Soothing Aloe Vera

Most modern medicine cabinets are equipped with aloe vera in gel, lotion or capsule form. It's interesting to note, however, that there's nothing "new" about nature's age-old medical miracle.

The aloe vera plant has given us many popular herbal remedies. A native African plant, aloe vera plant is known as "lily of the desert", "plant of immortality" and of course, "medicine plant." The name aloe is derived from the Arabic word "alloeh", meaning "bitter taste".

Botanical Basics

The aloe vera plant belongs to the family Asphodelaceae with about 400 known species currently grown. Classified as succulent plants, aloe grows in the more arid parts of Africa and in the mountains of tropical Africa. The most distinguishing part of the aloe vera herbal plant is its leaves which are large, thick, and fleshy. The leaves are shaped like lances with a sharp apex and spines lining their margins.

Early Applications of Aloe Vera

As early as 1500 BC, Egyptians have noted the use of the aloe vera plant as treatment for burns, infections, and parasites.

Healing Properties

Many believe that the juice of the aloe vera plant yields certain substances, called aloes, which are good purgatives. Great care must be taken before ingesting the aloe plant as some species, including the Aloe venenosa, can produce poisonous juices. Most species, however, including A. vera, chinensis, perryi, socotrina and vulgaris, contain aloes that provide soothing, therapeutic benefits.

Aloe vera has been under medical scrutiny since the 1930s. Studies suggest that the clear gel of the aloe vera plant contain properties that have dramatic burn, wound and ulcer healing properties. When an affected area is coated with the gel-like substance, the wound is also safeguarded from infection-causing bacteria and other micro bodies, providing faster healing.

Herbal Juice

Since it is a succulent, the aloe vera plant is composed of about 96 percent water. The remaining 4 percent consists of active ingredients, including essential oil, amino acids, minerals, vitamins, enzymes, and glycoproteins. Thanks to the many active constituents present in the aloe vera herbal plant, many modern healers have used it in their liquid health treatments. Regularly, the aloe vera herbal juice is combined with other medicinal plants in order to increase its potency. The aloe vera herbal juice produces a relieving effect on digestive tract irritations caused by disorders, such as colitis and peptic ulcers.

Herbal Supplements

With its many vitamins and minerals, aloe vera is perfect as an herbal food supplement. It helps aid digestion and assists in blood and lymphatic circulation. Aloe vera herbal supplement is also thought to improve kidney, liver, and gall bladder functions.

The aloe vera plant contains at least three fatty acids with anti-inflammatory properties, making supplements beneficial for those with stomach, colon and small intestine problems. By naturally alkalizing digestive juices and preventing excess acidity, aloe vera supplements may also prevent these common causes of indigestion.

Aloe vera is an ancient plant, long respected for its many healing and soothing properties. For this reason, aloe is one treatment that no modern medicine cabinet should be without.