a high-acemannan aloe vera supplement made from the inner leaf gel. However, our clinic has been continuously working to help cats with feline leukemia. You can find more information in the article Holistic Treatment for Feline Leukemia.
Aloe Vera Feline Leukemia Treatment:
Clinical Studies and Research Articles
Sources:
- Kirk Meares, R.Ph., CarraVet, Inc.
- The Healing Power of Herbs by Michael T. Murray, N.D.
