Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Aloe Vera: The Healing Plant

One of the handiest home remedies and natural treatments to have around the house is an aloe vera plant that can be used to care for a variety of ailments including skin care and digestive disorders. In fact, this wonderful gift from our Creator has been revered for its healing properties for thousands of years. The use of aloe is referred to in the Bible, and in ancient Egyptian literature as well. Cleopatra (68-30 B.C.) used aloe to keep her skin young, and it was also used by Egyptians for embalming bodies. Greek writings also discussed internal uses of aloe for bowel regularity and for treating kidney problems. In modern times, aloe vera is a common ingredient in many personal care products such as cosmetics, sunscreens, and shampoos.

There are more than 200 varieties of the aloe plant, and this member of the desert lily family (Aloe barbadensis) has become popular all over the world. Aloe vera, literally "true aloe" in Latin, is the most commonly used species, and one that is highly effective both nutritionally and medicinally. In some cultures, cuttings from aloe vera plants are passed down from previous generations, and its use as a staple in the home becomes a family tradition. Many people keep an aloe plant in the kitchen to quickly deal with household burns.


What Makes Aloe Vera So Special?

There is a wealth of nutrition packed into an aloe vera plant. It contains every major vitamin (except D), and is one of the few known vegetable sources of vitamin B12. Aloe vera is also rich in minerals such as zinc, germanium, calcium, and magnesium. In addition, aloe vera is high in other key bioactive substances like enzymes, amino acids, and essential fatty acids (EFAs).

The unique and powerful thing about this amazing plant is that it contains about 15 different types of compound nutritional substances working together to produce a synergistic effect that makes it such a useful, natural healer. Scientists who have studied aloe vera can identify its components, but cannot combine them artificially to reproduce the same results in the lab.

How is Aloe Vera Used?

One of its most popular uses is as a treatment for skin problems for minor burns, sunburn, or cuts and scrapes. Simply break open a leaf of the plant, and apply the gel-like juice directly on the skin to experience its soothing effects. The combination of amino acids, so critical for the formation of protein in the body, and various enzymes, powerful compounds that are involved with virtually every part of the body at the cellular level, make aloe vera so nourishing and restorative to the skin. Aloe vera also keeps healthy skin moisturized and younger looking. It additionally works great on insect bites and rashes like poison ivy.

The internal use of aloe vera provides many health benefits. Due to the EFAs and other compounds found in the plant, aloe has excellent anti-inflammatory properties. Thus it works well for treating and preventing many conditions such as colitis, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, and other intestinal troubles. It also is quite useful for treating ulcers, cramps, stomachaches, heartburn, and indigestion.

Aloe is also a very capable body cleanser that can be used to eliminate toxins. It has positive effects on the colon, liver, kidneys, stomach, spleen, bladder, and other organs.

Aloe vera has also been documented to relieve the swelling and inflammation of arthritis, and other joint disorders.

Aloe acts to strengthen the immune system too, and has been used to treat such varied conditions as HIV, cancer, and viral infections. In fact, in 1994, aloe vera was approved by the FDA for use on HIV patients.

Another use for aloe vera has been to aid cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation. The potent natural substances in aloe vera have helped people to have less nausea, higher blood counts, and increased energy during and after treatment.

There are so many health and nutrition benefits associated with aloe vera that it seems a given that it should be a part of everyone's natural health routine. Start a plant today, and begin to discover how aloe vera can impact your health.

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