Aloe vera ( Aloe barbadensis Miller ), also known as aloe vera , is a perennial plant of the Liliaceae family, with long, fleshy leaves, from which a resinous and very bitter juice is extracted that is used in medicine, and which They start from the lower part of the stem, which ends in a spike of red and sometimes white flowers.
It has been, for a few years, the fashionable medicinal plant in many specialized stores due to the multitude of uses and benefits it brings to the human body, reasons for which it has received countless positive comments by all kinds of health and beauty experts.
Properties of Aloe Vera
Between the ancient properties from aloe vera are found to be antiseptic, astringent, soothing, emollient, moisturizing… Aloe vera has been used topically or orally for medicinal purposes in different cultures throughout the centuries. For example, it is said that Alexander the Great used it to treat the wounds of his soldiers.
Aloe vera is rich in vitamins such as A, C, E, folic acid, choline, B1, B2, B3 (niacin), B6, and minerals including calcium, copper, chromium, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, selenium, sodium, and zinc. In addition, it alkalizes the body helping to balance our excessively acidic eating habits (alcohol, refined products, animal proteins, soft drinks, etc.).
It is also High in amino acids and fatty acids. It has three plant sterols, which are important fatty acids that reduce blood fats and are useful for reducing the symptoms of allergies and acid indigestion.
A plant with many benefits
There are many benefits of aloe vera and, therefore, its therapeutic applications both internal and external. For this reason, it is present in a multitude of medicinal and beauty products, such as oils, shampoos, creams, gels, soaps, etc. Thus, below we are going to present different uses of aloe vera in different parts of the body.
facial care
This plant can be used to improve our facial health, since it is a great natural cleanser due to its antiseptic and antifungal characteristics, which makes it great against acne. Also, its nutritional and vitamin properties help stains on the face.
eye health
By using this product in the eyes you can prevent dry eyes, protect the epithelium of the ocular surface, combat conjunctivitis, soothe styesact against keratitis, help relax eyesight, relieve itchy eyes and eye bags, among others.
Atopic skin
Aloe vera is also used to soothe atopic skin, a pathology currently suffered by thousands of people. Therefore, it is recommended to use aloe vera to treat atopic dermatitis, as well as psoriasis, a skin disorder that affects skin cells.
against burns
The anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of aloe vera make it a great tool to reduce pain and discomfort, as well as relieve itching, regenerate skin cells and prevent the appearance of fungi and viruses in the most vulnerable areas.
healing properties
Aloe vera has healing properties that make it very useful. Not surprisingly, its regenerative activity is focused on the epidermis by stimulating the production of collagen, a protein found naturally in the skin. When applied to scars, the generation of very flexible collagen fibers increases and gives elasticity to the area, recovering normal tissue.
To treat tattoos
The final result of a tattoo directly depends on the care it receives during its healing. Due to its healing properties, using an aloe vera gel is ideal for tattoos, since it should not be forgotten that it is an aggressive process at the dermatological level where the skin is exposed to micrografts with ink.
ingested aloe vera
Since ancient times, aloe vera has aroused the curiosity and study of many people, even as a food. Eating aloe vera helps to cure gastritis due to the enzymes and vegetable proteins that help to recover and strengthen the intestinal flora. In this way, having a rich smoothie, yogurt or aloe vera juice is also an ideal option to lose weight.
For the hair
Essential for many treatments for our body, aloe vera is also a very positive resource if we want to enjoy good health in our scalp. Thus, aloe vera eliminates excess oil at the origin of the hair, which will help to prevent dandruff. stop being a problem and keep your natural oils balanced.
In short, this is one of those “magical” ingredients and, without a doubt, an excellent ally for the body. Aloe vera has become, on its own merits, a widely used ingredient in cosmetics since ancient times. And, furthermore, we are not dealing with a distant and exotic ingredient. In fact, perhaps you did not know that Spain is the leading producer in Europe in its cultivation, a super ingredient that has, above all, an important anti-inflammatory, anti-irritative and antioxidant action on the skin.