Cleopatra is known for her beauty and one of the reasons for her immaculate beauty can be credited to the spiky green plant Aloe Vera which she is understood to have used daily in the gel form and was part of her beauty regime. Today, this very fruit plant is used in several personal care products and medicines. Dubbed affectionately as the ‘Plant of immortality’ by the Egyptians 6000 years ago, Aloe Vera has rejuvenating and healing properties. The ancient Greeks used it to cure everything from baldness to insomnia.
Aloe Vera, also known as a Wonder plant has tremendous benefits. No wonder that it is wildly used in cosmetics, herbal remedies and food supplements.
If you have observed the leaf of Aloe Vera closely there are yellow (latex) found just under the skin and white color gel found inside the leaf. Both of these have medicinal properties. It is rich in calcium, sodium, potassium, iron, zinc, manganese, folic acid, amino acid and Vitamin A,C,E,B1,B2,B6.
Benefits :
- Aloe Vera’s white gel has enzymes, fiber, amino acids which helps in digestion and digestive disorders like colitis and irritable bowel syndrome.
- It has anti-bacterial, anti-viral properties to help boost the immunity of the system, helps maintain oral hygiene.
- It has laxative properties to relieve constipation.
- It is anti-inflammatory and helps to reduce the inflammation of Rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid Arthritis is an auto-immune disease which affects the entire body. The immune system attacks the body tissues, especially, the membranes lining the joint.
- Aloe Vera juice is used for lowering sugar levels. But, Consult your doctor before consuming Aloe Vera juice
- It has anti-carcinogenic properties to fight against the cancer.
- It is rich in magnesium lactate which works very well for chest congestion.
- Vitamin C present in it is the best natural source to fight against the cold ad cough.
Aloe Vera for the Skin :
- It is suitable for all skin types.
- Aloe Vera in the gel form has great soothing effect and therefore when applied on the irritable area of the skin, it reduces skin irritation.
- Its anti-microbial property helps in curing acne, pimples and lightening of the skin.
Aloe Vera for the Hair:
- It has Proteolitic enzymes which helps in removing dead skin from the scalp and removes the excess sebum to promote hair growth.
- Because of its alkaline properties it maintains the pH of the scalp to keep hair moisturized.
- Its anti -fungal property helps in reducing the dandruff.
- To keep our hair more soft and smooth we can add Aloe Vera gel to our regular conditioner and use it daily.
But, here is a word of Caution:
Aloe Vera is power packed with loads of nutrients to treat our body in the most natural way, however, in certain treatments it may cause adverse effects if not taken under supervision like excess amount may cause diarrhea and may lower blood sugar which leads to loss of potassium from the body. It may inhibit some drug reaction internally and may cause allergic reaction on the skin.
A very informative blog on Aloe vera. Fermented Aloe Vera is instrumental in managing IBS. It is a super nutrient that prodigiously works in the management of IBS.