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Medicinal Purposes
The leaves of A. vera are used in the production of many cosmetic products.  The many kinds of products on the market include after-shaving gel, mouthwash, hair tonic and shampoo, skin moistening gel, and even a 'health drink.'

This is part of the 'back to nature' movement, whose adherents believe that using natural products derived from plants such as the well-known 'health plant' A. vera is a healthy way of life.

It has been known to treat frostbite, burns, radiation dermatitis, ulcers, psoriasis, wounds, and skin infections.

Other health purposes:

  • Toothpaste made from aloe or an aloe extract helps combat bleeding and gingivitis in the gums and helps to prevent tooth decay.

  • Dilates the capillaries, thus increasing blood flow.

  • Due to the potassium which it contains, aloe vera improves and stimulates the liver and the kidneys, the principal organs of detoxification. Aloe contains uronic acid which eliminates toxic material within the cells.

  • Aloe vera has very high levels of calcium, potassium and zinc, as well as Vitamins C and E. These minerals promote the formation of a net fibers that trap the red corpuscles of the blood, thus speeding the healing process.

 

Random Facts

The Arabic word "alloeh" mean shining and bitter, and likely refers to the bitter-tasting aloe latex.

When in its dried form, termed aloe, the latex is a drug that is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a potent laxative and cathartic agent and is also used as a bitter agent in alcoholic beverages.

The gel of field-grown Aloe vera is reported to have a pH of 4.4 - 4.7