ALOE VERA (BOTANICAL NAME: ALOE BARBADENSIS)

Aloe vera is succulent plant species that has thick fleshy stems with spiny leaves. The fleshy stem contains the aloe juice which is being used for various purposes since the beginning of the first century as an excellent home remedy. The juice and the gel are used in numerous medicinal, cosmetic and health treatments.

Vernacular names:  Aloe, Indian Alces, Kumari, Ghirita, Gawarpaltra, Barbados Aloe, Curacao Aloe, Lu Hui

Aloe is a member of the lily family, and one that hails from dry parts of the world. The plant stores the limited rain water it gets in its succulent leaves, in the form of a gel. Long ago humans figured out that the jelly like contents of the aloe leaf could be used to heal the skin, and heal it really fast.

Aloe vera is astem less or sometimes very short stemmed, growing approximately 80-100
cm tall, spreading by offsets an root sprouts. The leaves are lanceolate, thick and fleshy, green to grey green with a serrated margin. The flowers are produced on a spike upto 90 cm tall, each flower pendulous with a yellow tubular corolla 2-3 cm long. The tissue in the center of the aloe leaf contains a gel which yields aloe gel or aloe vera gel. Scientific researchers reveal that the Aloe vera plant is essentially a cactus plant, which is composed of mainly water and 75 different ingredients. These include vitamins, minerals, enzymes,sugars, anthraquinones, carbo-oxy-peptidase is an important enzyme which produces an anti inflammatory effect, after rendering bradykinins inactive. found in the sap are phenolic compounds, such as isobarbaloin, Anthrone-C glycosides and Barbaloin-IO. Various essential amino acids and vitamins A, C and F are derived from this plant. Salicylic acid, calcium, zinc, manganese, magnesium are some of the compounds present in the aloe vera plant as well.

This herb is a versatile panacea to all of your health woes. You can grow this plant in your 

kitchen garden. It is also an ornamental plant but helps to improve your health.

Aloe Vera produces two substances called gel and latex. Aloe gel is the clear jelly like substance that is found inside the plant. This aloe gel is blended with required water and this jucie can be consumed for getting relief from the irritable bowel syndrome, inflammation, osterarthritis and stomach ulcers. It is also a general health tonic that you can consume every morning to reap all its benefits.

Having aloe juice for two weeks can help to reduce infammation in the body like rheumatism, inflammation of ears and eyes and all pains of arthritis. Aloe contains antiinflammatory compounds like plant sterols that help reduce the pain and stiffness like the steroid pain killers without no side effect.

Mix two teaspoons of fresh aloe vera juice in one cup of water and consumption of this juice cures ulcers and detoxifies the digestive system.

Various uses of aloe vera:

The transparent gel oozes out from a broken aloe vera stem is a first aid treatment  as follows.

1. Aloe Vera is useful for treating X ray burns, dermatitis, cutaneous and disorders of skin.
2. The drug from its juice is tonic and used in jaundice, ameneorrhoea, atonic and piles.
3. Aloe Vera gel has the remarkable ability to heal wounds, ulcer and burns.
4. The acid present inside Aloe Vera is used as an effective pain killer.
5. It is used to make antiseptic, which can kill mold, bacteria,fungus and virus infections
6. Aloe Vera is known to be highly beneficial for skin. It prevents the growth of acnes and is used as a beauty product to enhance skin growth.
7. Both oral intake and tropical dressings of Aloe Vera encourage healing of any kind of wound on the skin, burn or scald. It also speeds up the convalescing period after recovery.
8. Aloe Vera can be tried on blisters, insect bites, rashes, sores, herpes, urticaria, athlete’s foot, fungus, vaginal infections, conjunctivitis, sties, allergic reactions and dry skin.
9. Topical used of this plant includes sunburn, frostbite, shingles, screening out x-ray radiation, psoriasis, preventing scarring, rosacea, warts, wrinkles caused due to aging, and eczema. 
10. According to some studies, oral consumption of Aloe Vera works effectively to soothe conditions like heartburn, arthritis and rheumatism pain and asthma.
11. Studies have also suggested that it is has a very positive effect in lowering blood sugar levels in diabetics.. 
12. Aloe Vera is rich in proteolitic enzymes which help to remove the dead skin which
13. clogs the pores of the scalp, which hinders the growth of new hair follicles. Accumulation of excessive sebum on the scalp can lead to hair problems like partial baldness. So the Aloe gel removes the sebum making the scalp squeaky clean and p.

13.  If gum bleeding is due to bacterial infection, aloe juice helps to fight infections and             makes your mouth clean and fresh. 

14. The regular intake of the aloe juice helps to fight cancer. It contains high level of anti-          carcinogenic properties that hinder the growth of tumours.

We are now know the various uses of the natural option of treating with our skin and hair, and  an intake of the juice of aloe vera benefits our health too. We will grow this wonderful herb in our home garden or pot as per our comfortability.