Aloe Vera By Anette Martinsen

Aloe vera, aloes or aloe vera syn. A. Barbadenis (Liliaceae), or often called the miracle plant has been known since the beginning of recorded history as one of the most beneficial plants with medicinal properties on the earth. Aloe vera has prickly, grey-green, succulent leaves that can grow up to 60cm long. The aloe can also produce a spike of yellow or orange flowers. Aloe Vera is a succulent plant rather like the cactus but it is actually part of the lily family also related to the onion, garlic and asparagus.

It originates from tropical Africa and is native to eastern and southern Africa, where it grows wild. Although there are over two hundred species of Aloe Vera, there are probably only four or five with medicinal properties. Of these, Aloe Barbadensis Miller (also know as Aloe Linne’) is the most potent and it is really the only true aloe.
When mature, it can be harvested and the gel inside its leaves can bottled and preserved.

In Africa the plant and its related spices are used as an antidote to poison arrow wounds. The Greeks and Romans knew it as a wound healer and one of Pliny’s many recommendations was to rub leaves on ‘ulcerated male genitals’! In the Middle Ages it was very popular as a purgative and in China, similar uses developed to those in the West, although only the gel was used. In India the gel is a highly regarded cooling tonic and in Mexico the ancient Mayans also knew about the plants medicinal properties. Aloe vera reached the West Indies in the 16th century and is widely cultivated there. In the West, the plant first became popular in the 1950’s, when its ability to heal radiation burns was discovered.

In 1862 a man named George Ebers first discovered its antiquity in an ancient Egyptian papyrus, dated around 3500 BC, together with a collection of other herbal remedies.

In Cyprus I’ve found that the climate is also ideal for aloe vera to be grown as a pot plant. It needs a bit of shade, which enables valuable substances to develop within the plant over the years. It does not like direct sunshine all day long but it thrives in humidity, which is ideal for its ‘well being’. When in the right situation aloe vera will then start to produce ‘babies’, small rooted plantlets, sometimes several at a time. In various books and literature on the plant, aloe vera is usually described as a desert plant/cactus, which can survive a long time with out water. This maybe true, however, when it survives under this condition the aloe starts to consume its own valuable substances to survive so don’t be afraid to water it!

Parts Used – the gel
The plant has two distinct types of medicinal use – the leaves and the gel. The clear gel found in the leaf is thick and ideal for home first aid cure for burns, wounds and sunburn. It is also useful for any dry skin problems, such as eczema and can be put around the eyes and the sensitive area on the face. It can be used for treating fungal infections, especially ringworm.

The leaves
The yellow sap from the base of the leaf when dried is known as ‘bitter aloes’ and it is a strong laxative, effective for chronic stubborn constipation. They stimulate bile flow and the digestion and the appetite. However, DO NOT use the bitter yellow juice on the skin and DO NOT take internally during pregnancy or while you are breast-feeding. DO NOT take it if suffering form haemorrhoids or any type of kidney disease.

Research
Extensive research on the healing properties of the aloe vera plant since the 1930’s in the United States of America and Russia has show that the clear gel has a dramatic ability to heal wounds, burns and ulcers by putting a protective coat on the affected area, thus speeding up the rate of healing. This action is partly due to the presence of aloectin B, which stimulates the immune system.

Key constituents
There are quite a few constituents found in the aloe vera plant, such as anthraquinones, (aloin, aloe-emodin), resins, tannins, polysaccharides and aloectin B.

Beauty
The aloe vera plant has a long history as a skin lotion – Cleopatra is said to have attributed her beauty to it. The Egyptian queen Nefertiti also highly regarded it as a beauty therapy.

If you have your own aloe vera plant growing outside you could make your own beauty products. You just need the gel from the plant; to do this you use the fingers and thumb of each hand, carefully slice along the length of the leave and peel back the edges. Collect the gel by scrapping the inside of the leaf with a blunt edge of a knife. You must use the gel immediately as it cannot be saved.

Forever Living Products.
Having tried many different Aloe Vera drinks and products on the market and checked out the ingredients, I found the best one by far was the Forever Living drink Aloe Vera “Gel”(1 litre £16 retail or £11.20 whole sale) which contains the original water from the plant (most important) and is naturally stabilised by a patented process. It contains over 200 different components, 18 Amino Acids, 8 Essential Amino Acids, many vitamins including B12 and 20 minerals. I have started to drink 50ml of “Gel” every day after I have brushed my teeth (you have to brush you teeth because of the bacteria in your mouth - if you can try and scrape your tongue as well.) I take it on an empty stomach and avoid food and drinks for at least half an hour afterwards. Thousands of people throughout the world have taken this Aloe Vera drink and have relieved skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, ulcers, burns, acne, even stings and bites. Others have found for bowl disorders such as colitis, diverticulitis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Also the anti-inflammatory properties of Aloe Vera have helped arthritic and asthma sufferers.

Aloe Liquid Soap is great for the hands and face and we even use it in the shower because it is very economical with its handy pump. It cleans well and it does not dry out your hands either.

One of the most amazing products is the MPD Multi Purpose Detergent it cleans everything from the windows, the dishes, the clothes, the bathrooms including the toilets, the floors and it is a great stain remover. I now only use this product and have thrown everything else away! What is truly amazing is the cost effectiveness of MPD and that it is free of harmful chemicals.

The deodorant is another must it hasn’t got an over powering smell, it is kind and gentle and does not contain aluminium. I was horrified to discover the links between cancer and anti-perspirants/deodorants containing aluminium. I was even more horrified when I checked the label of my so called natural deodorant from a very well know brand, as you can imagine I got rid of them immediately!

There are so many products that I could mention but really you have to experience them for your self. Forever Living Products are not available from shops you have to buy the product through a distributor or to save 30% of the retail price you can become a wholesale buyer/distributor your self.