Aloe,
aloe everywhere, for your skin and for your hair, take a little for your tummy
or rub some on your gums if they feel funny.
While the
Aloe Vera plant has been aiding humankind for centuries already, it has not
been until recently that it has experienced a revival of sorts within the
modern medical community. Many proponents of this green succulent of the lily
family claim that Aloe Vera is a miracle plant with hundred if not thousands of
health related uses.
Skeptics claim that it is all hype and that many of Aloe
Vera’s “cures” are just placebo effects. Lets us take a little look at a few of
the many “miraculous” properties of Aloe Vera plant to find out what the real
deal is with this spiky green plant.
First of all, the inner gel of the Aloe Vera contains mucilaginous polysaccharides, which are important building blocks that the human body needs. When applied to the skin these MSP’s aid in skin cell rejuvenation and when taken orally, these long chain sugars help settle the stomach as well as aid in everything from indigestion to irritable bowel syndrome.
First of all, the inner gel of the Aloe Vera contains mucilaginous polysaccharides, which are important building blocks that the human body needs. When applied to the skin these MSP’s aid in skin cell rejuvenation and when taken orally, these long chain sugars help settle the stomach as well as aid in everything from indigestion to irritable bowel syndrome.
The gel also contains many important
vitamins and minerals, such as Vitamin E and calcium that are
essential to the body if you choose to ingest it. Also, as if that is not
enough, the gel also contains anti-fungal and anti-viral properties that can
aid in keeping cuts from getting infected when used as a balm. And,
if you are still not sold on the stuff, Aloe Vera Gel also contains certain
enzymes that can aid in digestion.
Many Aloe
Gel proponents suggest ingesting a filleted section of the Aloe’s lance like
leaf at least once a day to help improve your digestive functions as well as
benefit from the cornucopia of nutrients that is contained within. Skeptics of
the plant do not deny that the Aloe gel contains beneficial elements, but still
point to various studies that can neither confirm nor deny Aloe’s ability to
cure digestive problems.
While the
watery inner gel in the most sought after part of the Aloe Vera plant with
stores selling it to the public by the gallon, it was the sap found on the
inner lining of the leaves that was first used for Medicinal purposes by the
ancient Sumerians and Egyptians. The yellow latex resin works as a powerful
cleansing agent that helps get the bowels moving.
Ancient people suffering from
constipation would take this stuff and find themselves cleaned out and ready to
go in no time. While this yellowish resin is a powerful laxative, most medical
professional do not suggest it’s wide spread use due to the painful abdominal
cramping that can sometimes be associated with it.
While
many supporters of the Aloe lifestyle swear by the plant and its many medicinal
uses, the professional medical community still remains a bit skeptical on
whether the plant can supercede modern medical practices. However, since the
Aloe Vera plant’s gel is non-toxic and does contain many beneficial vitamins,
minerals and enzymes, they cannot really argue against the practice
of taking it. Since Aloe Vera has been cultivated and used by people for many,
many years, one has to think that there is something to the little green plant
that makes it worth keeping around.
Yulia Berry is an independent health researcher and author of the best selling e-book on aloe vera, "Aloe - Your Miracle Doctor." She distributes a weekly newsletter regarding home remedies and has written another popular e-book "Pharmacy In Vegetables" and dozens of natural health articles published on hundreds of websites worldwide.
For information
on Aloe - Your Miracle Doctor, visit here.
