Aloe Vera's history stretches back about 5,000 years. It is one of the most ancient medicinal plants and the first written record of its' use appears on a Sumerian clay tablet dated 1750 BCE. Through the centuries and throughout the regions of the world in which it has been naturalized, Aloe Vera has been esteemed as a natural healer. It has been called 'the miracle plant', 'the medicine plant' and 'the wand of heaven. 'Native to Africa, aloe Vera is a perennial succulent plant with a thick, fibrous root. It produces a rosette of fleshy leaves that grow upward from its' base, tapering to a point. Each thick leaf is edged with tiny spikes along its' curving margins. Colours may vary from dull, bluish grey to deep, bright green; a full-grown leaf can weigh 1-3lb (0.5 - 1.5kg). It is from the leaf that the soothing juice and translucent gel are extracted.
Aloe Vera is a xerophytic (drought-resistant) evergreen, which grows mainly in tropical and subtropical, desert-like savannas. Botanists classify it as xeroid, which means that if the leaves are cut, they can close off their cells to retain fluid. This makes them invaluable in the treatment of burns and wounds. It also means that the plant suffers no damage when a leaf is removed: it merely reseals itself.
Impressive Sight
Often confused with the Agrave, which it resembles, the Aloe Vera plant can reach the remarkable height of 60ft (20m), although generally they grow to about 4.5ft (1.5m). Each plant grows about 15 leaves and blooms intermittently, producing stately erect spikes of drooping yellow, orange or red tubular flowers on a woody stem.
False Claims
Aloe Vera has recently been hailed as a popular 'cure-all'. Many claims for its' healing powers have been tried and tested over the centuries and substantiated by recent research. However, some unjustifiable claims have been made, which is damaging because they result in increased skepticism among detractors. While Aloe Vera is an extremely useful medicinal herb, it is not a miracle cure-all, not least because both diet and lifestyle are also crucial to good health.
Definition
Botanical family: Liliaceae - the lily family, Aloe Vera is related to onion, garlic, asparagus and tulip.
Species: Aloe Vera's Latin name is also Aloe Vera. Vera is Latin for 'true' and the plant was given this name to differentiate it from other members of the aloe family and to identify it as the 'healing aloe,' although history and recent research shows that many Aloe's share its' healing qualities.
Other Aloes
Aloe perryi, A. ferox, and A. striatula are some of the Aloe species that can be used in a similar way to Aloe Vera. Aloe latifolia , A. saponaria and A. tenuior, all found in South Africa, are used primarily in the treatment of open wounds, worms and parasitic skin infestations. Aloe arborescens has been cultivated for scientific use by the Russians.
There are about 300 species in the genus Aloe, which grow in hot, arid climates around the world. The stiff, rugged, cactus like appearance of Aloe Vera is as much a familiar sight in ornamental gardens and greenhouses as in those countries where the plant has become naturalised.
Where to Find Aloe Vera
Although native to the dry, sunny areas of south and east Africa, Aloe Vera has also become naturalised in North Africa, the Middle East, the Mediterranean, the West Indies, Central and South America, Australia, the Far East and parts of the United States and Russia.
The Aloe Vera plant has also adapted well to greenhouse cultivation.
During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Aloe Vera enjoyed tremendous vogue among the wealthy collectors of exotic plants and many important discoveries about its properties were made during this period.
One of the most passionate collectors was the Prince Salm-Dyck (1773-1861), an amateur botanist from Germany, to whom much is owed for his meticulous observations of the Aloe Vera plant.
At one time Chatsworth House, in Derbyshire, housed the finest collection of Aloes in England. Today, the most impressive display is to be found at La Mortola, in Ventimiglia, Italy.
Commercial Growers
The largest area of Aloe Vera cultivation is the Rio Grande Valley of southern Texas. Here the excellent soil conditions - a mixture of clay, silt and sand - and the warm, humid weather allow the plants to grow steadily throughout the year, which results in a high yield of nutrients. Commercial plantations can also be found in Mexico, the Caribbean and Australia. Quality varies and, when you buy Aloe Vera, some people advise that you should look for the International Aloe Science Council (IASC) Seal of Approval. It is also wise to buy organic, non-pasturised products for optimum healing results.
Soil Requirements
Being indigenous to the African Savanna, Aloe Vera thrives best in a well-drained gritty soil, with watering kept to a minimum. It needs plenty of heat and will not survive in temperatures that fall below 40°F (5°C).
Most plants grown domestically in Northern Europe and parts of North America are best suited to container planting, which enables easy transportation from house to garden.
The first serious writings on the therapeutic benefits of Aloe Vera are to be found in the Ebers Papyrus written around 1500 BCE in which the Egyptians referred to the plant as khet-awa, meaning 'the Plant of Immortality.' For centuries, Aloe Vera was used to heal wounds and burns. Its' popularity waned briefly in the 19th century but it is now enjoying a renaissance.
From the earliest times the reputation of Aloe Vera ensured its' inclusion in any professional or domestic medicine chest. The ancient Egyptians recommended it for many ailments, particularly catarrh. The arabs called it 'desert lily' and were probably the first to process the plant. Arab traders may have been responsible for the spread of Aloe Vera into Persia, India and the Far East.
It is said that in 325 BCE Alexander the Great was persuaded by his tutor, Aristotle, to seize the island of Socotra, in the Gulf of Aden, to obtain the Aloe Vera that grew there. Aristotle knew of the plants' remarkable healing properties and that, because it could survive unplanted for several years, it could be carried as emergency treatment for wounds suffered by Alexander's army.
In the first century CE, the Greek physician Dioscorides wrote in his Materia Medica that Aloe extract could be used to treat wounds, stomach complaints, constipation, haemorrhoids, headaches, 'all griefs in the mouth,'hair loss, insect bites, kidney ailments and skin irritations.
Worldwide Use
In its' native Africa, the plant was traditionally taken to remedy stomach aches and guard against infection from insect bites. Hunters would rub Aloe Vera juice on their skin to mask their scent so that they might approach their prey undetected.
The Chinese used Aloe Vera, but only in its' resinous form - Lu Hui meaning 'black deposit.' The resin, which looked like small, dark chunks of amber, was not as potent as the growing plant but was respected for its' power to heal skin. During the Sung dynasty (960-1276 CE), the resin was recommended for treating eczema.
In India, during the fourth century BCE, people believed that Aloe Vera grew in the Garden of Eden. They called it musabhar (the silent healer) and used it to treat skin eruptions and inflammation.
When the plant was introduced into the semitropical regions of the Americas, it thrived and was widely used by the peoples of those countries. In Mexico the juice was used to treat skin complaints and wounds and the sap was given as a purgative; in Central and South America, Aloe Vera was taken as a mild laxative. People also valued the juice as an effective insect repellent for both humans and animals.
Paradoxically, Aloe Vera was sold on street markets in Latin America both to promote sleep and as an aphrodisiac.
Gaining Popularity
In the early Christian era, Aloe Vera featured in all advanced medical texts. Mass translations that became available in the 17th century encouraged the Jesuit priests of Spain to carry the plant, along with the Bible, to the New World.
As Aloe Vera's popularity increased during the 18th century so did the competition to procure it; trade wars sprang up between rival countries - the Spanish, British and Dutch in particular - to establish Aloe plantations in the New World.
By the 17th century, settlers in North America were using Aloe Vera to heal wounds and burns, a practice shared with many indigenous tribes. The Seminole people believed Aloe Vera had powers of rejuvenation and that a 'Fountain of Youth' sprang from a pool within a cluster of Aloes.
19th century decline
Aloe Vera's popularity as a medicinal plant eventually waned, either because more easily obtainable remedies became available or because claims being made for the plant could not be substantiated. It is also quite likely that the gel was being adulterated and was therefore less effective. By the late 19th century, synthetic laboratory drugs had taken precedence over botanical compounds and Aloe Vera fell completely from favour.
Due to the urgent need during the 1930's to find a cure for radiation burns caused by experiments into X-ray techniques, the United States government started a program of research into the burn-healing properties of Aloe Vera.
Successful experiments were carried out by Dr. E. E. Collins and his son Dr. Creston Collins, but because it was difficult to stabilize the juice and gel of Aloe Vera, their findings were considered inconclusive. Most research stopped in the 1960's when improved techniques made stabilization possible and public interest in Aloe Vera's therapeutic properties was once more aroused.
The Aloe is reputed to be one of the very few plants that is resilient enough to grow in areas where nuclear testing has taken place.
From the early 1950's, Russian Scientists have carried out extensive research, but using the juice of Aloe arborescens rather than that of Aloe Vera. They have investigated Aloe's use as a remedy for an impressive list of ailments, including eye disorders and bone tuberculosis as well as ear, nose and throat conditions and bronchial asthma.
Anatomy of Aloe Vera
The word 'Aloe' comes from the Arabic word alloeh, which means ' a bitter, shiny substance.' This is an apt description for the dagger-shaped leaf, which has a bitter taste and spiky edges. These attributes are a deterrent to browsing animals and insects and may, in part, account for the plants' successful colonization.
Leaves
Beneath the inner surface of the leaf is a ridged lining that contains latex, or yellow sap. When dried and powdered the sap is called 'bitter aloes' and has long been used as a purgative. In the 17th century, Aloe Vera was grown for its sap in Barbados, thus gaining its' other botanical name: Aloe barbadensis.
Within each leaf is a clear, semi-liquid pulp, which botanists call parenchyma (tissue composed of soft, thin-walled cells). The pulp, which contains the gel, is removed in a 'filleting' process. It is extracted with care to avoid contaminating it with bitter sap.
Aloe Vera juice is prepared commercially from the gel. The juice is usually taken internally and the gel is applied to the skin.
To be effective, the gel should not be diluted and commercially prepared juice should contain at least 98 percent Aloe Vera juice.
It is the synergy (joint action) of the chemical constituents in Aloe Vera that makes it so effective in healing. It contains an amazing complexity of active compounds - 75 at the last count. Constituents in the sap
Key constituents are barbaloin and isobarbaloin, which form 'crystalline' aloin, 'amorphous' aloin, aloe-emodin, resin and volatile oil. These have strongly laxative effects. The purgative effects of aloin and aloe-emodin are powerful, so aloe sap in pills is combined with soothing herbs. Constituents in the gel and juice
Small quantities of anthraquinones contribute to the gels' powerful anti-inflammatory and painkilling properties, helping to reduce swelling. The gel and juice contain a class of long-chain sugars known as mucopolysaccharides (MPS), normally found in all body cells. Production of MPS stops after the age of ten, so we then have to rely on outside sources; few plants are a richer source than Aloe Vera. It is thought that these sugars help boost the immune system, lubricate joints and line the colon. Aloe Vera is especially rich in the MPS acemannan. Research has proved that acemannan stimulates the body's macrophages to produce interferon and interleukin, which stop viruses multiplying.
Shelf Life of Leaves
Fresh leaves last for 2-3 months in the refrigerator, or up to 1 year in the freezer, either as they are or with the ends wrapped in plastic wrap; home dried or powdered leaves are not recommended.
Known mainly as a remedy for skin conditions and constipation, Aloe Vera is also a natural detoxifier. The juice can be taken daily as a vegetable drink to cleanse the body, to build up resistance to infection and to increase general energy levels and stamina.
How Aloe Vera Can Help
Boosts the immune system and soothes and repairs damage to internal organs. Research is being carried out in this area to help improve the lives of people with AIDS or HIV.
Boosts vitality and energy at those times when most needed. Athletes and students will find that because Aloe Vera both detoxifies and energises, drinking the juice an hour before competitions or exams can give that extra surge of energy and concentration. However, it should be noted that too much juice drink late in the evening will result in a sleepless night.
Helps alleviate rheumatism and arthritis. Two tablespoons of juice in half a glass of water two to four times a day provides essential nutrients and noticeably improves arthritic and rheumatic conditions after two months or so. Massaging arthritic limbs with Aloe Vera cream improves circulation and reduces swelling.
Relieves eye, mouth and vaginal infections.
Treats constipation; the anthraquinones in the sap are a potent laxative.
Helps alleviate a wide range of allergies, partly by reducing inflammatory reactions, thus controlling sneezing, wheezing and indigestion.
Helps wounds to heal (and is current being research for possible use in cosmetic surgery).
Soothes stings and insect bites.
Soothes and heals burns, scalds, sunburn, cuts and chapped skin. Keeping a plant in the kitchen is recommended for emergency first aid.
Relieves skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
How Aloe Vera Affects the Body
Taken as a drink, Aloe Vera will cleanse and detoxify and improve joint lubrication. This in turn will create more energy and improve mobility. In external injuries and swellings, sprains and sunburn, the high water content of the gel (96%) carries nutrients to the site of the injury, improving cell regeneration. The anti-inflammatory and anaesthetizing constituents reduce heat and pain.
Aloe Vera and Sunburn
For centuries Aloe Vera gel has been used to relieve burns. Although the risks of sunbathing are well publicized, many people still suffer from sunburn, even though the suns' ultraviolet-B rays can cause pain, premature skin ageing and skin cancer. Aloe Vera is not a sunblock, but it is a moisturizer and will help reduce dehydration and burning. It is also anti-inflammatory.
'After-sun' lotions moisturize skin that is dry and damaged from wind and sun. Many of the products containing Aloe Vera have been developed in Australia and in southern parts of the United States where sunburn is a serious risk all year round.
The pure gel of Aloe Vera brings instant relief as it cools and anaesthetizes. It also reduces irritation and because it moisturizes, minimizes the risk of 'peeling.' The effects of mild sunstroke can be alleviated with a cooling application of cold Aloe Vera gel to the forehead and back of the neck.
Rejuvenating Skin Preparation
Nefertiti and Cleopatra, two of historys' most renowned beauties, were said to have bathed in Aloe Vera and had it made into lotions to enhance and preserve their beauty.
Ongoing research within the cosmetic industry indicates that the gel increases production of fibroplasts (cells in the dermis responsible for producing collagen, which keeps skin firm and supple). As we age, fibroplasts slow their collagen production, so the skin wrinkles more rapidly. Because Aloe Vera accelerates collagen production, facial lines become less pronounced.
Aloe Vera is especially effective as a moisturizer because it carries nutrients and moisture down through all layers of the skin. Its' mucopolysaccharides , which have moisture-binding properties, help Aloe Vera to protect the skin from moisture loss. Since it is nonallergenic and antibiotic, Aloe Vera is recommended for sensitive and problem skins. It is also reputed to remove age spots. It is always worth trying Aloe Vera gel on some skin disorders, because it is a natural antiseptic, antibiotic and bactericide, the gel will inhibit the spread of infection. It also promotes rapid cell regeneration, helping blemishes to heal without scarring.
Scars from chickenpox and shingles can be minimized by applying Aloe Vera gel and it can help during the actual attack, cooling the associated heat and reducing itching. Internal use of the juice will also help treat the skin.
Generally Aloe Vera is a very safe plant to use. However, the latex or sap can be irritant and purgative, so it is removed during processing. Inferior brands of gel are sometimes made from poor grade Aloe Vera and may therefore be suspect, so look for the IASC Seal of Approval on the label.
The yellow sap can be irritant - avoid contact with the skin.
As with all herbal remedies, care should be taken not to exceed the recommended dose.
Although Aloe Vera can alleviate the discomfort of piles (haemorrhoids), it can also exacerbate it, so use it with caution, especially if you are using it internally.
Seek medical advice before taking Aloe Vera internally if you have a history of liver or gall bladder problems, cystitis or uterine haemorrhage.
Do not take internally during pregnancy or if breastfeeding because of the laxative effects.
Allergy Test
Although it is the safest of plants, there are a few people who are allergic to Aloe Vera. To find out if you allergic, dab a small amount of juice or gel on the inside of your elbow. Leave for a few minutes. If there is a stinging sensation or a mild rash develops, wash the affected part and do not use Aloe Vera.
Aloe Vera is a strong plant, symbolized by its' power to survive hostile conditions, including drought and even radiation, to regenerate itself and on occasion to grow to heights that dwarf people. In those countries in which it grows abundantly, people consider it to be the 'father of healing.'
The appearance and feel of Aloe Vera gel fresh from the leaf is soothing and cooling, giving some indication of its' ability to reduce inflammation and sooth burns. The sap is very bitter and supports the function of both the stomach and liver, while restoring balance to the body as a whole. Bitter herbs work effectively on the small and large intestine, cleansing and strengthening, which in turn regulates the immune system. Conditions that might be termed 'overheated' - high blood pressure, heart problems, constipation, inflammation and swellings can be remedied by cooling, bitter herbs.
Energy and the Mind
Aloe Vera energises and invigorates, promoting a sense of well-being and promoting a more harmonious state between emotions and the body, thus ensuring release of tension leading to an improvement in health.
Flower Remedies
So dominant are the healing properties of the Aloe Vera leaf that little is known about the elegant spikes of flowers and what properties they might possess. They are associated with clarity and sharpness but there are no documented facts on their uses.
Plant Spirit Energies
The plants; spirit embodies every part of the plant, not just the flowers. Aloe Vera can inhabit hostile environments. It protects itself from predators with its' strong and sometimes piercing leaves, their unpalatable taste and by constantly regenerating itself.
Powerful and long-living, Aloe Vera shares these qualities with us without threat to its' survival. It improves life for people who suffer from debilitating, chronic complaints that reduce energy.
For centuries, Aloe Vera has been a great and gentle healer and is believed to be safe for most people, even those members of society who might be considered the most vulnerable, such as invalids, pregnant women, children and the elderly.
Pregnancy
In the past it was considered to be unwise for pregnant women to take Aloe Vera internally because it caused bowel spasm. However, this was mainly due to the use of inferior brands in which aloin (the purgative substance in the sap) had contaminated the gel.
A pure gel will not have this effect, so check the label for IASC Seal of Approval.
Many pregnant women take Aloe Vera as a tonic because it increases energy levels, improves digestion and minimizes heartburn, morning sickness and constipation. Folic acid, which is useful to pregnant women because it helps iron assimilation is also present in Aloe Vera. However, it may not be advisable for nursing mothers to take Aloe Vera in case the baby's stools become too loose. But for a constipated baby, this would be an ideal choice.
Children
Children may benefit from Aloe Vera in several ways.
Applied to external injuries, it is gentle and effective and heals without scarring; the novelty of using it straight from the leaf may be a distraction from the pain.
It is a gentle, non-habit forming treatment for constipation, while it may also, paradoxically, dispel minor bouts of diarrhoea.
Older children and teenagers, particularly those undergoing the stress of examinations or competitions, will benefit from an Aloe Vera drink an hour or so before the event. This will give a boost of energy and concentration.
It can help children who suffer from allergies. It helps to improve the immune system, gut and inflammatory responses.
Elderly People
Some of the progressive conditions associated with ageing may be inhibited by the persistent use of Aloe Vera.
Arthritic and rheumatic conditions are noticeably improved by drinking the juice and massaging with the cream.
Aloe Vera helps in the treatment of many ailments associated with ageing; high blood pressure, heart conditions, diabetes, as well as bowel, liver, kidney and digestive disorders.
Aloe Vera juice energises and the gel improves skin and hair.
Prized by the ancient Egyptians, Aloe Vera contains nearly 100 named constituents, of which, 75 are active healing compounds. It can survive harsh conditions, including drought and radiation and still do its' healing work. It can treat a wide variety of internal and external problems and can penetrate deeply into the skin and mucous membranes to soothe and fight infection.
The chemical aspects of Aloe Vera are used for medicinal purposes. Bitter Aloes are made from the dried, purified sap obtained from the latex - the thin layer of tissue directly beneath the skin. This bitter yellow substance contains resins, anthraquinones and anthraglycosides, or aloins. It has a strongly purgative effect when taken internally and is usually used as a laxative. The latex is also used in after-sun products to soothe and moisturize.
It is the inner pulp of Aloe Vera that provides the juice and gel, which are most used for both internal and external healing. Anthraquinones, found primarily in the latex but also in small quantities in the gel, are to some degree responsible for Aloe Vera's anti-inflammatory and anaesthetizing effects when applied to swellings, stings, sprains and sunburn.
External use
There are two theories to explain why Aloe Vera works externally. One is that it promotes rapid cell regeneration. The other is that Aloe Vera contains enzymes that cause chemical changes, thus intensifying healing.
The high water content of the gel (96%) carries nutrients to the site of external injuries. Although mainly water, the gel has the ability to lower the surface tension of water. When Aloe Vera gel or products are applied to the skin, the amino acids, vitamins, minerals and other constituents are carried deep into the dermal layers to heal and soothe. Aloe Vera also eradicates dead skin cells, thus helping to regenerate cell growth and promote healthy tissue.
Although many claim that commercial products are more potent than the raw gel because they have higher concentrations of Aloe Vera's active ingredients, for most people the fresh gel gives excellent results. Aloe Vera gel appears to work best when applied from the leaf rather than removed and used alone.
Internal use
Taken internally as a drink, Aloe Vera juice triggers a healing response for which a combination of constituents are responsible. The juice cleanses and detoxifies the digestive system and thus influences other organs and systems. It contains magnesium lactate, which seems to lower stomach acidity, thus reversing the effects of indigestion and heartburn. It has proved to be very effective in the treatment of stomach ulcers; instead of reducing production of excess hydrochloric acid in the stomach as most ulcer drugs do, it coats the stomach lining.
Aloe Vera can also raise hydrochloric acid levels. It is known as 'amphoteric' because it can treat opposite conditions by raising or lowering levels of hydrochloric acid as needed (low hydrochloric acid levels are common and a contributing factor in allergies).
Aloe Vera restores balance in the digestive system in several ways. It acts as an alkalizing agent, it reduces yeast overgrowth, which destroys normal gut flora and it penetrates the walls of the digestive system to remove harmful bacteria. Once balance is restored and beneficial flora reinstated, inflammation is reduced and the body is able to absorb nutrients. Painful disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), acid indigestion, colitis and candida benefit from Aloe Vera.
By raising energy levels and promoting a sense of well-being, Aloe Vera reduces stress and tension, often the underlying cause of other complaints.
Cleanses and detoxifies and is a laxative but also helps diarrhoea.
Helps to boost and restore energy levels.
Supports the body's immune system.
Anaesthetises and cleanses damaged tissue and accelerates cell growth and regeneration.
Anti-inflammatory action helps to reduce heat and swelling, allowing natural healing to take place.
Restores levels of beneficial gut bacteria and stabilizes gastro-intestinal conditions.
Delivers complex nutrient compounds to all parts of the body, which in turn triggers specific healing responses.
