Aloe vera Health And Beauty Benefits
Aloe vera is a stemless or very short-stemmed succulent plant growing to 60–100 cm (24–39 in) tall, spreading by offsets. The leaves are thick and fleshy, green to grey-green, with some varieties showing white flecks on the upper and lower stem surfaces. It belongs to the lily family but looks like a cactus. It is Aloe Vera, one of the most important plants used in Ayurveda, the Mother of all healing systems. Extracts from Aloe vera are widely used in the cosmetics and alternative medicine industries, being marketed as variously having rejuvenating, healing or soothing properties. There is, however, little scientific evidence of the effectiveness or safety of Aloe vera extracts for either cosmetic or medicinal purposes.
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.
What makes Aloe Vera so special?
To begin with, its fat leaves contain a clear healing gel that is 96% water. The other 4% contain more than 75 valuable constituents, such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids, calcium and enzymes. Aloe Vera contains 7 out of 8 essential amino acids required by our body and therefore it can play a vital role for fulfilling our need of protein in our body.
For many years, aloe vera has been recognized for a variety of health benefits. Copious research has found that not only does the aloe vera extract aid in healing from burns as well as reducing scarring and inflammation, the aloe vera juice can also be used internally as a laxative and to treat asthma, peptic ulcers and other digestive disorders. Aloe vera oil has been shown to be effective in treating diabetes, constipation and a poor appetite as well as enhancing the overall immune system.
Aloe vera oil has exhibited anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties. Containing a host of beneficial compounds, the aloe vera extract has also been shown interesting results when used in conjunction with conventional cancer treatment. It can influence and stimulate assorted factors of the immune system by reducing the inflammation and blood supply to tumors, and can prevent certain compounds from being absorbed by the liver.
Externally, aloe vera oil can be used to induce cell regeneration, treat skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, acne and skin ulcers, as well as surgical wounds. This is thought to be because aloe vera oil contains vitamin E and C, as well as zinc and polysaccharides which aid in stimulating epidermal growth and cell repair.
As if that weren't enough, the aloe vera oils have shown rejuvenating and healing benefits in massage therapy, have been effective in killing the virus that causes herpes and shingles, and have shown a positive result in remission of certain skin cancers. The aloe vera extract contains many health benefits proven by extensive research. Talk to your doctor or health practitioner about the advantages of adding aloe vera to your health regimen.
Soothing and Healing
The healing effect of Aloe Vera results from its ability to prevent injury to epithelial tissues, and promote healing of injured tissues. An epithelium is a layer of cells that covers the body. Our largest epithelium is the skin. One of the main applications of Aloe Vera is to soothe a variety of skin ailments such as mild cuts, insect stings, bruises, poison ivy and eczema. It also has antibacterial and antifungal qualities, and increases blood flow to wounded areas. This amazing plant stimulates the skin cells responsible for wound healing and the manufacture of collagen, the protein that controls the aging process of the skin and wrinkling. The skin absorbs Aloe Vera up to four times faster than water and this helps the pores of the skin open and receive the moisture and nutrients of the plant.
Aloe Vera can be applied externally and taken internally too. When taken internally, Aloe Vera juice aids the digestion and absorption of nutrients, helps control blood sugar, increases energy production, promotes cardiovascular health, improves liver function, and boosts the immune system.
How Aloevera Is Used
Most people use Aloe simply by cutting off a piece of leaf and squeezing the liquid onto their skin. This works, but it wastes the inner gel, which is the most potent part of the plant. The gel can be mixed with Vaseline, and applied on black spots on the face and hands to help restore normal skin tone. Heat Aloe Vera leaves and squeeze the juice on burns for quick relief. When the juice is applied on the face it acts as a sun screen and also helps to prevent sunburn. If Aloe Vera gel is mixed with turmeric powder, left on the face overnight, and then washed off the next morning, pimples and acne will gradually disappear. If the gel is boiled with coconut oil, filtered and applied regularly to the scalp, it promotes the growth of healthy and lustrous hair.
Drinking the juice of Aloe Vera can be very beneficial in the case of a wide range of disorders. Aloe Vera juice helps clear the toxins out of the digestive system, facilitates digestion and improves the functioning of the kidneys, liver and gall bladder. Its antiviral properties promote the healing of warts as well as diabetic wounds. Its capillary dilating properties increase blood circulation and speed up regeneration of skin. The anti-inflammatory properties of the juice make it very effective in treating joint pains and it is also mixed with turmeric and given in cases of spleen enlargement. The list of Aloe Vera’s healing properties goes on and on. In fact, no other natural product contains such large number of constituents useful for humans- which why Aloe Vera has now become part of almost every system of medicine, including contemporary western medicine.
Here is a list of the Top Benefits and Medicinal Uses for Aloe Vera:
1. High in Vitamins & Minerals
Aloe Vera contains many vitamins including A, C, E, folic acid, choline, B1, B2, B3 (niacin), B6. Aloe Vera is also one of the few plants that contains vitamin B12. The human body cannot store some of these vitamins, so we need to supplement them regularly through our diet. The minerals found in aloe vera include Calcium, Sodium, Iron, Potassium, Copper, Zinc, Manganese, Magnesium, Chromium and more… Plenty of good nutrition in aloe vera juice!
2. Amino Acids
The human body requires 20 amino acids to build protein; 8 of these amino acids are ‘essential’ which means the body can’t make them itself. Aloe vera contains 19 of these amino acids, and 7 of the essential amino acids. So drinking aloe vera juice tops up your body’s daily supply.
3. Aloe Vera is an Adaptogen
Aloe Vera is a well-known adaptogen. An adaptogen is something that boosts the body’s natural ability to adapt to external changes and resist illness. It is thought that aloe’s power as an adaptogen balances the body’s system, stimulating the defense and adaptive mechanisms of the body. This allows you an increased ability to cope with stress (physical, emotional and environmental stress like pollution)
4. Healthy Digestion
A healthy digestive system makes sure that we absorb as many of the nutrients as possible from the foods we eat. Aloe vera juice has natural detoxifying abilities; and drinking aloe vera juice seems to improve bowel regularity and increases protein absorption. It also helps to decrease the amount of unfriendly bacteria and yeast in our gut. Aloe vera has been shown to help reduce and soothe heartburn and other digestive problems.
5. Natural Immune Support
Aloe vera is full of anti-oxidants – natural immune enhancers which fight free radicals within our body. Free radicals are the unstable compounds produced as a side-effect of our metabolism. They are thought to cause various ailments, as well as contributing to the ageing process. Drinking aloe vera juice regularly gives the body a regular supply of anti-oxidants, which can boost and enhance the immune system.
6. Reduce Inflammation
Aloe vera juice contains 12 substances which can slow down or inhibit inflammation, without any side-effects. Some people say that drinking aloe vera juice helps with their stiff, swollen or painful joints.
7. Detox
Aloe vera juice is a great natural aid to detox. With our stressful lives, the pollution around us and the junk foods we eat, we all need to cleanse our systems from time to time. Some people more often than others! Drinking aloe vera juice provides a fantastically rich cocktail of vitamins, minerals and trace elements to help our bodies deal with these stresses and strains everyday.
8. Collagen and Elastin Repair for Healthy Skin
Drinking aloe vera juice adds a rich supply of raw materials to your diet, which can produce and maintain really healthy skin. The skin replaces itself every 28 days. Using the nutritional building blocks of aloe vera, the skin can use these nutrients daily to help combat the effects of ageing. Aloe vera also helps in soothing minor burns, cuts, scrapes and skin irritations.
9. Regulate Weight and Energy Levels
Drinking aloe vera juice naturally allows the body to cleanse the digestive system. Our diets include many substances which can cause fatigue and exhaustion. Taken regularly, aloe vera juice ensures a greater feeling of well-being, allowing energy levels to increase and helps maintain a healthy body weight.
10. Dental Health
Aloe vera is extremely helpful for your mouth and gums. As well as its natural anti-bacterial and anti-microbial actions, it contains vitamins and minerals which promote cell growth and healing. There are some aloe vera toothgels available which contain a high level of pure aloe vera, which may help with bleeding gums and mouth ulcers.
11. Better than Nutritional Supplements
Recent research has shown that adding good foods to our diets, rich in naturally occurring vitamins and minerals, is far better than adding supplements alone. The good news is that Aloe Vera juice is considered a food, rather than a manufactured supplement. So drinking aloe vera juice is probably better than taking supplements alone, because our bodies can absorb all the nutrients in aloe vera more easily, and utilize them more effectively.
12. Cardiovascular Health
There hasn’t been a lot of studies conducted in this but there has been some research to show that Aloe Vera extract injected into the blood, greatly multiplies the oxygen transportation and diffusion capabilities of the red blood cells.
According to a study published in the 2000 issue of the British Medical Journal, beta sitosterol helps to lower cholesterol. By regulating blood pressure, improving circulation and oxidation of the blood, lowering cholesterol, and making blood less sticky, Aloe Vera juice may be able to help lower the risk of heart disease.
Aloe Vera Intake Precautions
This plant is incredibly medicinal, yet there are some cautions against long-term use. Just because a little is beneficial, doesn’t mean that a lot is more beneficial. This is an incredibly potent herb and should be used with a level of respect for its potency. Long-term use can lead to loss of electrolytes, especially potassium.
Avoid taking aloe internally during pregnancy, menstruation, if you have hemorrhoids or degeneration of the liver and gall bladder.
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