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Aloe Vera-An invaluable medicinal herb and houseplant
The Aloe Vera is a very beneficial plant known since ancient times. The mention of this plant finds place in many ancient texts including the Bible. This is native to northern Africa and the Mediterranean region though it is widely grown in the tropics while being popularly used as a houseplant. The plant is succulent and short stemmed and has thick leaves. With maturity, the leaves have been observed to develop spiny margins.
The Aloe Vera Juice and Its Medicinal Properties
The Aloe Vera leaves contain mucilaginous juice. This is a soothing substance and is popularly used to treat burns (that is why the Aloe Vera is also called the burn plant). This has high water content and a large number of nutrients. It has been found that there are some 75 different health endowing nutrients including vitamins, enzymes, minerals, sugars and some useful acids. It is in this juice that the medicinal properties of the plant lie.
It is in treating minor burns and sun burns of skin that the plant’s extract is primarily used for. Internal medications also make use of this herb. This acts as a valuable remedy for stomachaches and ulceration conditions. This is also known to have a laxative effect. The Aloe Vera is put to a large number of invaluable medicinal uses. No wonder why it is regarded as one of the most famous and widely used medicinal herbs.
The various external uses (for skin treatment) to which the Aloe Vera can be put are: soothing skin inflammations, healing up skin injuries and hives, treating first degree burns and facilitating the healing, shrinking warts, lower pains of shingles and reducing symptoms of psoriasis. For meeting these purposes either the mucilaginous juice of the plant is directly applied to the skin or various medications (creams, lotions etc.) prepared using its extracts are used.
Aloe Vera is taken orally to act as remedy for heartburn, stomachaches, indigestion, arthritis and rheumatism pain and asthma. It also helps provide relief (when administered internally) from congestion, intestinal worms, ulceration conditions, colitis, hemorrhoids, cirrhosis of liver, hepatitis, kidney and/or urinary tract infections and problems of the prostrate glands. Besides, it acts as a general detoxifier. This is also considered to have a positive effect in lowering blood sugar levels in diabetics.
If not for anything else, the extracts of Aloe Vera can be taken in the form of suitable medications/preparations for generating an overall feeling of wellbeing.
Usage of Aloe Vera in Cosmetic Products
The Aloe Vera derivatives and extracts (sap) are used on a large scale in various products manufactured by the cosmetic companies. The range of makeup, moisturizers, soaps, shampoos, creams and lotions offered by many cosmetic companies make use of Aloe Vera. It is especially because of its moisturizing and disinfecting property that Aloe Vera is included in these various products. The plant is a great healer of dry skin and skin affected with a host of problems like acne, pimples, blemishes, pox marks etc.