Awesome
Aloe Vera!
Aloe vera is the famed first
aid gel great for burns, bites
and bleeds. This succulent
spiky spear also settles
digestion, diabetes and
infections. Caroline Robertson
discovers the healing benefits
of the aloe angel.
An aloe a day keeps disease away
according to ancient advocates.
Known as the ‘Plant of Immortality’
in Egypt and the ‘Universal Panacea’
in Greece; Cleopatra applied aloe for
beauty and Alexander the Great used it
to heal wounds. In India it’s prized for
regenerating the female reproductive
system earning it the Sanskrit name
Kumari or virgin girl. Christopher
Columbus exalted aloe, “Four vegetables
are indispensable for the wellbeing of
man; wheat, grape, olive and aloe. The
first nourishes, the second raises his
spirit, the third brings him harmony and
the fourth cures him.”
Today aloe is amongst the most
popular herbs for health and beauty with
an estimated annual market value of $13
billion globally. Quality is key with aloe
vera as it must be prepared properly to
remove excess laxative anthraquinones.
The safest form is 100 per cent organic
Aloe vera barbadensis from the inner
leaf, rich in over two hundred nutrients.
The whole leaf form can be more
irritating to the gut and skin. Consider an
initial allergy test by drinking 5ml liquid
or applying a small circle of gel on the
skin for 12 hours before proceeding.
Look on the label to check the
product is free from nasty additives
and that aloe is the main ingredient
for optimal potency. As aloe vera juice
has a bitter taste, if you can’t take it
straight blend it with antioxidant berries,
energising acai, antioxidant green tea or
immune boosting citrus fruits.
Hello aloe!
Aloe is juicy with 99 per cent
water and a wealth of vitamins,
minerals, amino acids, antioxidant
anthraquinones, enzymes, fatty acids,
polysaccharides, salicylic acid and
saponins. Take advantage of aloe’s
cleansing and empowering properties
through the following applications.
Skin shield
Taken internally, aloe vera juice
cleanses and cools the blood, liver, colon
and reproductive system. This makes
it effective for relieving hot conditions
such as rashes, acne, liver disorders,
menopausal fl ushes and painful periods.
With its reparative betacarotene,
vitamin C and E content externally aloe
vera is effective for wrinkles, herpes,
hemorrhoids, sunspots and fungal
24 Complete Health