Benefits of Aloe
After spending one too many hours baking in the sun, you may have slathered Aloe Vera on your skin, savoring the sweet cooling sensation. can be a sunbather’s best friend.
But there are loads of other uses for Aloe Vera. You’ll be amazed at all the different ways it can be used. It’s one of nature’s most diverse plants in terms of uses.
Aloe Vera grows in tropical climates for both agricultural and medicinal purposes. It can typically grows between 24-39 inches and has thick, fleshy leaves with a somewhat waxy exterior. Inside, the leaves contain a gel-like liquid. Within this gel are a variety of useful compounds that give the plant its medicinal value, and it has long been valued for its various uses.
Aloe Vera's Other Benfits
Aloe Vera Contains Antioxidants and Antibacterials
It’s well established that antioxidants are incredibly useful for the body. They function as protectors of sorts, attaching themselves to harmful free radicals which can damage cells in the body.
The gel within the Aloe Vera plant contains antioxidants from a family of substances known as polyphenols. The polyphenols, in combination with other compounds, work to inhibit limit the growth of harmful bacteria in the body.
Aloe Vera Can Reduce Dental Plaque
A recent study compared aloe juice (not the leaves on your teeth) to standard mouthwash, which contains the ingredient chlorhexidine. After just 4 days of use, evidence suggested that the Aloe Vera was just as effective as mouthwash.
Given the choice of chemical-laden mouthwash or a natural substance, Aloe Vera is the healthier choice.
Aloe Vera Allows Burns To Heal More Quickly
Of course, Aloe Vera is useful for treating sunburns, but it has applications beyond that. A study in the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health suggest that Aloe Vera is an effective interventions used in burn wound healing for first to second degree burns. In the study it showed that using Aloe Vera reduced healing time by 9 days.
This is no secret, given that the FDA approved Aloe Vera as an over-the-counter option for skin burns all the way back in 1959.
Aloe Vera Can Soothe Rashes and Irritation
The plant has long been used as a home remedy to treat skin rashes and irritation, but evidence also backs this up.
A 2009 review of 40 different studies suggested that oral consumption of Aloe Vera can speed the healing of wounds and decrease the size of growths on the skin.
Another study done in 1996 suggested that Aloe Vera is an effective treatment for psoriasis. A 1996 study done at the Department of Clinical Physiology in Sweden included 60 patients with chronic psoriasis who participated in a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial of Aloe Vera or placebo cream. The cure rate in the Aloe Vera group was 83 percent compared to only 7 percent in the placebo group, and there were no relapses reported at the 12-month follow-up.
Aloe Vera Can Ease Dandruff
Aloe Vera can play a role in minimizing dandruff, thanks to its moisturizing properties, anti-inflammatory compounds, anti-fungal properties, and cleansing enzymes. Although additional research is needed to come to a firm conclusion, the evidence suggests that the plant can be an effective remedy. Given that anti-dandruff shampoos have numerous chemicals, this can be an outstanding option.
As you can see, Aloe Vera is a powerful plant with a variety of uses. As research continues we should expect to see even more uses emerge from the plant, which is certainly encouraging.
Aloe Vera does not contain many of the abrasive, harmful chemicals found in traditional over-the-counter medicines or common used personal products (toothpaste, shampoo), it should certainly have a place in your home. It is always a good idea to have an Aloe Vera plant available in your garden for those first - aid burns or when you spend to much time in the sun unprotected.
As noted above, you should consult with your doctor before administering aloe vera. It’s always better to have the advice of an expert.
