The aloe plant grows naturally in the Southwest United States and is used medicinally for skin irritations.
Aloe Vera profile
Aloe Vera is a succulent plant that grows in temperate to tropical regions around the globe. It’s fleshy, grayish-green offshoots grow up to two to three feet in height and are serrated on their edges with small “teeth.” Aloe Vera plants flower in the summer time with a central spike that grows from the center of the plant up to three feet tall and producing a pendulous, yellow tubular.
Medical uses of Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is thought to be one of the most useful medicinal plants because it produces a sap that is soothing to the skin. Aloe Vera is therefore a favorite substance to make lotions to heal sunburns, rashes and other epidermal ailments. Its sap is also used in the manufacture of beauty products such as makeup, soap, moisturizers, shaving cream and shampoo. Aloe Vera has also been shown to speed the recovery of wounds.
Aloe Vera extracts have also been used to treat more serious skin problems such as genital herpes, psoriasis, boils and cysts. It is also used on the skin as an antibacterial and antifungal medication.
Aloe can be made into gel, lotion and even a powder.
In addition to topical skin treatments, Aloe Vera has shown some other promising medical applications. Ingesting extracts of Aloe Vera have shown results in improving blood glucose levels in diabetics and for treating the symptoms of ulcers.
Aloe Vera availability
Aloe Vera is sold as a decorative plant in most nurseries where gardens need to conserve water – primarily in the southwestern U.S. As for its many lotions, juices and extracts, they are sold in almost any pharmacy and all over the Internet. Natural food stores and co-ops will also usually carry beauty products made from Aloe Vera because they tend to be non-toxic.