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Aloe Vera
The Aloe plant comes as a blessing for those interested in kitchen remedies using herbs. Referred to often as the Lily of the Desert, or the Plant of Immortality, Aloe Vera is native to Africa and is considered a medicine plant. It is hardy with a lifespan of 25 years, tolerating drought, shade and rough weather to survive and give succor. The first-aid effects of Aloe Vera are renowned and its thick leaves contain enough water supply for it to survive long dry spells. When a leaf of the aloe plant is cut, an orange-yellow sap drips from the open end; though bitter to taste, is an effective laxative.
Medicinal values of Aloe Vera
The Aloe Vera benefits as a laxative made it a very popular raw material at the beginning of this century; however, synthetic laxatives have largely replaced it in the global market, but a demand for it as a raw material still exists. Many other pharmaceutical products also use Aloe Vera as a base and the most well known of its uses is in anti-rheumatic medicines. Upon removing the green skin of a leaf, a clear mucilaginous substance appears. This contains fibers, water and the ingredients to retain the water in the leaf and gives the popular Aloe Vera gel its distinctive healing quality. The medicinal values of Aloe Vera are recognized world over as in gel or crème form, it is used for the acceleration of wound healing, on skin burns, deep penetrating and effective moisturizing for dry skin and taken internally for peptic ulcers or gastritis.
Aloe Vera: legendary remedies
- The earliest recorded use of the Aloe Vera plant dates back to almost 2000 years to Alexander the Great. This great conqueror of the world used them for tending to the wounds of his soldiers.
- Another historical great, Cleopatra, used it as a skin care product and Biblical references also suggest wide use of the Aloe plant for minor cuts and skin problems.
- Giving scientific evidence of the medicinal use of Aloe Vera and its most important remedy, an article written in 1935 in an American medical journal credited the successful use of Aloe Vera in treating skin lesions caused by X-rays. From that time onwards, the use of Aloe Vera as a treatment for all kinds of skin lesions and skin burns gained further acknowledgement.
- Aloe Vera is used as a remedy for stomach problems as well and is a proven health-drink for related issues.
- An effective skin moisturizer, Aloe Vera is indispensable as a raw material in skin care products.
- Part use of Aloe Vera is in the extract form, made by crushing the whole leaves of the plant and obtaining the juice from the inner leaf.
Storage tips for Aloe Vera
The healing aspect of the Aloe Vera herb makes it a favorite in many kitchens, globally. It is kept in sandy soil that is well drained; if kept in a pot, remember that the Aloe plant needs filtered sun or full shade.