Aloe Vera - A Wonder Herb For Skin

Aloe Vera is a plant that has long been used in medicinal and homeopathic remedies for it's healing properties. Today, these medicinal benefits are being recognized as true by modern science.

This article will give you information about Aloe Vera products that can be found both online and offline in stores such as Whole Foods and Sprouts, the many health benefits of Aloe Vera, treatments for various skin ailments with aloe vera products, how to grow your own Aloe Vera inside or out if you live in warmer climates and more.  

What Is Aloe Vera?

Aloe Vera ( Aloe barbadensis Miller ) is a 97% water, succulent plant that is native to Africa, but can be found in tropical areas all over the world. In fact, it is also used in the tropics as a houseplant because of its beautiful and unique flower. The healing gel inside the leaves has been used for thousands of years as a topical salve for ulcers and burns due to its amazing wound-healing properties.

Aloe vera gel contains vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, C and E; along with enzymes and amino acids such as arginine and alanine. It also contains minerals such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorous, sodium and zinc. The gel is easily absorbed into the skin and contains a compound called acemannan that boosts the body's immune response and helps fight off infections. These compounds combined make Aloe Vera incredibly effective both internally and externally for a myriad of healing applications.

Aloe Vera has been used to treat many different skin ailments including: psoriasis, eczema,  acne vulgaris (aka "The plague of teenagers"), rosacea , burns (both thermal and chemical), diaper rash , sunburn , frostbite , herpes simplex I&II, cold sores ( HSV1&2 ) and various other skin conditions.  

The Aloe Vera treatment that tops the list of benefits from a therapeutic standpoint is Aloe Vera's ability to heal burns and wounds at a faster rate than skin grafts. The life-saving properties of Aloe Gel have been noted in the past with ancient civilizations such as ancient Egypt even more than 5,000 years ago.

Aloe Vera has also been used to treat cancer, diabetes, malnutrition, hepatitis and cardiovascular disease.

The First Use of Aloe Vera For Skin Conditions

In fact, many believe that the history of aloes goes all the way back to 4000 B.C., when Sheba, Queen of Jerusalem was known to use this plant for treatment for her burn victims. Abraham, Moses and King Solomon all used Aloe for medicinal purposes. Tutankhamen, the Egyptian Pharaoh had a cosmetic box containing an aloe vera plant, believed to be for the application of healing gel to burns and wounds.

Studies have even been done dating back as far as 900 B.C. showing how effective Aloe Vera can be in wound-healing and anti-microbial properties.  

Aloe Vera has also been used in homeopathic medicine as early as 1875. No wonder why the US Patent Office issued patent number 223,898 on December 1st, 1980 to Harry Reich, D.C. for the use of aloe gel for the treatment of eczema.

Properties Of Aloe Vera

Aloe vera has been found to be effective at treating burns and wounds, with a concentration that is several times higher than could be produced in a laboratory. This is why it's best that you look for products that have at least 50% of Aloe Vera's active ingredient inside them.

Studies done on Aloe Vera show:

The fastest wound-healing rate when compared to other substances such as hydrogen peroxide, silver nitrate and salicylic acid.

The ability to reduce pain and itching.  

Lower risk of infection when compared to silver nitrate and other substances.

Aloe Vera's ability to create new skin cells at a faster rate than other substances.

An anti-inflammatory effect that may be able to help ease pain from arthritis.

Aloe vera is known as the most effective treatment for radiation burns . It is also very useful in fighting dehydration and can be used in post operative recovery and healing of surgical wounds. For more information regarding radiation burns, click here.

It has been shown to be effective in healing wounds, including sprains, cuts and bruises. Studies show that Aloe Vera gel can be used on cuts that are contaminated with bacteria or dirt.  

In 2003 a study was done showing how effective Aloe vera is at healing the hair shafts damaged by the use of perms and hair straightening products. The study showed a significant increase in the rate of regrowth when compared to those who did not use aloe vera .  

Studies with animals have shown that ingestion of Aloe vera (although not recommended) is beneficial for diabetes and that Aloe vera has a positive effect against gastric ulcers.  

Aloe Vera Benefits: A Closer Look

Aloe Vera has long been used as a topical application to heal wounds and burns. It's ability to quickly heal the skin and reduce pain from heat has made it useful since ancient times. The scientific community was skeptical of this healing effect at first, believing that the skin would seal itself much like steel wool does when in contact with an open flame. However, in 1996 a study done by Dr. John R. Cameron at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, showed that burn victims benefit from Aloe Vera application at both the site of injury and an hour afterwards.

An earlier study done in 1996 by Dr. Lance Becker stated that aloewood is one of the best wound care products available. Another study done in 1991 by Dr. Charles Nourse at Utah State University concluded that Aloe Vera gel is a viable method for the treatment of burns because it has an extremely high concentration of Aloe Gel inside it compared to other topical products available on the market today.

Conclusion

Aloe Vera's antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties are just a few of the benefits that make this product so effective. It is known to be one of the most versatile plants on Earth because of its ability to heal wounds, burns, cuts and bruises in a matter of minutes without scarring.

To read more about using Aloe Vera for skin conditions, click here: 

http://naturalcentric.com/aloe/benefits.html

No matter how old you are, what race you are or what background you come from, this information will help everyone and help them boost their health at the same time! 

Written by Robin Lovelace (www.