Its use in ancient medicinal practices gives it an important place in the field of health. Aloe vera gel (Gel de Aloe Vera) has proven to be effective in relieving some body conditions and in cosmetic procedures.
Its healing properties range from the treatment of burns, insect bites and irritations, to bronchial or stomach conditions.
Botanical characteristics of aloe vera
This incredible legendary plant comes mainly from semi-desert or desert areas. It is formed by a group of leaves that are distributed around a stem that acts as a root, around which the leaves are distributed in the form of a crown.
Its name is associated with the Arabic word “alloeh” which translates to bright and bitter liquid. It is also known by the name of aloe, probably from the Arabic word kabyle, which means thorny leaves. It comes to America thanks to Columbus, because this plant was used in different treatments for crew members.
The Aloe Vera plant is included in the kingdom Plantae, of the species “Aloe barbadensis” and belongs to the family of garlic, onion and asparagus, foods that are also associated with some medicinal properties to treat bronchial conditions, hence also its characteristic smell.
The leaves are elongated pieces with some thorns on the edges and are characterized by their fleshyness. The interior is made up of a substance called aloe vera gel, where a large percentage of water accumulates. It has an intelligent system that closes its pores in contact with the sun’s rays, which allows it to conserve the liquid inside.
The water accumulates in the plant to act as a reserve at times when it is scarce, generally in the summer months, it is common for the leaves to become much thinner and some are even sacrificed in order to guarantee the survival of the plant.
Its origin is not very well defined, however it is believed that it appeared in South Africa, the Arabian Peninsula or in Sudan. Today aloe vera is so popular that it has spread to practically the whole world and its use has become frequent in home remedies and has also been introduced with great success in the cosmetics industry and naturopathic medicine.
Commercial products extracted from the aloe vera plant
As we already know, aloe is used in various sectors of the commercial industry and medicine. The products that are extracted from this plant and that are used in various productive sectors are:
- Dry exudate: They come from the aloin cells of the leaves, it is basically aloe, it is known as a natural drug to treat different conditions and it is also used as the bitter component of spirits.
- Mucilage liquid: It is present in the middle of the leaf, it is the gel used for dermatological treatments that help to print smoothness and softness on the skin, as well as in the dermatological industry. It is used in the food industry as a dietary supplement in beverages.
- Oils: It is extracted from the lipid fraction present in the leaves, it is used in cosmetology as a pigment transmitter and a sedative compound.
Uses of aloe vera gel
Due to the innumerable benefits attributed to this plant, many scientists have taken on the task of studying its components to establish what aloe vera gel is for.
Within the family of this plant there are about 300 species, according to studies four of them are those that contain a higher degree of medicinal properties, however Aloe Barbadensis Miller is one of the most used in the world of medicine.
According to these studies, an average of 160 components have been determined between vitamins, minerals, amino acids and proteins. One of the conclusions that scientists have come to is that each substance of the plant separately does not exert curative benefits, it is the combination of all of them that have the healing effect.
This is the main characteristic of aloe vera gel, that all its components achieve a perfect composition to relieve a series of ailments in the body.
The benefits of aloe vera gel are multiple, it can be used to detoxify the body due to its purifying capacity; it also acts on the digestive system as an anti-inflammatory, sedative and laxative agent; on the other hand it has healing and antiseptic properties.
In the cosmetic field, aloe vera is very effective in the treatment of acne, because it is capable of regenerating tissues from the inside out and its astringent properties eliminate any trace of oil responsible for pimple breakouts on the skin.
