Health Benefits Of Aloe

In recent years there has been a movement towards natural products and ingredients that provide health benefits in various forms. One of the most widely used is aloe, a natural gel that comes from a member of the cactus family and has been used for thousands of years by various cultures.

What is Aloe?

Aloe comes from a species of plant known as Aloe Vera which is found in several parts of the world. Aloe was once described by the ancient Egyptians as the “plant of immortality” and the people of India also recognized the benefits of this plant.

Aloe Vera is a cactus which belongs to the family of Liliaceae and grows in dry conditions as found in Egypt and parts of India. Aloe Vera contains a clear gel inside which is accessed by breaking or cutting into plant. This clear gel is the basis for many of the claims about aloe and its benefits, but what exactly does it do?

How Aloe Benefits Your Health

Over the years there have been a number of studies concerning aloe and its various effects our health and well-being.

Acne
The two hormones present in Aloe, Auxin and Gibberellins, promote the healing of wounds and greatly reduce skin inflammation. This makes aloe a natural treatment for acne as it allows the skin to heal faster and lessens the chances for eruptions and blistering. This means that aloe is also effective against eczema (skin inflammation) and psoriasis (scaly, itchy, and dry skin) as well.

Moisturizer
Aloe is a natural moisturizer that does not have the oily feeling of many other chemical-based products. This product is especially beneficial to men and women who are allergic to artificial moisturizers as there have been far fewer allergic reactions.

Sunburn Therapy
Arguably the most popular and greatest health benefit that aloe offers is the treatment of sunburned skin. The gel itself offers a soothing feeling and the antioxidants present help the skin to heal faster.

In addition to the numerous treatments it offers the skin, it also provides plenty of nutrients and when used regularly can help lessen the appearance of wrinkles and stretch marks. Also, the antioxidants present make it the perfect aftershave lotion as it soothes the skin and help heal the small nicks and wounds that may occur during shaving. When taken in small doses internally, aloe can remove bad breath temporarily and even help with acid indigestion.

Aloe can also be used to remove makeup from the skin, be used as a shaving cream, and even frozen like ice cubes so that its soothing effect on sunburns can be magnified. While aloe does many good things for the skin, its health benefits are limited to the temporary effect that only last for a few hours after application.

In fact, aloe is not recommended for internal consumption except only in very small amounts as it will have a laxative-type effect on the intestinal tract. However, as an external topical treatment, aloe does offer many benefits that soothe the skin and provide relief from sunburn and acne.

If you're looking to try aloe gel, look for a high quality gel like this. If you're looking to make aloe part of your diet you can also buy supplements like this (affiliate link).