The Benefits of Aloe Vera and Aloe Vera Juice

Rajan is a botany and chemistry major. He has worked as a poultry breeder for 23 years, breeding layer and broiler parents.

Table Of Contents

• History Of Aloe Vera
• The Aloe Plant
• Uses Of aloe Vera
• Nutrients In Aloe Vera
• Health Benefits Of Aloe Vera
• Aloe Vera Tea
• aloe Vera Juice
• Some Useful Information about Aloe Vera
• Some Of My Other Hubs On Healthy foods
• Some Other Hubs On Aloe Vera

History Of Aloe Vera

Latin Name: Aloe barbadensis

Aloe vera is commonly called by various names as Lily of the desert, Burn plant, Fountain of youth, Healing plant, Elephant's gall etc.

In India, it is called Ghrit Kumari.

Aloe vera is commonly called Aloe. It is believed to be a native of Northern Africa.

Aloe vera use goes back to over 6000 years in Egypt when the plant was depicted in stone carvings. Egyptians buried dead Pharaohs along with Aloe as they considered it "a plant of immortality". They still grow Aloe around graveyards.

In India, the Rig Veda has a reference to the Aloe plant sometime dated to 5000 BC. Incidentally, Rig Veda is the earliest Ayurvedic book of natural medicine written by Dhanvantri. Rig Veda recommends Aloe vera for treating disorders of the reproductive system and liver, worm infestation and healing of external wounds.

Later on, in 1550 BC, extensive details of its medicinal uses were documented in Egypt in a document called Papyrus ebers.

By 375 BC, the use of Aloe vera was widespread in India.

Today it is grown in Texas USA, Mexico, South America, Central America, Africa, Australia besides India.

It is often called "the miracle plant" and is the oldest known and the most used medicinal plant. It has about 200 active ingredients which have been proved scientifically and numerous combinations of these ingredients ensure a broad spectrum of activity against disorders in human health.

It has been much used as traditional folk and herbal remedy. It exhibits analgesic, antiseptic, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and anti-inflammatory activity.

Many Hindus in North India have a tradition of feeding their newborn a little Aloe mixed with honey in a golden spoon.

The Aloe Plant

Aloe is a cactus lookalike plant with grey-green, thick, fleshy, succulent leaves that have serrated margins. It is almost a stemless plant with the cluster of leaves seemingly springing out of the soil surface.

The plant propagates by way of roots and offsets. Medicinally active principles are found in the gel as well as the rind of the leaves.

The plant grows in hot, dry, tropical and subtropical regions of the world. It grows to a height of 2 to 3 and 1/2 feet. The flowers bloom in summer on a spike that itself is about 3 feet tall, almost as tall as the plant.

Uses Of Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is used in by the cosmetic industry in a big way. It is used in facial tissues to act as a moisturiser and anti-irritant.

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Aloe vera sap or extract is used in make up, moisturisers, soaps, sunscreen lotions, shampoos, shaving creams etc.

The extracts are also used, to dilute semen during artificial insemination of sheep, to preserve fresh food like fruits and legumes.

It is believed that biofuel can be produced from their seeds.

Use of Aloe vera as a natural food flavouring has been approved by the FDA. Some commercially prepared yoghurt has Aloe as an ingredient. Beverages like aloe tea, aloe juice are also prepared commercially.

Nutrients In Aloe Vera