AKA: Medicine plant, first aid plant, Miracle plant, Lu hui, Indian Alces, Barbados Aloe, Curacao Aloe, Aloe  Barbadensis, Aloe Vulgaris,  and plain old “aloe”.

Of the over 300 hundred species of Aloe, the Aloe Vera is definitely the most prolific. Thought to have originated out of Africa, Aloe Vera can be now be found on every continent besides Antarctica and it is harvested and used by a countless number of people. It has gone by many different names, most notably Aloe Barbadensis and Aloe Vulgaris and it is utilized for many natural healing properties. It is a cactus like succulent with fleshy green lance shaped leaves which contain a clear viscous gel like liquid. The entire leaf is useful, but this inner gel is the main part that is utilized.

Many generations have used aloe gel to sooth burns, cuts and scrapes and some research has been conducted on its reported healing properties.  While some of these studies (Aloe gel’s effect on: radiation induced dermatitis, aphthous ulcers, pressure sores) proved inconclusive, many scientists will attest to this plant’s seemingly miraculous healing power.

Aloe is a succulent perennial plant that can get as tall as five feet high. It has a strong fibrous root and a hearty stem which supports a rosette of narrow lance shaped leaves, which can reach up to almost two feet in length. These lanceolate leaves are green and covered with numerous faint white dots. Rows of small spiny teeth run along their margins.  When in bloom, dropping yellowish purple flowers appear a long cluster on the top of the flower stalk. While it mostly grown in the warmer sub tropical climates, it can also be found in the southern United States and it is widely grown indoors elsewhere.

Uses

• Digestive tract irritations such as colitis, ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome
•  cleansing stomach, liver, kidneys, spleen, bladder and colon
• arthritis, asthma, bladder and kidney infections, cancer, constipation, diverticular disorders, hemorrhoids, heartburn, heart disease
• HIV, immune stimulation, indigestion, insomnia, kidney disease, leg cramps, leukemia, skin health, stomach distress, tumours, vaginitis, viruses,
• white blood cell production and general health tonic.

Aloe is an emergency kit all on its own and has been utilized for its many healing, soothing, and cleansing properties. The inner gel contains vitamins, minerals and enzymes that help speed the healing process and sooth the pain. It also has natural antibacterial and anti fungal properties that will help protect wounds. Aloe also can be digested and used to sooth the intestinal system. In fact aloe juice is now widely used for a multitude of digestive conditions.

There is no single ingredient that makes Aloe vera potent and healthful. Researcher Robert Davis, Ph.D., an endocrinologist-biologist, explains that fifteen different compound groups of nutrients work together to make the plant effective. This means that Aloe vera's effects cannot be synthesized easily in a laboratory. On the upside, this makes the plant useful across a wide spectrum of circumstances. And because the various elements that make Aloe effective are nutrients rather than drugs, Aloe juice may complement medical treatments.

Here are the top things that Aloe has been used for…

• Antibacterial, anesthetic, and antiseptic: Aloe is a great way to restore skin tissue
• With the ability to soften skin, Aloe Vera is great to use cosmetically as a beauty aid.
• Aloe can is essential in treating burns, minor cuts and sores.
• Sunburns can also be healed with aloe and studies as a treatment for skin cancer is currently underway.
• Aloe is said to help cure dandruff.
• Aloe vera has been used to aid and influence digestion and help with stomach disorders.
• Aloe can also be made into a eye wash by dissolving ½ tsp. of Aloe Juice in one cup of water.
• Diabetes, ulcers, arthritis, constipation, arteriosclerosis, amenorrhea, menstrual complaints, and even herpes simplex viruses have all been traditionally treated with Aloe Vera.

Dosage

Aloe comes in a number of different forms, including powder, gels, ointments, salves, lotions, and fluids. If you taking the powder form of Aloe, the recommended dosage is 1 to 5 grams.  In the fluid extract, 5 to 30 drops can be taken. If you are taking aloe latex capsules for constipation, a one 50 to 200 mg capsule each day for a maximum of ten days.

Aloe gel taken directly from a cut open leaf is one of the most common ways that Aloe Vera is utilized. This aloe gel can be applied to a cut or burn three to five times a day to promote healing.  A poultice can also be made by slicing the Aloe leaf lengthwise, pressing the gelled side toward the affected area and then wrapping.

Side Effects

Although it is rare, there are some people who are allergic to Aloe Vera.  However, Aloe is considered to be one of the safest topical applications available and is generally well tolerated with occasional reports of a stinging, itching and hypersensitivity. Aloe Vera is not a replacement for medical attention for burns that blister or severe cuts, in fact in these cases, it might even impede the healing process.  When taken orally, aloe is considered safe with no reported side effects.

Although it is removed, in practice Aloe vera juice may sometimes still contain tiny quantities of the laxative compound found in aloe latex. If you begin to have cramps or diarrhea, do not ingest any more of the juice.

Drug Interactions
If you are using oral corticosteroids, such as beclomethasone, methylprednisolone, or prednisone, it is important not to overuse or misuse Aloe vera juice. A potassium deficiency can develop, and you may experience toxic effects from the medication.

coming soon....