Aloe Vera and Its History

This plant looks like a cactus but belongs to the lily family has stood the test of time. It has proven itself through rigorous testing and long years of use. Aloe Vera grows in Africa, Asia and the warmer parts of America and Europe. There are many types of Aloe Vera but the one used in natural remedies has a specific Latin name Aloe barbadensis so it can be distinguished from other Aloe plants.

In the history of this miraculous plant it is obvious that it does as it has been accredited to do. Greeks believed this plant to symbolize beauty, patience and fortune as well as good health. Hippocrates (considered the father of western medicine) described some of the curative properties of aloe vera in one of his treatise as being helpful in hair growth, healing of tumors, and relief of dysentery and stomach aches.

Legend goes that in the year 330 B.C, Alexander the great was wounded by an enemy arrow during the siege of Gaza. This arrow wound then became badly infected during his conquering across Egypt and Libya. Alexander the great was proclaimed son of Zeus (the head god in Greek mythology) while at the oasis Amon, it was then that a priest sent by the famous Aristotle treated this badly infected wound with oil based aloe vera this healed the wound. It was said that the juice from the aloe vera plant rendered soldiers invulnerable.

The Egyptians on the other hand reputed the aloe vera plant to have beautifying properties and was used by the Egyptian woman. It was said that the infamous Egyptian Queen Cleopatra used an aloe vera cream on her face. Queen Nefertiti was reputed for her flawless skin and this due to her aloe vera pulp baths. The pharos of Egypt considered this plant an Elixir of long life, and it was tradition to bring an aloe vera plan to funerals as a gift of a new life. The plant was also planted around the pyramids and on the path to the valley of kings. It was believed that when this plant flowered the king has reached "the other bank".

It is only recently that scientists really started testing aloe vera but so far the results has been very encouraging, it appears to have anti inflammatory, anti oxidant and restorative properties. It has also been found to destroy bacteria such as E coli.

When using manufactured Aloe Vera products please take note to the manufacturing, for the best results it should be manufactured to pharmaceutical standards, this standard is much stricter than cosmetic standards and ensures high quality products and therefore high quality results.