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Aloe
Vera, Miracle Product or Fashionable Fad?
Aloe
Vera has become exceptionally popular recently. It is
found in lotions and creams, shampoos and skin
treatments, and is even available in bottles for
drinking as a dietary supplement. Aloe is popular now,
but is it just a passing fad, or is it really a miracle
product?
A desert plant native to northern Africa, aloe vera, has
been used medicinally since ancient times. There is no
doubt that it possesses medicinal properties useful in
treating a variety of ailments. Some of its uses are
backed by scientific evidence, others are not proven
scientifically but are supported by testimonials to its
effectiveness.
Topical Uses of Aloe Vera
An
attractive succulent, aloe vera is commonly kept as a
houseplant. Aloe plant owners have been known to take
clippings from the plant to treat burns and other
wounds. Application of the raw aloe gel directly on skin
is soothing, calms inflammation and promotes healing.
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Aloe
gel can also be found commercially. The gel is often
bottled and marketed as after sun lotion, to accelerate
the healing of sunburns. Gel from the aloe plant does
have anti-inflammatory properties that aid in healing of
and reduce itching associated with minor wounds and
burns.
Extract from the aloe vera plant is used commercially in
lotions, shampoos and homeopathic medications to treat
dry skin, dandruff, and other skin ailments from acne to
psoriasis.
Internal Uses of Aloe Vera
Large
bottles of aloe juice are available from health food
stores. This juice is intended for drinking and as a
dietary supplement. It is thought to treat intestinal
ailments from irritable bowel syndrome to ulcers and
crones disease, among other conditions. These treatments
have not been medically proven, but there is evidence
suggesting that aloe does support the immune system.
Aloe latex is scraped from the inner layer of skin of
the aloe leaf and processed into medicine for the
treatment of constipation. Its use as a laxative and has
been clinically shown to be effective, though treatments
other than aloe latex may be more effective. It is often
used as a gentle natural laxative to remedy constipation
in holistic medicine.
Is
Aloe Vera Worth all the Hype?
Recently, aloe vera has become widely commercialized.
Claims that it will treat conditions from acne to
constipation, to diabetes and ulcers abound. There is
scientific evidence supporting some of these claims, but
not all. Calling Aloe Vera a miracle product is extreme,
but that does not mean it is ineffective. Fads come and
go.
Aloe vera is popular now and it is sure to lose some of
its popularity in the future. This is not because it is
ineffective, but simply because fads die out. Aloe vera
is not a miracle product but it has its uses and will
always be beneficial to those who use it appropriately,
whether it is in style or not. Aloe is a medicinal plant
that has a solid footing in alternative medicine, and
also has earned a degree of respect in traditional
medicine.
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