In the present civilization of complacency & leisure, people are very prone to health problems. With costly medical facilities as well as substandard medicines floating in the market people are getting fed up with present system of health and are looking back to nature for health care. Thanks to nature for the aloe vera plant for its characteristic goodness that it bestows on humanity in the fields of medicine and beauty. Aloe vera, is a species of succulent plant that probably originated in northern Africa and now is a popular houseplant all over the world which has a long history as a multipurpose medicinal plant and a remedy to many ailments. Aloe vera's use can be traced back 6,000 years to early Egypt, where the plant was depicted on stone carvings. Known as the "plant of immortality," aloe was presented as a burial gift to deceased pharaohs. As a food, Aloe Vera is bitter and unpalatable. Aloe Vera gel, however, is not that bad in taste. With the people's inclination towards nature, the health benefits of Aloe Vera are on the rise with its miraculous healing qualities.
Aloe vera is a clump forming succulent whose fleshy gray-green leaves are arranged in a vase shaped rosette atop a very short stem. The leaves are up to 18 inch long and 2 inch wide at the base, slightly grooved on top, and terminating in a sharp point. The leaves have small grayish teeth on the margins. The main rosette gets up to about 2 ft high, and the plant continually produces little offset rosettes. In winter and spring, medicinal aloe bears small tubular yellow flowers on branched stalks up to 3 ft tall. The aloe plant belongs to the onion/garlic family and there are about three hundred species of Aloe Vera. However the most important one is Aloebadensis Miller. The real Aloe Vera has yellow flowers, but many of the clones available have orange flowers. Aloe Vera contains over 20 minerals, all of which are essential to the human body. The human body requires 22 amino acids for good health -- eight of which are called "essential" because the body cannot fabricate them. Aloe Vera contains all of these eight essential amino acids, and 11 of the 14 "secondary" amino acids. Aloe Vera has Vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C and E.
How to use:
Aloe leaves contain a clear gel that is often used as a topical ointment. The green part of the leaf that surrounds the gel can be used to produce a juice or a dried substance (called latex) that is taken by mouth. The mechanical separation process is not always complete, so aloe latex can be found in some aloe gels. It is desirable to make the gel as pure as possible, because aloe latex contains the anthraquinone glycosides aloin A and B, which are potent laxatives. The processed products are difficult to keep stable, a problem that can cause differences in product potency. Many products advertise special stabilizing procedures, but the best source of aloe gel would be direct from a broken leaf of the plant.
Medicinal uses:
It stimulates immune system with resulting decrease in allergy symptoms and significant decrease in respiratory infections.
• Aloe Vera properties find expressions in aloe wound creams, moisturizers, cleansers, gels, health drinks etc.
• The aloe drink is used as a tonic for curing arthritis, diabetes and high cholesterol.
• Aloe properties aid in steadying blood sugar levels.
• It also works its way in building good immunity.
• Aloe gels and sprays help in reducing muscle and joint pains as well as regressing the pain caused by arthritis.
• It helps in decreasing the cholesterol, blood fat lipid levels and triglycerides that are some of the major causes for heart problems.
• Aloe's curative properties help a great deal in curing digestive disorders.
• It effectively cures ulcers, heartburns, irritable bowl syndrome and indigestion.
• It is also used as a laxative and is said to have anti-inflammatory properties that help in reducing the amount of the stomach juices secreted.
• Its properties are capable of destroying the bacteria or parasites in the intestines.
• Aloe is also used to cure skin ailments and wounds.
• Aloe gels are used to treat cuts, bruises, wounds and scrapes.
• Aloe contains magnesium lactate, an itch inhibitor bringing in relief to insect bites, acne, sunburns and rashes.
• Aloe effectively treats warts and also lesions inside and outside the mouth.
• Its healing quality can even cure psoriasis.
Cosmetic word:
• It is used as an anti-wrinkle treatment due to its effectiveness in stimulating the production of collagen and elastin that helps in keeping aging at bay.
• As a cleanser it helps in removing dead cells.
• It is an effective moisturiser for the skin.
• Its properties lighten skin pigmentation thereby reducing the intensity of dark spots and left over pimple marks.
Male fertility:
• Aloe Vera enhance fertility and protect men from radiation induced reproductive problems. Extract from the leaves of Aloe Vera improved the sperm count and rectified the damage caused to the tissue.
Other uses:
It has also been suggested that biofuels could be obtained from Aloe Vera seeds. Other uses for extracts of A. vera include the dilution of semen for the artificial fertilisation of sheep, use as fresh food preservative, and use in water conservation in small farms.
Side Effects and Cautions:
Use of topical aloe vera is not associated with significant side effects. There is, however, little scientific evidence of the effectiveness or safety of Aloe Vera extracts for either cosmetic or medicinal purposes, and what positive evidence is available is frequently contradicted by other studies.
• Excess ingestion of A. vera has been associated with a range of symptoms and conditions including diarrhoea, hepatitis, kidney dysfunction, electrolyte imbalance and reduced CNS activity.
• Abdominal cramps and diarrhea have been reported with oral use of aloe vera.
• People with diabetes who use glucose-lowering medication should be cautious if also taking aloe by mouth because preliminary studies suggest aloe may lower blood glucose levels.
• Tell your health care providers about any complication immediately.
SS Verma, -Dept of Physics, SLIET Longowal
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Tuesday, February 09, 2010
