Herbs: Aloe Vera May Be the Coolest Herb in Herbal Medicine

IMPORTANT NOTE: ALWAYS READ THE ENTIRE LABEL TO MAKE SURE THE MEDICINAL HERBAL PRODUCT DOES NOT CONTAIN SOMETHING THAT YOU MAY BE ALLERGIC TO AND WON'T MIX WELL WITH OTHER MEDICATIONS YOU'RE TAKING.

Little known facts

All around the world, many people consider Aloe vera to be a healing plant. The sap from Aloe vera has close to 200 nutrients that is beneficial to all of humanity.

Greek historians considered Aloe vera to be one of the best treatments for everything, from constipation and kidney ailments to burns. It's a strong possibility that the Egyptian's secret for embalming so effectively was by adding the Aloe plant.

Aloe vera is in the best cosmetics due to its ability to balance the measure of acidity in skin.

Aloe vera is one of the oldest therapeutic herbs.

The Aloe vera plant grows 80 to 100 centimeters tall. The plant has very short stems - if any at all. This succulent plant spreads by offsets or layers and rout sprouts. Each leaf is thick and fleshy. Their colors are green and grey-green. These leaves almost appear to be spikes sticking up from the ground. Flowers will blossom on the end of the spike or spikes that grow up to close to 90 centimeters tall. Inside each leaf is an inner chamber made of a clear pulp. This just so happens to be the strongest part of the Aloe vera plant. The plant looks like a long-lost ancestor of the cactus. To look at it, you wouldn't believe this plant is so helpful in the herbal medicine world.

Those large leaves make cultivating the herb easiest of all other forms of Aloe.

By removing dead cells and raising the moisture in your skin, enzymes from the Aloe Vera plant can actually soften skin and help fight aging.

True effects

Everything Aloe vera does for the skin is almost unbelievable. You read about it, but you just can't imagine this stuff is possible. The day after I started taking this magic potion - so to speak, I immediately started seeing the effects. My skin became softer. The few zits I had on my body cleared up within 3 days - and I wasn't taking my daily showers either. Hair was growing so long in the most unusual places, I was quite literally freaked out. In my opinion, this really isn't a bad thing, just different.

Aloe will reduce arthritic pain from the toxicity in your tissue by attacking and destroying body toxins.

By slowing down the virus as it spreads from one cell to the next, Aloe has been extremely useful in treating the HIV virus (leads to AIDS).

Aloe has proven most effective in treating every burn imaginable, from sunburns to extensive radiation burns. I'll vouche for that. I've recently been doing a lot of work outside, wearing very little, and I haven't gotten a single painful sunburn. What I have been getting is a soft, healthy brown tan. Exposed too long to the sun, the skin will turn red or burn, no matter what. But, the morning after each of these mild burns, I was tan in all the places that were red.

Aloe vera can reduce your chances of getting an infection and scarring during the healing process. Also, like I've said before, Aloe can be extremely helpful in removing dead cells, and stimulating the growth of new cells. Have we found the Fountain of Youth? I don't know about that, but what Aloe does for your skin is almost like a miracle.

Forms the herb comes in

Capsule
Oil
Gel

Disorders, irritations, ailments and bodily systems treated by Aloe vera

Abrasions - This should be self-explanatory. But in case it isn't, in case you don't know what abrasions are exactly, let me explain. Simply put, abrasions are superficial damage to the skin, like a cut or a scrape. Some mild abrasions heal cleanly, harsher abrasions can leave a scar. This all depends on the extent of damage to the skin.

Acne - This should be self-explanatory. But, in case you don't know what acne is exactly, I'll tell you. Acne or acne vulgaris is an inflammatory disease of the skin, made obvious by lesions commonly known as zits, pimples or spots.

AIDS - The acquired immune deficiency syndrome or AIDS is a deadly virus in which your immune system begins to break down. The HIV virus or human immunodeficiency virus is a direct cause of AIDS. As far as they know, it is commonly transmitted by blood. It is also a form of STD (sexually transmitted disease).

Aloe may give your immune system a boost by balancing the acidity in your blood. However, there is currently no cure for AIDS to speak of.

Allergies - An allergy is a sensitivity to certain substances. You can be allergic to everything, from pollen to drugs.

Amenorrhea - Ladies, you all should know what this is, especially if you've already started having menstrual periods. For anyone who doesn't know what this is - guys, I'll let you know. Amenorrhea is when a woman doesn't have her monthly visiter. This is commonly found in women during pregnancy and breast feeding.

I don't know if Aloe will make this condition worse or better, but let's hope its for the latter.

Anemia - Simply put, anemia is a deficiency of red blood cells. This can cause the blood to have trouble transporting oxygen to vital systems of the body.

Asthma - This should be self-explanatory. But in case it isn't, in case you don't know what it is exactly, I'll tell you. Asthma is a chronic disease of the respiratory system that constricts a person's airway. Common symptoms of asthma are wheezing, and coughing.

Athlete's foot - You don't want to see this infection at its worst. Athlete's foot or tinea pedis is fungal infection that commonly spreads over a person's foot. Symptoms are scaling, cracking, inflammation and itching of the skin. I don't know if you know this, but Athlete's foot can spread to everything, from your armpits to your groin. Sounds fun, huh?

Bed sores

Bleeding

Blood cleansing - Perfect for cleansing the blood.

Bowels - Your bowels or intestines are extremely long canals in your belly that can be host to any number of diseases; such as, Gastroenteritis or inflammation of the intestines, Ileus or blockage of the intestines, Ileitis or inflammation of the ileum and of course, Colitis.

Bruises

Burns or scalds

Canker sores - Canker sores or aphthous ulcers are a type of mouth ulcers that can commonly be found under the lip. It may look like a zit, it may feel like a zit, but it's no zit. Stress, fatigue, injuries from biting are all causes of canker sores.

Chicken Pox itch

Colitis - It's simply a digestive disease linked with the colon.

Constipation - This should be self-explanatory.

Denture sores

Deodorant - This should be self-explanatory.

Digestion or indigestion

Eczema

Fever blisters - Much like the canker sore, fever blisters are commonly found in and around the mouth. It can be identified by the similar growths associated with herpes. They can also be found on the chin, cheeks, and nostrils.

Flu - Influenza or flu is a disease transmitted by coughs or sneezes. Common symptoms are fevers, sore throats, coughing, headaches, fatigue and nasal congestion. There are many different types and names for this bug; among these are the stomach flu, Spanish flu, Asian flu, and even Swine flu.

Hair growth - This should be self-explanatory.

In short, Aloe stimulates hair growth.

Headache - This should be self-explanatory.

Heart (oxygen increase) - This square-shaped organ is the biggest muscle in the human body, but it can be host to any number of diseases and deficiencies. Among these heart problems are ventricular septal defect, stenosis of lung artery, ostium secundum, and heart attacks and heart failures.

Aloe vera may raise the oxygen in the blood to your heart, and lowering your chances of having heart attacks or heart failures.

Heartburn - This should be self-explanatory. But, let's talk about this problem - if for no other reason - for the fun of it. A burning sensation within the esophagus caused by gastric acid. It's also known as pyrosis.

Hemorrhoids - This happens to be one of a few I don't like to write about (the other is diarrhea), but we should let you know what it is exactly. Hemorrhoids is when the veins in your rectum and anus are inflammed or swelled, causing the victim a lot of pain when they poop.

Herpes - Also known as herpes simplex or even the Herpes simplex virus (HSV), this nasty disease can pop up on your genitals, your lips, just about anywhere on your body. You'll find fluid-filled blisters and sores on your skin. You'll experience prodromal systems just before the virus strikes and then, it'll become blatantly obvious that you've got herpes. It begins with irritation of the skin, and itching in the infected areas. Just hope you never catch it.

Inflammation - Inflammation can be either acute or chronic. The body is trying to heal a wound or abrasion, causing redness, swelling and bruising. This is usually done by sending in plasma and leukocytes.

Insect bites or stings

Jaundice - This disease is also called, icterus. You know you have it if every part of your body turns yellow. You really don't want me to get into all of the symptoms and describe this terrible disease in detail.

Leg ulcers - You can get ulcers just about anywhere on your body. Ulcers are open sores of the skin, eyes or mucous membranes. They can leave your skin looking like the surface of some dead, alien planet. It's really not something you'll ever want to see.

Liver disorders - The liver is a mult-purpose and extremely helpful organ, but it can be host to a number of diseases and disorders; such as, Hepatitis or inflammation of the liver, Cirrhosis or the formation of fibrous tissue inside the liver, Gilbert's syndrome or the genetic disorder of the bilirubin metabolism, and Glycogen storage disease II which leads to progressive muscle weakness.

Pain

Pink eye

Pin worms

Pimples

Poison Ivy or Oak

Psoriasis - A disease in which the skin will become reddish and scaly - in small patches or large patches, Psoriasis is infectious and can spread to cover a great portion of the human body. This can be confused with leprosy. The skin appears sickly, but it's not as much lethal as it is a pain in the butt. Regardless, it's not something I would want growing over my body.

Radiation burns

Ringworm

Scalds

Scar tissue

Shingles - Also known as Herpes zoster, shingles are reddish, painful blistered that appear in patches. They are a reactivation of the primary infection that causes chickenpox, varicella zoster virus. This condition can come straight from you spinal cord. Like psoriasis or ulcers, it's not something I would want to find on my skin.

Skin eruptions

Stomach (soothes)

Sores

Sunburn - This should be self-explanatory.

Tapeworm - They are also called, cestodes. They are parasitic flatworms living in the digestive tract. Could it be something you didn't know you ate?

Thermal burns

Tinnitus

Tuberculosis - A deadly disease that primarily attacks the lungs. Just hope you never catch this bug.

Ulcers (leg) - You can get ulcers just about anywhere on your body. Ulcers are open sores of the skin, eyes or mucous membranes. They can leave your skin looking like the surface of some dead, alien planet. It's really not something you'll ever want to see.

Ulcers (peptic) - Again, like regular skin ulcers, peptic ulcer disease or PUD is not something you want to see for yourself. This nasty bug will attack your bowels in just the wrong place, the area of the gastrointestinal tract that is the most acidic and can be most painful.

Varicose veins

Weaning

Wounds - This should be self-explanatory.

Wrinkling of skin - This should be self-explanatory.

Aloe should make your skin feel and look 10 years younger. At least, that's what this magic potion has done for mine.

Herbal First Aide

No home should be without this recipe for an herbal first aide kit.

You must have Aloe Vera. The gel from the plant's leaves will help in relieving pain, and healing burns and cuts. Believe me, I know this works.

Also, you should have Arnica. Another healing gel that will take the blue out of bruises.

Take Calendula. When taken as a tea, this dry leaf will help clean cuts.

For indigestion, anxiety and insomnia, take some Chamomile in tea form.

You should most definitely take Echinachea if you want to treat the flu or the common cold.

Gingerroot is great for relaxing the stomach, killing nausea, and putting an end to motion sickness.

Keep a bottle of Witch Hazel handy to stop infections, and heal minor burns and rashes.

Online distributers

HerbalRedemedies.com

herbalcom.com

buyherbsonline.com

drugstore.com

PuritanSale.com

eyefive.com

vetanetonline.com

enaturalredemedies.com

Herbal Resources

The Herb Book by John Lust

The Prescription for Nutritional Healing by Phyllis Balch

Back to Eden, 2nd Revised Edition by Jethro Kloss & Promise K. Moffet

Children's Herbal Health by Deanne Tenney

Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook by James Duke, Ph.D

Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine by Michael Nurray, N.D.

Herbally Yours by Penny C. Royal

A Modern Herbal by Mrs. Grieve

Desk Reference to Nature's Medicine by Steven Foster and Rebecca L. Johnson