Aloe vera plant benefits, uses and tips
In each kitchen should exist one or two pots with aloe vera. This plant have been used as a healing plant since ancient times. Nowadays, the aloe vera gel is well known as a remedy against sunburn, wounds and other skin issues. It is used as a treatment for hemorrhoids or insect bites because it contains anti-inflammatory agents, and the gel forms cool layers calming the irritated skin tissues. We are huge fans of aloe vera benefits and uses, and these are only few of the products that have aloe vera as an ingredient: Aloe vera bath bomb, Sunflower, lemon, tea tree and aloe vera shampoo bar, aloe vera and epsom salts bath bomb and lemon and aloe vera body wash soap.
The scientists have been researching aloe vera plants for its potential benefits when administered orally but so far, they don't have any final conclusions yet. Even so, the adepts of using this plant are convinced that the gel - or juice with a higher concentration of aloe vera can be used as an oral treatment for arthritis, diabetes or gastroduodenal ulcer. It is very wise to be skeptical and cautious about all these, but it is very well known that the aloe vera plant has been used as a healing plant since ancient times and it is one of the most efficient natural remedy for skin problems that has been ever discovered.
Strong skin healer
The scientists don't know exactly how aloe vera plants actually work, but they did identify a lot of its active components. The gel contains viscous substances that form naturally calming emollients. It has an increased content of anti-inflammatory compounds, like bradykinin - which is related to analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of this plant. Aloe vera magnesium lactate relieves itching, and the gel contains substances that promote healing by dilating blood vessels and increasing blood flow to affected areas.
Aloe vera is very useful in healing of some skin conditions as:
minor burns. Fast application of aloe vera gel reduces the pain, softens the skin and stops the reaching of germs and air into the wound. The gel, also calms the pains from sunburns, to improve the pains from prolonged sun exposure, add one or two caps of aloe vera in the bath and take a bath.
cut wounds and abrasions. The aloe vera gel forms a natural protective layer for skin, favoring a fast healing. Still, the gel is not efficient in case of serious injuries, few scientists from a hospital in Los Angeles discovered that actually, in this case, the gel increases the time required for healing.
psoriasis. Aloe vera gel calms the inflammations and softens skin crusts that are characteristic of this skin disease. A study done over a period of four weeks revealed that 83% of the people who used the gel got their skin cleansed, compared with the other 6% who used a different treatment.
acne. Use aloe vera gel when you have an outbreak. A study confirmed that 90% of people healed after five days of using the plant - almost twice as faster as the people who used the regular anti acne treatment.
shingles. Painful lesions caused by the virus will heal faster if you apply aloe vera on the affected area. Apparently, the gel has some antiviral effects, besides these, helps dilate the small blood vessels called capillaries, allowing blood to irrigate the area thus speeding up the healing process.
other uses: acne, sunburn, heat rash, irritation after shaving, warts, dry hair, aging spots, athlete's foot, dry skin, psoriasis, wrinkles, vesicles.
Overview
The doctors agree that aloe vera helps reducing low-intensity sufferings, but what do they say about ingesting aloe vera juices? Is not proven yet, but there exists a lot of studies that showed some possibilities that aroused interest. An example is that there is a study that shows that people who took aloe vera juice twice a day for 42 days recorded a significant decrease in blood sugar levels.
The Japanese scientists had made well known the fact that the juices from the aloe vera plant block the gastric secretions and heal the wounds from the stomach, concluding that this plant heals .stomach wounds. Actually, two of the chemical compounds from aloe vera block or even heal Helicobacter pylori, the bacteria that causes the most ulcers.
Too strong to be adequate
Aloe vera is too efficient to be used as a laxative. The latex extracted from the aloe vera leaves has laxative properties, simulating intestinal contractions. It can lead to severe cramps and diarrhea, fluid and electrolyte losses - minerals that are very important in our bodies.
How to use aloe vera
You can buy skin care products from pharmacy or even from supermarket, these days, but when you are buying creams or lotions, make sure that aloe vera is the first ingredient on the list.
To get full benefits, there isn't a substitute for the aloe vera plant. It easy grow - even from the worst or inexperienced gardener, it develops even if you don't have time to care it too much, it only needs some water, it grows even in dark places or on dark soil. It shouldn't be exposed to temperatures lower than 5°Celsius, that's the reason that it should be closer to your windows or in a greenhouse.
*This article has no intention in advising to treat or cure any illness nor has any intention to persuade readers into taking any action following the facts in the article.
