Aloe Vera; Healing inside and out

Aloe vera can heal the inside and outside of our bodies; for health, beauty and balance. This clear liquid and gel comes from an enhancing plant for any garden or home!

There are many common names; Chinese Aloe, Indian Aloe, True Aloe, Barbados Aloe, Burn Aloe, First Aid Plant. Carl Linnaeus first described A. perfoliata in 1753 and it is listed in the Flora Inca and Gardner’s Dictionary in 1768. Most of us are familiar with the healing variety of aloe and it is used prolifically in Thailand in numerous products. The yellow flowering aloe plants have the most medicinal value.

Aloe Vera has thick and fleshy grey green leaves, usually, the medicinal species have white flecks and a serrated edge. The easily recognisable aloe has large spikes with yellow or orange flowers although there are many different species of aloe; Aloe barbadensis Mill, Aloe Barbadensis var. chinensis, and Aloe vulgaris Lam are synonyms.

Aloe-Vera-yellow-color

Aloe vera is cultivated around the world. It has become naturalised in the Mediterranean, North Africa, the Indian subcontinent, South America and the Caribbean. In my many travels, I have come across this plant almost everywhere, it is even a good houseplant!

“I put the aloe gel from the sliced open
leaf directly on my skin.”

I first came across aloe in its real form in Hawaii when I used to slice the leaf in half and then slice off the serrated edges and rub the open leaf with the emollient gel right onto my sunburned face. This is the purest form one can find of this plant, right in nature. It is often grown as an ornamental plant and the large stalks with tubular flowers are beautiful additions to your garden. Being able to have such a versatile and handy plant for a lot of healthcare and beauty desires is wonderful.

I first came across aloe in its real form in Hawaii when I used to slice the leaf in half and then slice off the serrated edges and rub the open leaf with the emollient gel right onto my sunburned face. This is the purest form one can find of this plant, right in nature. It is often grown as an ornamental plant and the large stalks with tubular flowers are beautiful additions to your garden. Being able to have such a versatile and handy plant for a lot of healthcare and beauty desires is wonderful.

“Aloe is an anti-irritant, emollient, can help with acne and scarring, chronic skin rashes, speed the healing of wounds, neutralise dry scalp and lighten stretch marks.”

Aloe-Vera-plant-tree

Two hormones found in aloe, Auxin and Gibberellins, supply anti inflammatory and open wound healingproperties. It is the hormone Giberellin that stimulates new cells and enables the skin to heal with minimal scarring. Beta carotene, vitamin E and C are also present which helps with the elasticity and keeps the skin hydrated and firm. For some inner healing aloe vera can be ingested. The aloe juice is loaded with healing qualities and can help with arthritis, rheumatism, relieve stomach ulcers and improve digestion. It can also have a laxative effect. “It is full of bioactive compounds, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti fungal, antiseptic and full of amino acids, enzymes vitamins and minerals.” In Allopathic, Homeopathic, Ayurvedic, Chinese and Naturopathic Medicine, the aloe plant is used. In China they believe it reduces the heat in the liver and red eyes caused by our bodies when we are in a state of imbalance.

“Aloe is full of bioactive compounds, antimicrobial, anti-oxidant, anti-fungal, antiseptic and full of amino acids, enzymes vitamins and minerals.”

The juice of the aloe can help with mouth ulcers and gingivitis. Liver fibrosis, diabetes and kidney stones. One of the interesting facts about taking aloe vera gel and juice internally is that it allows the body to absorb vitamin C and B12 much easier from other sources when consumed at the same time so adding aloe juice to a smoothie when taking your daily vitamins is best. The aloe increases the blood’s capacity to absorb nutrients. There have been studies done on cancer with aloe juice and it is found that regression of tumours is more significant when aloe is incorporated into a person’s lifestyle. In short, there seems to be little that applying to ingesting aloe can’t do. Miracle plant? Maybe, but try some of the ideas above for yourself and see if you notice a difference to your inner and outer beauty.

Margaret E JohnsonMargaret has lived on and off the island of Phuket studying a variety of healing plants and portraying them with her watercolours in unique compositions that may capture the attention of people that may not of been knowledgeable about holistic health before. Educating the public about how they can improve their life with natural healing is a way of life for Margaret. She runs a variety of websites with an art blog and a holistic health blog, upcoming events and future travel plans. Join her online and see what she is up to next! www.mejcreations.com

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Read the latest articles of April/May EXPAT LIFE IN THAILAND magazine’s issue at https://expatlifeinthailand.com/emagazine-april-may-2016/

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About the author: Margaret Johnston has been travelling around SE Asia on and off for 3 years with the hopes of coming upon a place that she can call home in the future. Lugging around her watercolour paper and enjoying new ways of life, indulging in photography and educating local folk back in the USA about this magical world is her new hobby. You can follow her journey through her many outlets on her website: www.mejcreations.com . One can admire her other paintings, read the educational health blog or follow her travels on her website at www.mejcreations.com
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