Aloe Vera plant is an evergreen plant, a species of the cacti plant of genus Aloe. It grows in the tropical and semi-arid climates of the world. It originated from the Arabian Peninsula, but due to its resilience and the beneficial medicinal property it contains, it has been domesticated as a decorative pot plant and is commercially cultivated around the world for its medicinal and beauty properties.
It has thick succulent leaves that produce a colourless sap when cut. The leaves contain bioactive chemicals like acetylene, mannans, anthraquinone, C-glycosides, lectins, emodin, and mannans. Because of these Chemicals, Aloe Vera has found its way in several products like skin lotions, cosmetics, ointments, and beverages.
As a medicinal plant, it’s mostly used in the beauty, nutritional and pharmaceutical industries. Aloe vera sap can be harvested and used directly to treat many conditions, including burns, fungal infections, and other skin conditions.
Aloe Vera is prepared as a lotion, gel, or soap and used for cosmetic purposes. It’s also used for topical medication, treating multiple ailments, dermatitis, inflammations, itching, etc. Aloe Vera is a laxative dietary supplement marketed as a digestive system clearing Juice.
From commercial cultivation to industrial processing, Aloe Vera supports an entire industry. That spans the globe spawning related businesses that tap into its many benefits. Aloe Vera indeed qualifies as a wonder plant, from treating burns, sunburns, to beautifying faces and healing wounds Aloe Vera touches the lives of almost every human being living on the globe.
Here are 50 Uses of Aloe Vera:
1. Treating burns
Aloe vera sap has a cool soothing sap ideal for treating burns, this coupled with its healing properties makes it an ideal balm for minor burns. In addition to cooling the area, it moisturizes the skin to help the wound to heal better with minimal scarring.
2. Healthy Digestive Tract
The Digestive tract is sensitive especially for patients who suffer from Irritable bowel movement. Drinking Aloe vera does not just soothe but it cures this ailment. Aloe Vera inhibits the growth of H Pylori, a bacteria found in the digestive tract that can cause ulcers.
3. Oral Hygiene
Toothpaste made from Aloe Vera provides excellent mouthwash which helps improve oral hygiene. Aloe Vera toothpaste treats gingivitis, and candida while getting rid of plaque from the teeth. It’s a great source of considerable improvement for oral health
4. Acne Treatment
There are many Aloe Vera derived products that clear acne. Creams, Toners, Moisturizers, and cleansers. Aloe Vera products have the benefit of being milder to the skin and are more effective in reducing lesions and curing acne inflammation.
5. Anal fissures
Anal fissures are small tears that occur in the lining of the anus during a bowel movement, they are extremely painful and may cause bleeding. Aloe Vera gel has soothing effects and will help the fissures to heal when applied several times in the anal area.
6. Relieves Heartburn
Heartburn is a digestive disorder that is caused by Gastroesophageal reflux. It’s mostly triggered by eating certain foods. Drinking aloe vera gel with meals will help reduce digestion problems and relieve heartburn.
7. Preserving food
Coating fresh vegetables and fruits with Aloe Vera helps preserve the food from harmful bacteria. This helps to eliminate the use of harmful preservatives while extending the shelf life of fruits and vegetables. Aloe Vera gel is a natural product and is perfectly safe.
8. Mouthwash
Aloe Vera has natural plaque blocking ingredients that are effective when used as a mouthwash. They do not only keep the mouth and teeth clean, but they help heal bleeding gums.
9. Manage Diabetes
Consuming a few drops of Aloe Vera every day helps people with type 2 Diabetes to have lowered blood sugar levels. Aloe Vera, therefore, is a natural remedy for managing diabetes.
10. Natural laxative
Aloe Vera gel has been found to be a natural laxative that helps to relieve constipation. This is however advised to be used sparingly, as too much may cause toxicity in the stomach.
11. Caring for your Skin
The Aloe vera sap is a powerful moisturizer. Gels made from this sap have the ability to keep the skin hydrated and protected from sunburns.
12. Breast Cancer
Aloe Vera has therapeutic and antioxidant properties believed to slow down the onslaught of breast cancer. Emodin is a powerful compound found in Aloe Vera that inhibits the growth of breast cancerous cells.
13. Constipation
Anthraquinones found in Aloe Vera have laxative properties that help ease constipation in patients suffering from gastronomical disorders.
14. Vitamin C
Vitamin C is crucial to our wellbeing and health it acts as a natural antioxidant helping fight inflammation, reducing cardiovascular diseases, improving the immune system and enhancing the bodies ability to absorb Iron, necessary to the formation of red blood cells,
15. Healthy Hydration
Drinking one glass of aloe vera keeps the body hydrated. It’s healthier than sugary drinks, one glass of Aloe Vera contains over 36 calories helping keep your body healthy. Just remember not to add too much sugar as this will reverse that plant’s natural benefits.
16. Treating Gum illnesses
Aloe Vera is a powerful mouthwash with the ability to treat gingivitis a gum disease that causes inflammation and mouth sores. Aloe vera has antimicrobial properties that help combat germs in the mouth.
17. Helps Control Blood Sugar
A study showed that Aloe Vera may have potential benefits in helping manage blood sugar. This goes a long way in helping patients with type 2 diabetes to live a healthy life.
18. Ulcers
Aloe Vera’s ability to improve digestion also helps reduce incidents of stomach ulcers. Aloe vera has anti-inflammatory compounds that act strongly in the stomach to eradicate painful stomach inflammations.
19. Body Rub
Slicing Aloe Vera and using these sliced leaves to rub on the body is a soothing and relaxing experience. The sap soothes and helps to keep the skin supple and moisturized,
20. Treating Minor cuts
Aloe vera’s antibacterial properties are an effective way of treating minor cuts.
21. Treating Insect Bites
Insect bites can be a nuisance and painful irritant. Aloe Vera gel applied on the area of the insect bite soothes and neutralizes the pain out of the sting.
22. Skin Moisturizer
Aloe Vera is a natural moisturizer for dry skin. The gel is quickly absorbed into the skin leaving a well-hydrated supple skin and helping clear skin tightness that leads to wrinkles.
23. Ant – ageing
Aloe Vera can help reverse the symptoms of ageing and clear wrinkles. It helps to eradicate spots and rashes.
24. Treating Herpes and rashes
Herpes caused by HSV (herpes simplex virus) is a viral disease that affects private parts. Aloe Vera gel applied in the affected area
25. Exfoliation
Skin exfoliation is a natural way of encouraging the growth of new skin. Aloe vera mixed with honey or sugar is a perfect compound for exfoliation.
26. Hair growth
Hair growth is a natural phenomenon, but in some cases, it happens so slowly. Rubbing aloe vera gel in the scalp, allowing it to sit and washing thoroughly, helps to speed up the hair’s growth
27. Getting rid of stretch marks
You love to hate them, stretch marks are every mother’s nightmare. Rubbing Aloe Vera on the stretch marks clears them over time.
28. Hair Conditioning
Silkier smoother hair is not an accident, it’s conditioned. Aloe Vera gel is a natural hair conditioner that smoothens and conditions hair.
29. Treating indigestion
Drinking Aloe Vera juice helps to relieve symptoms of indigestion. It helps to speed up the digestive process by combating acidity.
30. Strong Heart
Aloe Vera reduces cholesterol and triglycerides two compounds that cause heart diseases. Drinking Aloe Vera helps clear triglycerides from the body helping the heart to perform better.
31. Help manage Asthma
Asthma attacks may be quite severe. Aloe Vera is a natural remedy that can act as an inhaler. Boiling Aloe Vera leaves in water and inhaling the hot vapor will open up the congestion.
32. Treats Blisters
Working hard in the fields causes painful blisters, which may be an inconvenience to your work. Aloe Vera gel is soothing and has antimicrobial properties. It is a natural antidote for painful blisters and will hasten the healing process.
33. Treating Colitis
Colitis is an inflammation of the colon wall lining. Which is caused by many factors including inflammatory bowel movement. Drinking Aloe Vera Juice helps heal the inflammation. Easing pain and congestion.
34. Help in bowel movement
Aloe Vera has multiple enzymes amongst them catalase, peroxidase, and phosphatase. These enzymes help to break down sugar fats and promote nutrient absorption which reduces indigestion and irritable bowel movement. Helping in pain-free bowel movement.
35. Alleviating Arthritis
Arthritis pain in the joints can be extremely uncomfortable, drinking a glass of Aloe Vera helps alleviate arthritis pain.
36. Treating Canker sores
Canker sores are painful sores that appear in the mouth. Swishing the mouth with aloe vera juice will help treat and accelerate the healing of canker sores.
37. Pain Killer
Aloe Vera contains salicylic acid which is a powerful analgesic that relieves pain instantly. Drinking Aloe Vera when in pain will help to relieve pain
38. Hormone balance
Raging hormones can be caused by many factors. Aloe Vera is a natural hormonal balance. Drinking Aloe Vera helps to treat hormonal disorders.
39. Reduces Dental plaque
Dental plaque the yellow or pale brown tar that forms at the base of teeth is a biofilm of sticky bacteria growing on the surface of the tooth. Washing the mouth with Aloe Vera helps to clear this bacteria.
40. Treat Eyes and ears inflammation
Drinking Aloe Vera helps to clear ear and eye inflammation which may be caused by an infection. Aloe Vera contains antimicrobial properties that help get rid of unwanted bacteria.
41. Alkalize the body
High acidity is dangerous to the body. Bacteria thrive in an acidic environment and become a breeding ground for diseases. Drinking Aloe Vera juice helps alkalize the body, it’s the natural way of balancing your body’s PH.
42. Hydrating the Body
Aloe Vera has a multitude of nutrients besides being a natural hydrant. The leaves contain lots of liquid whose compounds are antioxidants, that help flush out impurities from the body. Aloe Vera has another function, it detoxifies the blood by strengthening the kidney function. Drinking Aloe Vera juice quickly rehydrates the body leading to quick recovery after a hard workout.
43. A Healthy Liver
Aloe Vera Juice is an excellent detoxifier. A healthy liver is key to maintaining a healthy body. Aloe Vera cleans and clears free radicals found in the blood and helps to maintain sugar levels, its rich in phytonutrients and helps hydrate the body.
44. Nutrient Supplement
Instead of buying across the counter supplements, why not drink a glass of Aloe Vera? Aloe Vera juice is full of naturally occurring minerals and Vitamins which include Vitamin B, C, and E including folic acid. This makes Aloe Vera an ideal natural nutrient supplement.
45. Bacterial Inhibitor
Researchers have discovered that Aloe Vera inhibits the growth of many microorganisms. It has the ability to inhibit gram-positive bacteria (Shigella Flexneri) that cause food poisoning, and many other diseases causing microbes.
46. Fungal Inhibitor
Aloe Vera is a natural antifungal inhibiting the growth of different types of fungi. Researchers have reported its ability to inhibit Candida 35 the fungi that cause candidiasis. These fungi inhibiting properties make it an ideal fish tank cleaner.
47. Immunity booster
Aloe vera helps stimulate the body’s immune system. Anthraquinones found in Aloe Vera have been confirmed to boost the immunity of people suffering from HIV and cancer patients.
48. Chicken Rearing
Aloe Vera given to chicken helps hasten their natural growth. Research done showed that supplement broilers diet with aloe vera powder helped to improve production. This was because the chicken’s immunity is boosted. The broilers also retained their natural taste.
49. Reduce the Effects of Frostbite
Frostbite causes numbness in the limbs, a result of the outer layers of the skin and the tissue below losing sensation. The affected area slowly starts to die and turns blue or gray. Rubbing Aloe Vera gel on the affected area helps to stimulate blood circulation and protects the skin making it more impervious.
50. Soothe Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a condition that causes skin cells to multiply rapidly and build up, causing red patches and scales in the affected area. Rubbing and drinking Aloe vera helps slow down this rapid growth, and cools the itch in the affected area.
There are many natural plants packed with healing properties. Aloe Vera, however, is a wonder plant. Considering that it affects a wide spectrum of our well being and can be consumed either in its raw state or processed, and sold across the counter, or included as an ingredient when manufacturing products.
Aloe Vera affects every sphere of our wellbeing, It’s no wonder it has spawned a multi-million industry.
