Banquet by Friends

Aloe Plant

The Aloe vera plant has been used for thousands of years to heal a variety of conditions, most notably burns, wounds, skin irritations and constipation. It is grown in most subtropical and tropical locations, including South Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and China. The aloe plant was introduced into china in the 1700s. Aloe was one of the most frequently prescribed medicines throughout most of the 18th and 19th centuries and it remains one of the most commonly used herbs in the United States today.

According to proponents, aloe vera is a wonder food. It stimulates your immune system and protects you from disease. It reduces the inflammation in all types of arthritis. It is a digestive aid, and good for both irritable bowel syndrome and constipation. It prevents heart disease, detoxifies your liver, prevents cancer and heals AIDS. It prevents aging inside and out-renewing your cells on the inside, and reducing wrinkles on the outside.

Interestingly, many of these claims may be at least partially true. Although doctors have expressed a lot of skepticism, scientifically controlled studies are shedding new light on the benefits of aloe vera.

A member of the lily family, Aloe vera is one of the most nutritious vegetables on the planet. Each leaf of fresh Aloe vera contains a mucilaginous gel, which is a potent source of long-chain sugars known as polysaccharides. These healing long-chain sugars have been identified with Aloe vera's historical use as an aid to immunity, the digestive system, and the liver. The gel of raw Aloe vera also contains vitamins A, C, E, and B12, the minerals calcium, magnesium, zinc, selenium, and chromium, as well as antioxidants, fiber, amino acids, enzymes, sterols, and lignins.