A prickly plant that requires minimal care to thrive, aloe vera has long been touted as a miracle topical cure for burns and cuts. Packed with nutrients and vitamins A, C and E, its documented use dates back to more than 2000 years ago, when the likes of Cleopatra and Egyptian royals used it as part of their beauty regimen.
Scientific research confirms what the ancient Egyptians believed; according to a study published in 2019, “Aloe vera has been used to prevent skin ulcers and to treat burn wounds, postoperative wounds, cracked nipples, genital herpes, psoriasis, and chronic wounds including pressure ulcers.”
In short, natural astringent in aloe effectively targets inflammation and facilitates the healing of surface wounds.
The study also found that it boosts the skin’s ability to retain moisture, which explains why it’s among the most effective treatments for sunburns and redness.
Gels and topicals derived from aloe are readily available on the market. However, it’s just as easy to keep an aloe plant and harvest its fresh flesh. Remove the rough green exterior and scrap off the sticky latex layer to reveal the gummy, translucent aloe gel. The gel can be applied directly to the skin as needed.
Practitioners of Indian ayurvedic treatments and traditional Chinese medicine take things one step further and have a long history of turning the gel into drinks and adding it to food to fight various diseases.
A study confirms Chinese and Indian traditional medical application of aloe to be effective against everything from constipation, worm infestations and even fungal disease. Aloe is one of the few plants that see a wild application across different practices of traditional medicine, western medicine, and herbal remedy.
The gel can be ingested to promote gut health, combat diabetes and even improve eyesight. It should be noted that the latex layer must be thoroughly removed because unprocessed aloe latex can be harmful to health and is a laxative.
Blend the aloe gel in water and add lemon juice, sugar or other flavourings to make aloe juice. Doctors believe drinking a cup of aloe juice daily is safe to reap its benefits.
Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, aloe juice makes for a great post-workout drink. Studies have found that it delivers a healthy boost of magnesium and vitamins C and D that helps with muscle and joint pain and
Also see: Is gelatin a cheap alternative to collagen supplements?
