The famous plant has been praised by many as a miracle worker and I am sure you have also heard a lot about it, but do you really know if there are proven benefits to Aloe Vera?
There is countless reliable research done on the plant published by doctors and researchers that should be taken into consideration.
In this post, I will be sharing my top uses of the plant either as a cream, juice or extract, my experience using them and the scientific research behind the benefits.
In the past
Aloe vera has been used as an alternative medicine to treat different medical problems from A-Z. These might include the common cold, rashes, wounds, itching and many more. Many uses have been suggested in contemporary medicine as well.
According to the SAGE Encyclopedia of Pharmacology and society, the Mesopotamians had the earliest documented knowledge of the Aloe vera plant back in 2100 b.c.e.
The Egyptians had also mentioned Aloe vera in the Papyrus Ebers which is dated at approximately 1550 b.c.e. They believed it to be “the plant of eternity” which could be used as an anti-inflammatory and pain easying medicine.
Back then the Aloe Vera plant had the nickname the ” divine plant”. In the past, people believed that illnesses were truck by some demonic spirits and only a “divine plant” could cure a person of these demonic spirits.
The Aloe Vera’s popularity was even documented by the Ancient Greeks. One of the greatest philosophers during the classical period Aristotle was convinced that Aloe Vera had healing effects. He even persuaded Alexander the Great to conquer the island of Socotra where the Aloe Vera growth there would be his for the taking and Alexander’s wounded soldiers would have ample supply for medication.
Today
The use of aloe vera has been growing rapidly. People in every corner of the world use the Aloe Vera in standard, alternative, and even contemporary medical treatments.
In fact, here is a chart by the Statista.com showing the sales value of Aloe Vera in 2016 and a prediction for 2021 sales worldwide.
I think we can agree on how popular the plant is.
I personally have experimented with Aloe vera on various symptoms and have seen a positive effect while treating them.
My top uses of Aloe Vera
Disclosure:. Daramiblog offers information that is designed for educational purposes only. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for, nor does it replace professional medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment. Here you can read my full disclosure.
Aloe Vera gel benefits for the skin
You can use this effective gel for any irritation on the face and body. I use it on my sensitive skin everywhere especially it the winter period.
If you read my blog regularly you should know by now how sensitive my skin is. My hands are the ones suffering the most, they get extremely dry with blisters and the most fun part is having no fingerprints. In case you are having the same issues check out my post What you need to know if struggling with sensitive skin.
My skin gets irritated all over my body from literary anything, tight clothes, bra lines, shaving, you name it. If I don’t apply Aloe Vera I get so itchy it drives me crazy. There are days where I wake up in the middle of the night from being itchy😣
One day I started using Aloe Vera gel on my skin anywhere I had redness. I noticed that it calmed the inflammation on the skin fast so I applied again on the spots that needed it and after a few times the redness was gone.
I use Aloe Vera gel on newly formed pimples, dry skin, bruises, scratches to name just a few.
Aloe Vera gel benefits for acne
If you are struggling with acne Aloe Vera can definitely help with that as well. The Aloe Vera plant appears to function as:
- anti-inflammatory
- antioxidant
- antibacterial
There is evidence that Aloe Vera combined with tretinoin also known as retinoic acid can do wonders for your acne-prone skin. Here you can see the whole study.
The thing is that tretinoin has some side effects such as excessive dryness so use it with caution. I follow the instructions and use it only on severe acne.
P.S. Tretinoin is on the WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION List for Essential Medicine. You can check it out here.
What I really like is products with natural ingredients, NON-GMO, cruelty-free and not tested on animals. These are the first thing I look for before checking a brand and a product in more depth.
If you are looking for Aloe Vera products that fall in this category, here is more information on one. They also have Offers and Bundles that are great value for money.
Study on the Aloe Vera gel benefits
There was a study conducted on more extreme cases of skin irritation and bruises, such as pressure ulcers in hospitalized patients. As we all know pressure ulcers are way more painful and serious than simple skin irritation.
It was a randomized clinical trial on 80 people in an orthopedic ward of a hospital. They concluded that since Aloe vera stops the rise in temperature, redness, and swelling, applying it to prevent pressure ulcers is recommended.
What this means is that Aloe vera could stop the occurrence of pressure ulcers. Here you can check the full study.
Aloe Vera hair gel alternative
My partner uses Aloe vera gel on his hair as a hair gel alternative. It does the job perfectly. By doing so he avoids putting any additives and parabens on his hair and scalp daily.
He decided to opt for a natural product after I accidentally mentioned to him that his hairline started receding. Sometimes I can’t keep my mouth shut and end up saying whatever comes to my mind🤣.
True fact: his hairline hasn’t shown any reduction ever since unfortunately there is no new hair coming out 😂.
Aloe Vera juice
Daily we consume plenty of unhealthy products that contain acid which sometimes our belly cannot digest easily. Even though I personally try to cook daily using natural ingredients and avoid packaged foods, there are times where I feel bloated, belly discomfort or even in extreme cases feel some acid coming up my throat.
My partner is even more sensitive and gets acid reflux way more frequently than me. So, naturally, I wanted to prevent this from happening ( one of the reasons I cook at home a lot ) and started researching natural remedies.
With all my efforts I cannot seem to totally stop acid reflux from appearing. However, I discovered Aloe Vera juice to have a soothing effect on the belly when there is more acidity.
When I first met my partner his acid reflux was very bad and I made him take Aloe Vera juice daily for about 2 weeks following the dosage on the bottle (30ml twice a day). He went from having belly discomfort daily from any kind of food to getting it from some trigger foods, from time to time.
Now, we both take Aloe vera juice the days we feel any belly discomfort, heartburn, and etc.
Study on the Aloe Vera Juice benefits
I came across research published by the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health Search database. It is named: the efficacy and safety of Aloe Vera syrup ( juice )for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease: a pilot randomized positive-controlled trial.
The research results were that the Aloe vera was safe to consume. It also and decreased the frequency of the symptoms of reflux. Thus, why we gave it a shot and it did deliver.
If you are also suffering from acid reflux, heartburn or GERD ( gastroesophageal reflux disease ) and are looking for a natural remedy then Aloe Vera juice is the way to go.
We always look for 100% or 99% of Aloe Vera on the label. Many might not have a high consistency of the juice therefore, it will not be as effective.
Check out my post on How to choose the best Aloe Vera juice on the market.
Before taking Aloe vera
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if it is safe to use it. Mention other medical conditions or pregnancy.
If you are allergic to Aloe Vera DO NOT take it.
Takeaway
The Aloe Vera plant has effective and proven health benefits for our bodies.
- It is a safe alternative that can effectively treat skin irritation, dryness, sensitive skin, acne and many more.
- The Aloe Vera juice can decrease GERD symptoms and eventually stop the acid from reaching the esophagus if taken regularly.
- Pressure ulcers could be prevented on patients if applied as a preventive measure during long periods of immobility.
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