| Plant Source: Aloe barbadensis
Miller (Family Liliaceae). Part Used: Leaf gel. Properties: Healing, pain-relieving, emollient, soothing, anti-inflammatory. Most Common Traditional Uses: Internal - General tonic, cleanser, detoxifier. External - Minor burns, sunburn, eczema, psoriasis, skin irritations, insect bites, minor cuts, scratches and wounds. Other Advocated Uses: Too numerous to count. The external healing and pain-relieving properties of fresh aloe vera gel have been well established. The polysaccharides are believed to be the active principles. However, its other properties, especially those internal, are still open to debate. The internal uses of aloe gel appear to be only of recent origin, which lack long documented use history. Despite the controversy, aloe vera drinks (also called juices) are consumed in tremendous quantities by the public for dozens of conditions, or for whatever ails them. And there is no lack of testimonials to aloe vera's marvellous benefits. However, aloe vera is probably the most adulterated product on the world market because most of the aloe drinks sold to consumers contain only a fraction of the claimed content of aloe vera gel. One fairly widely advertised "award-winning" brand claims to have no taste, contain no preservatives and keep for years without spoiling; it actually tastes like water and looks like water and probably is water! Dubiously, aloe vera is probably also the only common plant product that has produced the most millionaires in the United States, thanks to its name recognition and to the lack of testing methods to determine its quality. Greedy suppliers, brokers and manufacturers frequently stretch one gallon or one pound of genuine aloe vera gel liquid or powder to literally tens or hundreds of gallons or pounds of finished aloe drink, reaping outrageous profits. The taste of the aloe juice or drink you experience is mostly due to citric acid and preservatives. Genuine fresh aloe gel tastes bland and slimy.Aloe vera cosmetics are no better because most of the time aloe vera gel is there just for label claim, meaning merely present to entice you to buy them. The amount present is often so small that it imparts no benefit to the products whatsoever. You might have to try different brands until you find the right one that may contain enough aloe gel to do something for you. Aloe vera gel normally contains no laxative principles (anthraglycosides). These laxative compounds are only present in cells immediately beneath the skin of the leaf. After the leaf is cut crosswise, the yellow bitter latex containing these compounds drains out of the leaf. When this latex is dried, a dark resinous mass is produced which is commonly called simply aloe. This aloe is a drug and is used in many laxative preparations. A milder form of laxative is also produced from the aloe vera plant by splitting the whole leaf, drying it and milling it to a powder. Since this product contains considerably lower amounts of anthraglycosides and high concentrations of the gel, its laxative action is considered much less harsh than the concentrated aloe latex. Eds Note: Aloe Vera when applied to the skin in its natural form direct from the leaf does have amazing soothing qualities. I can personally vouch for this as can many of the people I have introduced to the aloe vera plant. The problem with most commercial preparations of aloe vera products is as outlined above. The quantity of the active ingredient is often virtually no-existent. You need to buy aloe vera gel from a completely trusted source if you are going to use any of the processed commercial products out there. Buyer beware! You are welcome to check with us for the name of a trusted supplier in your area in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and the USA. Email support@bodiorganic.com |