The Miraculous Aloe Vera Plant

The earth contains a wealth of plants that benefit humans in a myriad of ways and a familiar one that people read about and see on their sun gel labels and perhaps in lotions and ointments is aloe vera. Summer seems like a great time to learn about the natural healing properties of this ancient herb that has been used for millennia by people all over the world.

What is Aloe Vera?

Aloe is a perennial succulent that comes to us from East and South Africa but has been transplanted across the globe, although it thrives outdoors only in tropical climates. It has a strong fibrous root that grows and produces a sort of rosette of flat leaves with sharp points. In the very center of the leaf you will find a gel that when the leaf is cut or opened will yield what we call aloe vera gel!

The history of aloe is really interesting. Columbus had it on board his ship and even wrote in his diary, "All is well, aloe is on board." , which demonstrates the ancient knowledge that it was truly a healing plant. It has long been rumored that aloe vera was the material used to preserve the body of Jesus Christ.

This mythic tale makes sense when we understand how valued this plant was to ancient people with no CVS drugstore around the corner from them. Home healers and tribal herbalist have made healing poultices from the aloe plant that was cultivated and grown for generations. And even today's modern doctors know that aloe vera's powers are genuine. http://books.google.com/books?

Medicinal value of aloe

Many times modern doctors dispute the herbal healing powers of plants, but even they agree that aloe vera is curative. It's used for X-ray burns, sunburn, chemical burns, first degree burns, bedsores, ulcers of the skin, canddial yeast infections, intestinal ulcers, insect bites and stings, plant irritations, and mouth and cold sores.

How to use Aloe

Aloe comes in several forms, including just growing a plant and cutting open a leaf when you have a sunburn! But you can purchase it as a gel, ointment, or lotion. You can buy liquid drink concentrates or powders for internal ulcers and injuries of the mouth. Nature's Way has a capsule aloe vera that you can purchase for laxative purposes and intestinal issues.

For severe burns, a purchased quality lotion or gel with high concentrations of purified aloe gel may be the best choice. Island Remedy makes a wonderful Aruba aloe vera gel that our family loves.

Growing Aloe Vera

It's easy! Find a pot, plant the seeds and you have an instant burn treatment at your fingertips whenever it's needed. I always have an aloe vera plant on my kitchen window sill along with cilantro, basil and chives. You won't want to eat the aloe vera leaves, they are truly bitter! But when you're cooking away and you get a steam burn, nothing works better than breaking open a aloe vera leaf and smearing that cooling healing gel on your burn.

The plant requires sun daily, and normal watering, does well if you forget to water it, but it has lots of water in it's leaves and stems, so keep it watered. Follow the great growing and propagation tips at Growing Aloe Vera. Yes, you can propogate by cutting and making new starts, I do it for people all the time.

All in all, aloe vera is one of nature's most useful plants and one that is easy to add to the home gardner's window sill or garden pot. Grow a little aloe today!

Research resources

Aloe Vera at Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloe_vera

http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/5358/1/Aloe-Vera---The-Medical-Mystery-Of-The-Friendly-Flora.html

History of Aloe Vera

Island Remedy Website

Growing Aloe Vera