What is Aloe Vera ?
A succulent plant known as aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis miller) is utilised in alternative medicine. Aloe vera is a plant that comes in 420 different species and has long been used in world medicine to cure a range of diseases. The plant’s beauty, health, skin care, and medical characteristics have made it extremely popular for ages.
What’s Inside Aloe Vera?
Aloe vera has a lot of vitamins, minerals, and other active components in it, thus it has a lot of health advantages. Three layers make up each aloe vera leaf. The inner gel is made up of amino acids, glucomannans, sterols, lipids, and vitamins, while the outside gel is made up of 99 percent water. Silicone, a yellow juice with glycosides and anthraquinones, is used to make the middle layer. The outer layer, known as the rind, is made up of 15 to 20 cells. It protects the leaf’s inside while also synthesising proteins and carbs.
Aloe Vera Skin Benefits :
Acne, burning mouth, insect bites, skin damage, diaper rash, wound healing, and itchy skin are just a few of the skin ailments for which aloe vera is used.
Aloe vera has long been used to treat insect bites due to its properties. The skin-healing benefits of aloe vera are well-known. It’s fantastic for applying directly to insect or mosquito bites, skin irritation, rashes, and even burns. It’s known as a vulnerary, a wound-healing treatment.
Apart from that, it’s a well-known antipruritic, which is a compound that helps to relieve or prevent itching. It’s also an emollient, meaning it softens and soothes the skin. As a result, aloe vera is effective at soothing insect bites.
Aloe vera’s powerful components make it an effective antibacterial against mosquito bites. Aloe vera has vitamins and minerals that can aid with inflammation, discomfort, and itching. Aloe vera, for example, has vitamin E, which can help to soothe the skin and reduce redness. Furthermore, it aids in the faster healing of the bite.
Aloe vera is a versatile plant that can be used in a variety of ways. It has a long history as a natural cure, dating back centuries, and it is still frequently used today due to its healing properties.
Aloe Vera Health Benefits
There’s not enough evidence to prove aloe vera can treat all the health issues it is said to help with. The claims are many and varied, including:
Digestive
According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, aloe latex contains aloin, an anthraquinone that provides aloe vera its laxative qualities and may help relieve constipation (NIEHS).
Constipation is a common complaint in primary care patients, and it can also be a sign of persistent digestive problems like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
According to a review of three randomised controlled studies published in the Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility in October 2018, aloe vera may be beneficial for people suffering from constipation, especially those with IBS. This is because aloe vera has a laxative effect and might increase the amount of water in the intestinal lumen.
Treating Skin Conditions, Such as Psoriasis and Acne:
Aloe creams have a relaxing impact on the skin and have been proved to aid in the reduction of itching and irritation.
Researchers discovered that aloe vera can decrease the formation of prostaglandin E2 in a previous analysis of the plant. According to previous studies, these lipids are active in the sebaceous glands and may contribute to inflammatory skin disorders.
Sunburn Relief
Aloe vera gel is said to soothe sunburns. You may have felt the gel’s cooling impact, and aloe vera is generally safe to use for treating light sunburns, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. However, there isn’t enough evidence to back up the idea that it can speed up skin recovery.
When compared to a placebo, aloe vera given topically after laboratory-induced sunburn had no effect on reducing redness, according to one small study.
Wound Healing
Aloe vera may provide some relief after a first- or second-degree burn, even if it isn’t efficient in treating sunburns. Researchers found that patients who applied aloe vera to their sunburns healed nine days faster than the control group in an analysis of four randomised clinical trials including 371 sunburn patients.
Heartburn Relief
Researchers found that a standardised aloe vera extract in a syrup helped lessen several symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), including heartburn, belching, and vomiting, over a four-week period in a pilot trial published in December 2015 in the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
This could be owing to the fact that GERD is linked to inflammation. According to previous study, aloe vera possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-ulcer characteristics that have been tested in animals and individuals with IBD (irritable bowel disease).
Lower Blood Sugar
A previous clinical trial indicated that consuming two tablespoons of aloe vera juice every day for two weeks helped persons with type 2 diabetes lower their blood sugar levels. The study participants’ triglyceride levels also improved, which may offer further benefits for diabetics: They have a higher risk of heart disease, which is linked to elevated triglyceride and cholesterol levels.
Beauty Benefits of Aloe Vera
In the realm of beauty and cosmetics, aloe vera is also a “it” ingredient. It can be found in a variety of products, including moisturisers, toners, shampoos, and deep conditioners. There’s even an entire line of Aloe Vesta items dedicated to protecting delicate skin.
What’s the big deal about this? The herb is well-known for its ability to keep skin hydrated and clear. It contains seven of the eight essential amino acids and is high in antioxidants like as vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E. It’s also thought to have anti-inflammatory qualities, however some detractors argue that further research is needed to be sure.
When paired with a tretinoin cream, aloe vera topical gel helped treat acne lesions in a small randomised trial of 60 participants. Another uncontrolled investigation discovered that aloe had anti-aging properties: The researchers supplied aloe vera gel to 30 women twice a day for three months. The women noticed considerable changes in their wrinkles and skin elasticity. It was suggested that it could be due to an increase in collagen production.
Aloe vera-based hair products are also available. Some beauty professionals utilise the gel found inside the leaves as a thorough conditioner on their hair. However, because it might leave a residue, be sure to fully rinse it off, and if you have skin concerns, consult a dermatologist before using raw plant products on your skin.
Summary
Aloe vera now has a thriving industry behind it. Its juices are utilized in moisturizers, soaps, shaving creams, and suntan lotions, among other cosmetics and personal care products. Essential oils included in aloe vera have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Salicylic acid and tannic acid are two other anti-inflammatory substances.
Aloe vera is now available as a supplement, which is said to provide the same skin and digestive benefits as other forms of the plant.