Know your Herbs

Aloe vera is an evergreen, succulent, perennial herb that grows in tropical climates and has its origins in the Arabian Peninsula. It is widely cultivated for medicinal and cosmetic use and is often grown indoors in the pots. Aloe vera has a short stem and thick, fleshy triangular green leaves with serrated or toothed margins. It produces yellow flowers in summers.

The plant is known since the time of Alexander and is used for beauty, medicinal, and various health purposes. The word ‘Aloe’ is derived from an Arabic word and ‘Vera’ is derived from a Latin word. It was used by Egyptian queens for skin care. It belongs to the family “Liliaceae” and its botanical name is Aloe barbadensis.

It is widely found in India, America, Greece, Japan, Africa, Asia, China, Europe, and Mexico. It is of pea-green colour. Aloe vera is arborescent and shrubby xerophytic small plant. In India, it is extensively grown in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujrat and Rajasthan.

Aloe vera is composed of 99% of water and only 1% highly nutrient components, such as, minerals, vitamins, amino acids, saponins, phenols, sulphur, salicylic acid, sugars, lignans, anthraquinones, and fatty acids.

Aloe Vera works as an anti-septic, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-aging, anti-tumor, laxative, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-diabetic herbal medicine.

Benefits of Aloe Vera:

• Good for Skin Care: It is an excellent healing agent and helps in a number of skin ailments. It can be applied externally as well as consumed internally and helps to clear the skin and reduce acne, scars and pigmentation and manages psoriasis. It works as a natural anti-ageing remedy and is used as a therapeutic ingredient in certain ointments, lotions, and many cosmetic products.
   
• Improves General Health: It regulates and strengthens the immune system and naturally detoxifies and rejuvenates the whole body.
   
• Improves Digestion: It improves digestion and has the ability to cure issues like peptic ulcers, Crohn’s disease, acid reflux, and other gastro-intestinal disorders. It is a natural laxative and helps to reduce constipation.
   
• Improves Skeletal Health: It reduces pain and inflammation related to arthritis. It also heals wounds and relieves inflammation, and pains related to muscles, bones, nerves and joints.
   
• Improves Immunity: It has a significant immuno-modulator. Along with this, its anti-tumor property helps in cancer prevention.
   
• Improves Hair Health: It works for hair and scalp since it softens the hair, promotes hair growth, and prevents inflammation and dandruff.
   
• Helps in Diabetes: It helps in managing diabetes and reduces elevated sugar level.
   
• Regulates Heart Health: It regulates cholesterol and triglyceride levels and improves heart health effectively.
   
• Helps in Periods: It heals painful menstruation in girls and women.

Aloe vera is completely safe to consume if the mode of preparation involves purity. High doses of aloe vera can lead to diarrhoea in some people. Pure and potent aloevera is used for its therapeutic properties in various Ayurvedic health supplements.