Aloe Vera History

Aloe vera has a long history as a secure and effective medicine for skin care and beauty. Aloe vera is a perdurable, drought-resisting, succulent plant belonging to the Lily family which, historically, has been used for a variety of medicinal purposes. The plant has stilted grey-green lance shaped leaves containing clear gel in a central mucilaginous pulp. The aloe vera plant has been broadly studied in US and Britain and extensive research has also been done by Japanese on the use of Aloe saponaria and Aloe arborensis.

The use of aloe vera was done in 1930s that helps in healing radiation burns. This plant also has been used by the casualties after the 2 nd world war. It was also called Goddess or Kumari as most of the women are using aloe vera to retain their ageing and beauty and this has been used to treat wounds and burns since many centuries.

Aloe vera has also been shown to be of benefit in number of studies in the treatment of burns, frostbite, and skin abrasion harm. Aloe vera juice is generally extracted from the whole plant and is used for chronic constipation. The juice should not be used daily because it depletes electrolytes from the body and can cause muscle weakness.

The plant of aloe Vera has been greatly considered in Britain and the United States and Japanese has performed wide inquisition of aloe Vera on the utilization of Aloe arborensis and Aloe saponaria. Medical healers of past civilizations recommended aloe vera for a large variety of illnesses and ailments. Eastern women valued aloe for the "beauty of their skin". Nomadic people would dig up their worthy aloe plants and carry them live to every new campsite for fear that they might not find them growing in their new location.

A polysaccharide in aloe vera, named glucomannan, works as an anti-inflammatory. Another one, Aloctin A, have immune system stimulating and anti-tumor statures. Other parts have shown antiviral qualities. Applied to wounds, the gel not only reduces pain and infection, it stimulates cell regeneration and hence the growth of new tissue and skin.

Scarring can be reduced notably by using aloe vera. Because of its capability to balance the pH of the blood and increase digestion and absorption, aloe vera strengthens the immune system. Taken regularly over a period of various months, it helps to control the function of the liver.

Aloe vera is famous for its useful effect to the skin. The plant appears like cactus. It has spiky delicious leaves growing from the base. It does not require too much water. It was reported that the sufferers who were treated with Aloe vera showed signs of increased tissue growth and reduced pain, where other medicines had failed. Great egyptian beauties are said to have bathed in the juice emanated from its pulp to keep their skin beautiful in spite of the harsh sun.

Though Aloe Vera is a tropical plant, the root can outlast freezing air temperatures, so long as the ground is not frozen and the root destroyed. It is used medicinally for its stimulating effect on bowels. It is also a skin irritant and is not appropriate for skin care. The clear colorless pulp from the center of the leaf is the aloe vera gel used for burns, skin care and even hair care. Cinnamic acid found in aloe vera is a germicide. Bradykinase, also present in aloe vera is an enzyme that stimulates the immune system. Acemannan, a mucopolysaccharide present in aloe vera stimulates macrophages to produce interferon and interleukin.

Uses of Aloe:

Topical uses:

• Genital herpes.
• Wound healing.
• Radiation-induced skin reactions.
• Sunburn.
• Burn healing.

Oral uses:

• Ulcerative olitis.
• Ulcers.
• Crohn's disease.
• Diabetes.
• Constipation.