Medicinal Use of Aloe Vera

One plant that all people must have in their home is the aloe vera plant. It is a pool of benefits. Aloe vera is a plant that gives, gives, gives and then gives again! From ages, the medicinal properties of aloe vera are well-known and appreciated. Aloe vera helps to cure many acute diseases and serious health issues. It is called "the plant of immortality" in Egypt. Aloe vera is 95% water and has more than 70 medicinal ingredients like proteins, amino acids, vitamins, vitamin B12, mineral, enzymes and polysaccharides. There are 500 medicinal uses of this plant. It is extremely important from medical point of view.

Around 250 species of aloe vera are found in the world. Some are more nutritious and medically helpful than others. The species, aloe vera barbadensis, is most beneficial. The aloe vera gel has a wound healing hormone. The gel is a mixture of antibiotic, cell growth stimulator, coagulating agent, astringent, pain inhibitor and scar inhibitor, thus making aloe vera a medicinal plant.

Aloe vera can be used at home for various purposes. It helps to cure regular problems like cough, cold, indigestion, cuts, burns etc. internal use of aloe vera can cure arthritis, insomnia, ulcers, infection, constipation, heartburn etc. External use helps in curing sprains, burns, bruises, abrasion, eczema, scrapes, acne, stings etc. Here are a few ways in which you can use aloe vera at home for first-aid treatment.

Treating a Wound or Burns: Clean the wound thoroughly and apply aloe vera pulp to the wound or burned area. Wrap with a bandage and keep the bandage soaked in aloe vera juice. The wound will heal quickly with almost no scars. There would be no infection either. It is very handy and effective in case of kitchen burns.

Remedy for Digestive Problems: Take 2 spoons of aloe juice thrice a day. This will work like a mild regulator of the bowels, similar to what general tonics do. For bowel regulation, you must use the sap extraction. Sap extraction is the yellow bitter liquid between the leaf skin and pulp. You need to store the peelings of aloe vera in a jar and refrigerate to make the tonic. A few sips once a week is enough to regulate your bowels.

Scalp and Hair Treatment: Hair can be made lustrous, rich and manageable with the help of aloe juice. Scalp abrasions and diseases can be healed as well. Put aloe juice at night on wet hair and allow it to dry. Wash thoroughly in the morning.

Treating Poison Ivy, Allergies and Stings: In case of a cut by poison ivy or oak, or in case of allergies, or in case of bites by ants, wasps, bees, mosquitoes, scorpions, yellow jackets, centipedes and other insects, use aloe vera as a pain inhibitor. Apply aloe vera juice directly on irritated area. It reduces itchiness and heals rashes and sores.

Arthritis Treatment: Dice the aloe leaves and put in a jar of water and refrigerate. Drink 4 tablespoons every day. Within weeks you can see the result. For joint and muscle pains, rub aloe vera on the skin. You can feel the relief in minutes.

These are just a few medicinal treatments using aloe vera. There are numerous other problems that can be treated with the help of aloe vera. Though not a medicine or drug, aloe vera has solved the problems of many people.