Amazing Aloe

Cruise the beauty aisles of any natural products store, and you'll wind up thinking that aloe vera is the most widely used ingredient in skin care products today. It's certainly got the credentials for a star role: The plump, spiky leaf of the cactus-like plant contains more than 75 nutrients and 200 active compounds, including 20 minerals, 18 amino acids and 12 vitamins.

The parts of the plant that are utilized are the leaves, which are one to two feet long and whitish green on both sides with spiny teeth on the margins. Aloe vera contains allantoin which is what gives it its healing properties. It also contains naturally occurring antioxidants in the form of vitamins B complex, C and E, plus beta-carotene which is converted by the body into vitamin A, all needed desperately by the skin.

The aloe vera plant, well known for its healing properties throughout the world, is a perennial plant that is commonly found in East and South Africa as well as other tropical areas, but there are over 200 species throughout the world in dry areas. Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Indians, and the Chinese all used the aloe plant for health and beauty applications thousands of years ago.

Some people may choose to grow a small potted aloe vera plant in their home. Aloe is a low-maintenance plant. It is very easy to grow, since it requires little water and almost no care. If you do not have access to your own aloe vera plant, and do not have interest in cultivating your own, aloe vera juice can be effective in your treatments applied directly to the skin, mixed with other natural ingredients, or taken internally. When using the actual leaf of the plant and squeezing out the natural gel, keep in mind that aloe vera sap and plant oxidizes in 4 hours after it has been cut open. Try putting the leftover leaf in a plastic bag and use it within a few hours of cutting it. For a stabilized option, look for commercial preparations that contain 98-99% pure aloe. A few tablespoons of this stabilized aloe vera gel can be added to any of your moisturizing cosmetics to increase their effectiveness.

Many of the top brands in the health and beauty industry continually tout the advantages of aloe skin care. Many beauty and skin care products include aloe in their ingredients because it has three very beneficial properties:
* Anti-inflammatory
* Anti-bacterial
* Anesthetic

Aloe Vera acts as a natural barrier and shields your skin from dangerous toxins. But that's not all, it also:
* Helps cuts, bruises and burns heal faster
* Minimizes scarring and cuts
* Relieves heat on the skin caused by sunburn
* Destroys bacteria that try to invade cuts or open wounds
* Forms a protective barrier around achy and sore joints and muscles
* Relieves inflammation and redness
* Soothes itching and helps restore skin's natural beauty
* Nourishes the skin and tissues with body-loving nutrients such as vitamin E and C
* Relieves pain

Pure Aloe Vera extract is actually a combination of many different vitamins and minerals. Working together, these vital nutrients help give aloe vera its healing properties. There are many cosmetic companies that mix aloe Vera fluid to many items such as makeup, sunscreens, soaps, shampoos and moisturizers. Many persons who have sensitive and dry skin mainly utilize aloe vera gel. One can also treat fungal infections such as ringworm by using aloe Vera products.

Extensive research since the 1930s has demonstrated aloe's ability to speed up healing. A study has shown that when gel made up of aloe Vera is applied on the severe and moderate burns then it takes just six days to recover from the wound.

Aloe also comes in another form: juice. As a rule, the gel is used externally; the juice is taken internally. Aloe juice has laxative properties and acts as an anti-inflammatory; it can be used as a remedy for intestinal problems such as indigestion and irritable bowel syndrome. There may be bigger roles for aloe vera down the road too. Researchers are currently exploring the potential of aloe extracts to boost the immune system, combat HIV and treat certain types of cancer, particularly leukemia.

But for now, when buying aloe vera products for healing purposes, keep in mind that those containing "aloe vera extract" or "reconstituted aloe vera" may be much less potent than pure aloe (98 percent or more aloe vera). Aloe should be the first ingredient listed on the label.