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 Aloe Vera called Nature's Miracle has been associated with myth, magic, and medicine since pre-biblical times. All over the world today, Aloe Vera is a common household plant. It is one of the most talked about, yet most misunderstood plants in history.

Most botanists agree that the plant originated in the warm, dry, climate of Africa. According to African folk lore, many tribes required everybody in the village to bathe in an infusion of Aloe in case of an epidemic of colds. Legends state that the Pharaoh, and the royal family of Egypt, kept Aloe as a palace plant, assigning it a very high status.

The Aloe Vera plant produces at least 6 antiseptic agents: lupeol, salicylic acid, urea nitrogen, cinnamonic acid, phenol, and sulphur. All of these substances are recognized as antiseptics because they exhibit antimicrobial activity. Aloe has been used to eliminate many internal and external infections, wounds, and ulcers. Lupeol, salicylic acid, and magnesium are very effective analgesics. This explains why Aloe is effective in alleviating pain.

A 1950 Russian study cites the presence of cinnamonic acid and salicylic acid in Aloe, two substances known as antimicrobial and antiinflammatory. In 1978, other studies found many other anti-inflammatory agents in Aloe. 

In 1982, several studies compared Aloe to Prednisolone and Indomethacin (common antiinflammatory drugs) and were found to be as effective as the drugs without the long-term toxicity and side effects. This also explains why Aloe is effective treatment for arthritis, colitis, ulcers, burns, cuts, abrasions, and many inflammatory conditions of the digestive system. Aloe juice has also been effective in allergic reactions, acid indigestion, and in lowering blood pressure and cholesterol.

Other properties of Aloe Vera: 

1. natural cleanser; 

2. detoxifier; 

3. blood alkalinizer; 

4. penetrates to 7 layers of tissue; 

5. anesthetizes tissue, relieving joint and muscle pain;

6. dilates capillaries, increasing circulation; 

7. breaks down and digests dead tissue; 

8. enhances normal cell growth and hastens healing; 

9. moisturizes tissue; 

10. antipruritic, stops itching; 

11. antibacterial and antibiotic; 

12. antifungal, helps control Candida; 

13. anti-inflammatory; antiyretic, reduces heat of sores; 

14. eliminates excessive water from tissue; 

15. reduces or eliminates scarring; 

16. regenerates hair follicles and heals seborrhea; 

17. aids digestion; 

18. settles nerves; 

19. calms the nervous system; 

20. virucidal when in contact for long periods; 

21. treats bleeding gums, root canal; 

22. periodontitis, promotes healthy gum tissue; 

23. treats many skin disorders in animals as well as feline leukemia; 

24. normalizes metabolism and regulates blood sugar; 

25. boosts the immune system; 

26. reduces food allergies; 

27. cleanses the lymphatic system and intestinal walls; 

28. enables better assimilation, absorption and elimination; 

29. boosts T-cell production; 

30. nutritional: provides minerals, vitamins, and enzymes.

It is important to remember that the anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial agents are found in the sap and the rind of the plant, not in the gel. The basic nutrients and other agents are widely dispersed throughout the Aloe plant meaning the sap, the gel, and the rind -- about 98% water is confined to the gel. This knowledge should help dispel widely held myths that the gel is totally responsible for the healing abilities of Aloe Vera. 

Research has shown that Aloe Vera works without toxic or allergic effects because its nutrient and water content act as buffers. Therefore, the theory of synergistic relationship (all chemical and physical Components of the plant work together to add up to a greater benefit than the sum total of each individual item) is one which is supportable by both history and science.

For info or to order the book, "Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements"

Aloe Vera

by Toby Balter  

Aloe Vera called Nature's Miracle has been associated with myth, magic, and medicine since pre-biblical times. All over the world today, Aloe Vera is a common household plant. It is one of the most talked about, yet most misunderstood plants in history.

Most botanists agree that the plant originated in the warm, dry, climate of Africa. According to African folk lore, many tribes required everybody in the village to bathe in an infusion of Aloe in case of an epidemic of colds. Legends state that the Pharaoh, and the royal family of Egypt, kept Aloe as a palace plant, assigning it a very high status.

The Aloe Vera plant produces at least 6 antiseptic agents: lupeol, salicylic acid, urea nitrogen, cinnamonic acid, phenol, and sulphur. All of these substances are recognized as antiseptics because they exhibit antimicrobial activity. Aloe has been used to eliminate many internal and external infections, wounds, and ulcers. Lupeol, salicylic acid, and magnesium are very effective analgesics. This explains why Aloe is effective in alleviating pain.

A 1950 Russian study cites the presence of cinnamonic acid and salicylic acid in Aloe, two substances known as antimicrobial and antiinflammatory. In 1978, other studies found many other anti-inflammatory agents in Aloe. 

In 1982, several studies compared Aloe to Prednisolone and Indomethacin (common antiinflammatory drugs) and were found to be as effective as the drugs without the long-term toxicity and side effects. This also explains why Aloe is effective treatment for arthritis, colitis, ulcers, burns, cuts, abrasions, and many inflammatory conditions of the digestive system. Aloe juice has also been effective in allergic reactions, acid indigestion, and in lowering blood pressure and cholesterol.

Other properties of Aloe Vera: 

• natural cleanser; 

• detoxifier; 

• blood alkalinizer; 

• penetrates to 7 layers of tissue; 

• anesthetizes tissue, relieving joint and muscle pain;

• dilates capillaries, increasing circulation; 

• breaks down and digests dead tissue; 

• enhances normal cell growth and hastens healing; 

• moisturizes tissue; 

• antipruritic, stops itching; 

• antibacterial and antibiotic; 

• antifungal, helps control Candida; 

• anti-inflammatory; antiyretic, reduces heat of sores; 

• eliminates excessive water from tissue; 

• reduces or eliminates scarring; 

• regenerates hair follicles and heals seborrhea; 

• aids digestion; 

• settles nerves; 

• calms the nervous system; 

• virucidal when in contact for long periods; 

• treats bleeding gums, root canal; 

• periodontitis, promotes healthy gum tissue; 

• treats many skin disorders in animals as well as feline leukemia; 

• normalizes metabolism and regulates blood sugar; 

• boosts the immune system; 

• reduces food allergies; 

• cleanses the lymphatic system and intestinal walls; 

• enables better assimilation, absorption and elimination; 

• boosts T-cell production; 

• nutritional: provides minerals, vitamins, and enzymes.

It is important to remember that the anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial agents are found in the sap and the rind of the plant, not in the gel. The basic nutrients and other agents are widely dispersed throughout the Aloe plant meaning the sap, the gel, and the rind -- about 98% water is confined to the gel. This knowledge should help dispel widely held myths that the gel is totally responsible for the healing abilities of Aloe Vera. 

Research has shown that Aloe Vera works without toxic or allergic effects because its nutrient and water content act as buffers. Therefore, the theory of synergistic relationship (all chemical and physical Components of the plant work together to add up to a greater benefit than the sum total of each individual item) is one which is supportable by both history and science.

For info or to order the book, "Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements"
by Michael T. Murray.

                                                About the Author

Information researched by Toby Balter, L.M.T., M.Ed. by Michael T. Murray.

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