Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is a stemless or very short-stemmed succulent plant growing to 60–100 cm
(24–39 in) tall, spreading by offsets. The leaves are thick and fleshy, green to
grey-green, with some varieties showing white flecks on their upper and lower
stem surfaces. The margin of the leaf is serrated and has small white teeth. The flowers
are produced in summer on a spike up to 90 cm (35 in) tall, each
flower being pendulous, with a yellow tubular corolla 2–3 cm (0.8–1.2 in) long. Like
other Aloe species, Aloe vera forms arbuscular mycorrhiza, a symbiosis that allows the plant better access to
mineral nutrients in soil.
Medicinal Uses of Aloe Vera
1. Aloe Vera Is High
in Vitamins & Minerals:
Aloe
Vera contains many vitamins including A, C, E, folic acid, choline, B1, B2, B3,
B6. Aloe Vera is also one of the few plants that contains vitamin B12.Some of
the 20 minerals found in Aloe Vera include: calcium, magnesium, zinc, chromium,
selenium, sodium, iron, potassium, copper, manganese.
2. Aloe Vera is High in
Amino Acids & Fatty Acids
Amino
acids are the building blocks of protein. There are about 22 amino acids that
are necessary for the human body and it is said that 8 of these are essential.
Estimates of the amino acids found in aloe range from 18-20 amino acids, with
all 8 essential amino acids. Alove Vera also includes quite an impressive range
of fatty acids. Aloe contains three plant sterols, which are important fatty
acids- HCL cholesterol (which lowers fats in the blood), campesterol, and
B-sitosterol. All are helpful in reducing symptoms of allergies and acid
indigestion. Other fatty acids include linoleic, linolenic, myristic, caprylic,
oleic, palmitic, and stearic.
3. Aloe Vera is an
Adaptogen
Aloe
Vera is a well-known adaptogen. An adaptogen is something that boosts the
body’s natural ability to adapt to external changes and resist illness. It is
thought that aloe’s power as an adaptogen balances the body’s system,
stimulating the defense and adaptive mechanisms of the body. This allows you an
increased ability to cope with stress (physical, emotional and environmental
stress like pollution)
4. Aloe Helps with
Digestion
Poor
digestion is related to many diseases. A properly functioning digestive tract
is one of the keys and foundations of health. Aloe is known to soothe and
cleanse the digestive tract and help improve digestion. The interesting thing
about taking aloe internally is that, because it is an adaptogen, it helps with
either constipation or diarrhea, helping to regulate your elimination cycles in
whatever way you need. It’s been a great remedy for people with problems
such as irritable bowel syndrome as well as acid reflux. Aloe also helps to
decrease the amount of unfriendly bacteria and in our gut keeping your healthy
intestinal flora in balance. Aloe is also a vermifuge, which means it helps to
rid the body of intestinal worms.
5. Aloe Helps in
Detoxification
Aloe
Vera is a gelatinous plant food, just like seaweeds and chia. The main benefit
to consuming gelatinous plant foods in your diet is that these gels move
through the intestinal tract absorbing toxins along the way and get eliminated
through the colon. This will help the proper elimination of waste from your
body and help the detoxification of your body.
6. Aloe Alkalizes the
Body
Disease
cannot manifest in an alkaline environment. Most people are living and
subsisting on mostly acidic foods. For great health, remember the 80/20 rule –
80% alkaline forming foods and 20% acidic. Aloe vera is an alkaline forming
food. It alkalizes the body, helping to balance overly acidic dietary habits
7. Cardiovascular Health
There
hasn’t been a lot of studies conducted in this but there has been some research
to show that Aloe Vera extract injected into the blood, greatly multiplies the
oxygen transportation and diffusion capabilities of the red blood cells.
According
to a study published in the 2000 issue of the British Medical Journal, beta
sitosterol helps to lower cholesterol. By regulating blood pressure, improving
circulation and oxidation of the blood, lowering cholesterol, and making blood
less sticky, Aloe Vera juice may be able to help lower the risk of heart
disease.
8. Aloe Helps Boost the
Immune System
I
think given the stresses of our daily lives, every one can use a boost to their
immune systems. The polysaccharides in aloe vera juice stimulate macrophages,
which are the white blood cells of your immune system that fight against
viruses.
Aloe is also an immune enhancer because of
its high level of anti-oxidants, which help combat the unstable compounds known
as free-radicals, contributing to the aging process. (Free radicals are a
bi-product of life itself, it is a naturally occurring process but we can
overload ourselves with unnecessary free-radicals by living an unhealthy
lifestyle) Aloe is also an antipyretic which means it used to
reduce or prevent fever.
9. Aloe Vera is Great for
the Skin
Because
of aloe’s well-known healing properties for the skin, aloe is one of the
primary compounds used in the cosmetic industry. It is a known vulnerary,
(meaning it helps heal wounds) and is great for applying topically to burns,
abrasions, psoriasis and even to bug bites. Aloe acts as an
analgesic, acting to help relieve pain of wounds. It’s feels especially
good to cut a stem of aloe, place it in the fridge and rub it on sun burnt skin
– the immediate soothing effect feels like an absolute lifesaver. Aloe is also
an antipruritic: A substance that relieves or prevents itching. Aloe Vera is an
astringent: which causes the contraction of body tissues, typically used to
reduce bleeding from minor abrasions.
Due
to aloe’s high water content (over 99% water) it is a great way to hydrate,
moisturize and rejuvenate the skin and fits within my general guideline: “Don’t
put anything on your skin that you wouldn’t eat!” Aloe increases the elasticity
of the skin making it more flexible through collagen and elastin repair. Aloe
is an emollient, helping to soften and soothe the skin. It helps supply oxygen
to the skin cells, increasing the strength and synthesis of skin tissue and
induces improved blood flow to the skin through capillary dilation.
10. Disinfectant,
Anti-biotic, Anti-microbial, Germicidal, Anti-bacterial, Anti-septic,
Anti-fungal & Anti-viral:
Wow,
I think that covers all anti- bases. Okay, I admit, that was just a sneaky way
to add in another 8 good reasons why you should keep Aloe Vera handy and
incorporate it into your lifestyle. Aloe Vera’s active ingredients are sulphur,
lupeol, salicylic acid, cinnamic acid, urea nitrogen and phenol which are
substances that prevent the growth of disease-causing microorganisms and act as
a team to provide antimicrobial activity thus eliminating many internal and
external infections, also active against bacteria. It also helps to treat
fungal and viral infections.
11. Aloe Helps Reduce
Inflammation
Aloe
Vera contains 12 substances, including B-sisterole, which can help to slow down
or inhibit inflammation. This may be able to help with painful joints due
to stiffness and help improve joint flexibility.
12. Weight Loss – A
Secondary effect
Improving
your digestion, and detoxifying your will have a secondary effect in promoting
weight loss because when we start to improve our digestion we naturally
eliminate more efficiently, which is a primary way they we detoxify – through
our bowels. This will lighten our toxic load on the body and will give us more
energy.