This plant is resistant to insect pests. It is used as herbal medicine since ancient times. It is also used in culinary. Aloe Vera is cultivated throughout the world because of its medicinal importance. This plant does not require any extra care for its proper growth. All the leaves of this plant grow from a common point in the ground.
This plant is included under 'Arbuscular plants'. Because, on the surface of this plant grows a fungus named 'Arbascular Mycorrhiza' which penetrates into the plant and helps increase the extraction of potassium and other useful minerals from the soil. Because of this the plant has so much of medicinal importance.
The sticky substance inside the aloe vera leaves is called as aloe latex. It has a very high content of 'Aloe Emodin' which is a very strong and very good laxative agent and can be used to induce proper bowel movement. When it is taken every day in the morning, it enhances digestion.
The Arabs call aloe vera as the 'desert lily' because the flowers that grow on aloe vera plant resemble lily flowers. The aloe vera plant is widely used for commercial purposes. They include aloe vera shampoo, aloe vera gel and aloe vera body wash. Aloe Vera is widely used in skin products and acne treatments. Aloe Vera has both internal as well as external uses. Aloe Vera when combined with glycerin acts as a very good cleansing agent.
Benefits of aloe vera :
Many people know about the benefits of using Aloe Vera externally on the skin for cuts, bruises, dry skin, rashes, sunburn and so on. But not many people know about the health benefits of taking aloe vera internally.
Most of the benefits of taking aloe vera come from the fact that it contains so many different nutrients: vitamins, minerals, amino acids and trace elements. In aloe vera these vitamins and minerals are in a perfect balance that’s ideally suited for the body to use for its own healing and repair.
So although many people might consider Aloe Vera to be a ‘miracle cure’ or a ‘wonder plant’ – it’s probably more true that because aloe vera contains so many different nutrients, the body can use those nutrients to better heal itself
Here are a few of the health benefits of taking aloe vera:
Detox
Aloe vera is a great natural detox aid. With our stressful lives, the pollution around us and the junk foods we eat, we all need to detox. Some more often than others! Taking aloe vera supplements provides a rich cocktail of vitamins, minerals and trace elements to help our bodies deal with the everyday stresses of our lives.
Healthy Digestion
A healthy digestive system ensures we absorb as many of the nutrients from the foods we eat as possible . Since aloe vera has natural detoxing abilities, taking aloe vera can improve bowel regularity and increase protein absorption. It also helps to decrease the amount of unfriendly bacteria and yeast in our gut. Aloe vera has been shown to help reduce and soothe heartburn and other digestive problems. Aloe Vera and IBS
Immune Support
Aloe vera is full of anti-oxidants – little powerhouses that fight free radicals within our body. Free radicals are the unstable compounds produced as by-products of metabolism. They’re thought to contribute to various illnesses and diseases as increasing the ageing process. Taking aloe vera regularly gives the body a good supply of anti-oxidants, which boosts the immune system. Aloe Vera and Immune System
Reduce Inflammation
Aloe vera contains 12 substances which slow down or inhibit inflammation, without any side-effects. Many people say that taking aloe vera juice helps with their stiff, swollen or painful joints.
Healthy Skin
Taking aloe vera supplements adds a rich supply of raw materials to your diet, which can produce and maintain really healthy skin. The skin replaces itself every 28 days. Using the nutritional building blocks of aloe vera, the skin can use these nutrients daily to help combat the effects of ageing. Aloe vera also helps in soothing minor burns, cuts, scrapes and skin irritations. Aloe Vera and Acne
Regulate Energy Levels
Taking aloe vera allows the body to cleanse the digestive system. Our diets include many substances which can cause fatigue and exhaustion. Taken regularly, aloe vera flushes out these impurities, allowing the body to divert more energy to healing and repair, not just digestion. This ensures a greater feeling of well-being, allowing energy levels to increase and helps maintain a healthy body weight.
Daily Dose of Vitamins & Minerals
Aloe vera contains vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12 (the aloe vera plant is one of the few plants in the world to contain vitamin B12), C, E, Folic Acid and Niacin. The human body cannot store some of these vitamins, so we need to supplement them regularly through our diet. The minerals found in aloe vera include Calcium, Sodium, Iron, Potassium, Copper, Zinc, Manganese, Magnesium, Chromium and more… Plenty of good nutrition in aloe vera!
Dental Health
Aloe vera is extremely helpful for your mouth and gums. As well as its natural anti-bacterial and anti-microbial actions, it contains vitamins and minerals which promote cell growth and healing. Many people report that aloe vera helps with bleeding gums and mouth ulcers.
Recent research has shown that adding good foods to our diets, rich in naturally occurring vitamins and minerals, is far better than adding supplements alone. The good news is that Aloe Vera is considered a food, rather than a supplement. So taking aloe vera is probably better than taking supplements alone, because our bodies can absorb all the nutrients in aloe vera more easily, and utilise them more effectively.
