When people hear about aloe, they often will think
immediately of the bottle of green gel that gets
brought out every time someone has a sunburn.
While aloe is indeed a fantastic topical aid, treating
red and peeling skin isn’t the only purpose this
incredible plant serves.
Having been used
medicinally for thousands
of years, aloe can be
traced back to ancient
Egypt where pictures of
the plant appear on
pyramids and alongside
the Pharaohs buried
within. Due to it’s ability to
remedy so many maladies,
aloe was once referred to
as “the plant of
immortality”. To this day
the plant is often grown,
purchased, and used to
treat a wide variety of
issues.
Let’s take a look at seven scientifically based benefits
that this gift from nature can provide.
1. Aloe Vera Provides Antioxidant and
Antibacterial Properties
Aloe contains a family of substances known as
polyphenols which are converted into powerful
antioxidants for the body. For this reason, more and
more people are adding aloe vera juice to their
occasional diet. Thought to help rid the digestive tract
of toxins and impurities, the juice, which looks and
tastes just like water, can be purchased at most health
food stores. Drinking just a cup of the juice can
provide a powerful punch of antioxidants to the
human body which can help fight off harmful bacteria.
2. Aloe Vera Juice
Reduces Plaque
Don’t enjoy
swishing with the
powerful and
chemically laden
mouthwashes on
the market? Opt for
a mouthful of aloe
vera juice instead.
It may taste like
water, but
according to dental
studies, aloe vera
juice has reaped the
same benefits of
some of the
strongest brands of
mouthwash on the market.
The antibacterial properties of aloe kill off
Steptococcus mutans and Candida albicans that are
found in the mouth and can lead to plaque and tartar
if not treated. The alkalizing properties of the plant are
beneficial to prevent hair loss. Aloe vera can help to
bring the scalp and hair’s pH to a more desirable
level and free the skin from extensive sebum, which
can suffocate hair follicles, causing thinning and
brittleness of hair.
3. Aloe Vera Can Relieve Canker Sores
The next time you have a painful canker sore in your
mouth, instead of reaching for a tube of dental
medicine that often doesn’t bring lasting relief, try an
aloe patch instead. In a study performed on 180
people with recurrent mouth ulcers, the aloe patch
was proven to effectively reduce the size and
symptoms of the sores. If you don’t have a patch on
hand, rubbing the plant’s gel directly on the sore will
yield the same results.
4. Aloe Vera Provides Quick Relief to Burns
The FDA approved aloe vera as a powerful burn
ointment back in 1959 and while many people use it
for sunburns, they often forget about aloe when they
obtain burns of another nature. Compared to
conventional medicine, studies have shown time and
time again that aloe reduces the healing time of burns
by up to 9 days. Bypass the pharmaceuticals and
reach for the aloe gel for fast relief when treating
burns.
5. Aloe Vera Improves the Efficiency of The
Cardiovascular System
This powerful plant has the ability to reduce blood
pressure by oxygenating the blood and helps reduce
cholesterol due to its rich choline content. Aloe has
properties that allow for more efficient dilation of the
blood vessels. Whether taken in liquid or capsule
form, or even applied topically, using aloe on a regular
basis gives an extra boost to your hard working
cardiovascular system.
6. Aloe Vera Can Be Used as a Regular Part of
Your Skin Routine
Whether treating acne or attempting to reduce fine
lines and wrinkles, aloe can help restore your skin’s
vitality and improve the look and luster of your body’s
largest organ. Used often for it’s soothing properties,
aloe can be applied on sensitive or inflamed patches of
skin, and can be applied after shaving to treat bumps
or ingrown hairs. Due to it’s high water content, aloe
can also be used to rehydrate skin, which will result in
a glowing and radiant complexion. Even if you do not
apply it directly, you can purchase lotion with aloe
added to it.
7. Aloe Vera Helps Increase Vitamin Absorption
In a study conducted by the University of California’s
Davis Medical Center, aloe vera was proven to help the
body absorb vitamin C and B12. In this day and age,
with food genetically modified and altered, often times
our bodies cannot fully absorb the nutrients we
ingest. This can lead to malnutrition, which in turn
leads to a host of bodily ailments and diseases. Using
Aloe to increase absorption of important vitamins
such as vitamin C and B12 can help the body function
more efficiently and prevent malabsorption.
Sometimes nature’s miracles aren’t in test tubes or
fancy bottles lining the pharmacy, but growing in our
yards or in pots on a window sill. Aloe vera is such a
versatile and powerful plant that it has withstood
vigorous testing by the FDA and proven time and time
again that it is in a league of its own when it comes to
medicine. Whether you choose to grow your own
plant or simply purchase it in the bottled form, aloe
vera should be a part of your garden, grocery list, and
regular routine.
No comments:
Post a Comment