What is Aloe vera?
Aloe vera is a thick, short-stemmed plant. Each of its leaves is filled with a slimy “gel-like” tissue that stores water. It grows in hot, dry climates, and in the U.S. it grows in Florida, Texas, and Arizona. Aloe vera is used in cosmetics, pharmaceutical, and food industries.
First recorded use?
Aloe vera’s earliest record of human use was in the Ebers Papyrus (an Egyptian medical record) from the 16thcentury BC. In Egypt, Aloe vera was known as “that plant of immortality.” The plant had been used therapeutically for centuries in China, Japan, India, Greece, Egypt, and Mexico.
What are the health benefits?
The gel: Contains most of the bioactive compounds in the plant, which are vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants.
Bacterial growth: Aloe vera contains powerful antioxidants, which is a substance in the family of polyphenols, and antibacterial properties that inhibit the growth of bad bacteria within the body.
Heals burns: The solid gel substance in the leaves can be directly rubbed on a site with a first and/or second-degree burn. In 1959 the FDA approved an over-the-counter Aloe vera ointment for skin burns. Studies have shown that Aloe vera reduces the amount of healing time of a burn.
Reduces plaque: A study of 300 people found that using pure Aloe vera juice for 4 days showed that the rinse was as effective as using chlorhexidine in reducing the amount of plaque on an individual’s teeth. Aloe vera does this by directly killing the plaque-producing bacterium in the mouth.
The latex: Underneath the skin of the leaf, one can find the sticky yellow residue which is known as the latex of the Aloe vera plant. The latex portion of the plant can help treat constipation. The compound responsible for this is aloin, or barbaloin, and the established laxative effects. Aloe latex has not been an over-the-counter medication since 2002 in the U.S. because it does not seem to help against other digestive disorders, like irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease. Discuss with your physician if taking Aloe latex is for you, and if so, what dosage you should be given to prevent any further digestive problems.
Improve aging skin: In a study of 30 women, the Aloe vera gel application showed an increase in the amount of collagen produced providing the skin with more elasticity. It can also reduce erythema (skin redness) while dehydrating the skin.
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