Aloe the Silent Healer

Mother Nature has a habit of providing for us mere mortals the resolution to many of our ailments, but most of the time we tend to go for pharmaceutical remedies because we are told that they are more efficient, backed by science usually carried out by pharmaceutical companies and most importantly prescribed by our doctors. However many of us are turning to more natural remedies to help with many disorders, aliments and diseases.

Aloe vera is one of Mother Nature’s precious gifts to mankind, yet many of us in this part of world are absolutely oblivious to its healing properties. If you come from the Tropics or hotter regions of the world, aloe vera has a permanent feature within the family home. All my family members since I can remember have had an aloe plant in their home and have used it not only for its nutritional benefits but also for its healing qualities.

Many of us associate aloe vera with the treatment of burns, but its uses expands further than we can imagine. We are still unsure as to the many other benefits aloe has on maintaining good health. Aloe vera’s place in history goes way back from being used as a beauty regime by Egyptian queens Cleopatra and Nefertiti, to great explorers Marco Polo and Christopher Columbus who reportedly used aloe vera as an important medicine on their voyages. So aloe vera has a long history that cannot be ignored.

So why is aloe vera so special and making a comeback and giving conventional medicine a run for its money. In order to answer this question it is important to understand the properties and application of the plant. There are many different species of aloe vera plant but Aloe Barbadensis is the one that has many of the properties that can be used for medicinal purposes. Many believe that the aloe plant belongs to the cactus family based on its spiky appearance, but in actual fact it belongs to the same family in which onions, garlic and asparagus belong. Onions and garlic are well known for their health properties. They are rich in natural antioxidants, have been proven to have an active role in reducing bad cholesterol as well as having anti bacterial and prebiotic qualities.

The inner leaf of the aloe vera plant is where all the nutrients lie. The inner sap is really a meal in one from a nutrient perspective. It is rich in the following minerals calcium, manganese, sodium, potassium, copper, magnesium, zinc, chromium and iron. All these minerals have important roles ranging from muscle and nerve conduction and transmission, metabolism of food components, regulation of insulin, and play supportive roles in helping the daily running of the body’s physiological processes that keep the body in good health. 

Aloe vera’s role doesn’t end there, it  is rich in vitamins A, C and E which are powerful natural antioxidants that work in conjunction with minerals such as manganese, copper and iron to protect the body from free radical invasion. Vitamin C in particular has excellent healing properties and is involved in the production of collagen....so ladies pay close attention as we are slaves to anti aging cremes and potions. Vitamin E also protects against cell membrane damage therefore protecting against diseases such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes. Vitamin B12 (cobalaimin) and Vitamin B9 (folic acid) are both important in red blood cell development working towards protecting against anaemia.

In our society we spend so much time obsessing about protein intake. We increase our meat consumption, supplement our diets with processed milk and plant protein powders. Whereas aloe  vera provides 7 out of the 8 essential amino acids (amino acids that cannot be made by the body and have to be acquired through food we eat), but also provides 19 out of the 20 amino acids required for good health maintenance. For those of you who maybe are unsure of the purpose of amino acids, the easiest way to explain their function is that they are the building blocks of the body and of life.

Lastly aloe vera contains enzymes that aid in the digestion of protein, fats and carbohydrates derived from food, and since it is a plant it contains potent sterols which have anti inflammatory, anti septic and analgesic activity. This is what we know so far, however aloe vera has undiscovered qualities that we are still researching. We know that it is the provider of many essential micronutrients, it is effective in the killing of bacteria, viruses, fungi and yeast infection as well as being used for inflammatory conditions. This means aloe vera works well with skin conditions if treated topically and internally. Skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, ulcers and athletes foot respond well to aloe vera treatment. If taken regularly aloe vera will sooth and reduce irritation bring calm to the condition.

Aloe vera has shown to be effective with disorders of the digestive system IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) ulcerative colitis and diverticulitis. Due to aloe’s anti inflammatory and wound healing effect it has brought relief for many individuals who have suffered from the gut disorders mentioned above. Although, it has to be noted that aloe vera is not a cure, for if not consumed on a regular basis symptoms reoccur. It works by suppressing symptoms much like conventional medicine, but without nasty side effects. However the main point made by many who have suffered from inflammatory skin and gut disorders, is that yes pharmaceutical drugs do work and are important in the maintenance of long term disorders but they come with sometimes nasty side effects that create their own problems. It is because of this many are turning to aloe vera.

So how do you know which aloe vera products are the best on the market? Well if you’re looking for any aloe vera product you must ensure that aloe vera is the first ingredient on the ingredients list as this indicates that aloe vera is the main and most ingredient within the product. The method in which aloe vera is extracted is also important, the cold pressed method of extraction means that the nutrient activity of the aloe plant has not been destroyed. This is essential, as to benefit from aloe vera’s properties the product must have all biochemical ingredients active or else you’re wasting your money. Most importantly if you have ever tasted the inner leaf of an aloe vera plant it is by no means a taste to be savoured, it is naturally bitter, so if purchasing and aloe vera drinking gel that is not bitter then there is next to no aloe vera in it.

The best way to integrate aloe vera into the diet in my view is to add it to your morning smoothie or juice if you can’t stand the taste or if you’re hard core knock it back and follow it with a glass of water. It is important to try and follow a healthy eating regime so that you are getting a combined health effect from the aloe vera and the fruits, vegetable, nuts etc that you are eating. This therefore leads to the creation of a combined enhanced anti inflammatory effect within the body leading to the promotion of good health. As remember inflammation causes disease which we all work hard to try and reduce if not avoid.

Aloe vera does not just benefit humans but animals too can benefit from its health properties. Your pets can also profit from the health benefits of aloe vera as animals are also susceptible to bacterial and fungal infections such as ringworm, abscesses and boils. Many who have cats, dogs and horses as pets and even farmers have turned to aloe vera as a natural way to heal their animals and reduce vet bills.

So whether you have a cold, had a heavy night, suffer from inflammatory skin and gut disorder or just want a health boost then aloe vera is the way forward.