Page 3 - Good Health English

Aloe Vera – An Introduction

or over 3,500 years, tales of “healing Aloe stands 30-36 inches high, and a mature leaf
Vera” plants have been handed down is 2.5-3 inches wide at the base, weighing
Fthrough centuries by word of mouth. It 1.5 to 2 kg.
is probably one of the most discussed, but The Aloe leaf structure is made up of four
least understood medicinal plants in history. layers:
From the Bible’s mention of removing Christ
from the cross and wrapping his body in 1) Rind - the outer protective layer.
Aloes and myrrh, (John 19:39), we find 2) Sap - a layer of bitter fluid which helps
Aloe Vera mysteriously appearing in every protect the plant from animals.
phase of history, with many testimonials 3) Mucilage Gel - the inner part of the leaf
to its great medicinal values. The earliest that is filleted out to make Aloe Vera gel.
documented use of Aloe Vera comes from
the ancient Egyptians, but it was also grown 4) Aloe Vera (inner gel) contains the 8
and used by King Solomon, who was said to essential Amino Acids that the human
have valued it highly. body needs but cannot manufacture.
Alexander the Great conquered the island We believe you will come to realize (as we
of Socotra in order to have the Aloe for have) that Aloe Vera is great for your body -
his army. During his fabled travels in the both internally and externally. Aloe Vera has
Orient, among the many marvels recorded some fantastic natural healing benefits
by Marco Polo were his descriptions of the which is why it has earned the title “miracle
many applications of the Aloe Vera plant. The plant”.
Spanish Conquistadors discovered various
herbal medicines in use in Tenochtitlan (now
called Mexico City). At the heart of many
of the Aztec cures, it is known that Aloe
Vera was the effective agent. These Aztec
herbal medicines were transported back to
Europe by the Spanish, during the sixteenth
century, where they became the foundation
for modern Western medicine.
Aloe Vera is a species of Aloe, native to
Northern Africa. It is a stem less or very short-
stemmed succulent plant growing to 30-36
inches tall, spreading by offsets and root
sprouts. Aloe Vera has long been a popular
houseplant. Often called the ‘miracle plant’
or the ‘natural healer’, Aloe Vera is a plant
of many surprises. It flourishes in warm and
dry climates, and to many people it looks
like a cactus with fleshy thorny leaves. In
fact it is a member of the Lily family, staying
moist where other plants wither and die by
closing its pores to prevent moisture loss.
There are over 400 species of Aloe, but it
is the Aloe Barbadensis Miller (Aloe Vera or
“true Aloe”) plant which has been of most
use to mankind because of the medicinal
properties it displays. Fully grown, the plant

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