Aloe is an interesting herb, not only because it can be used topically and internally but also because it’s also a beautiful plant. There are over 400 species of flowering succulents in the Aloe genus, and its medicinal uses date back to 1500 B.C. where the Egyptians used it to heal burns and infections and get rid of parasites.
You can find this plant growing in many gardens in the southern regions and pots indoors pretty much everywhere. Inside the leaves is a gel with incredible healing properties and is excellent for treating sunburns, cuts, poison ivy, burns, eczema, and infections due to its antiseptic and antibiotic properties.
The Aloe or Aloe Vera plant is full of vitamins, enzymes, minerals, amino acids, essential oils, and glycoproteins which all give it mighty healing powers. In addition to soothing the skin, it is also said to help soothe the digestive tract, and many healers use it to treat colitis and peptic ulcers. It is also said to help the lymph system, gallbladder, liver, and kidney.
Taken internally, Aloe is a good laxative and can also help with digestive ailments because it has an alkalizing effect.
New research on this plant shows that it has a compound called acemannan which may help boost the immune system.
Many people keep an Aloe Vera plant right in their kitchen to be used when they need it.
It’s an excellent natural remedy for bug bites and can help take the sting out of sunburns, but it’s great just to put on your skin is part of your weekly regimen to keep your skin soft and supple. To use your plant, you can split open the thick leaves and used the gel inside, or removed the thin outer skin and made a paste by pulverizing it in your blender.