THE LEGENDARY STATUS OF ALOE IS FOR REAL

Aloe plant (Aloe vera), a succulent member of the lily family, has been a remedy for a huge number of ailments for centuries in many parts of the world. It thrives under a wide variety of environmental conditions. It is naturally resistant to drought, but it could also thrive with moderate amount of water, as long as the soil does not get soggy. The medicinal part of the plant is the leaf. The leaf is covered with a smooth epidermis, which may be speckled with white spots, depending on the variety. Contrary to what pictures of Aloe may portray, it could grow taller than the average human height if left for long enough.

 

                                       

When Aloe is mentioned as a medicinal plant, the first thing that comes to mind is the use of the gel to treat burns, but this is only surface deep (pun-intended) when you consider the many other important medicinal uses. I will make bold at this point to say that many people may be missing out on a lot of benefits of this plant due to lack of awareness of its uses and potency. Also, it is possible to believe in its uses and still be afraid of possible toxicity or side-effects. However, using the appropriate part of the plant is absolutely safe. The main concern about Aloe intake is about its latex, which ironically is the part responsible for the laxative effect of the plant. When Aloe leaf is freshly cut, the latex drips copiously as a yellow liquid, but it later turns to a brick-red color when dried. Although it has been extensively employed as a laxative, it should be used only as needed and in moderation. It should be noted that it is a very effective laxative and taking in too much of the outer part could lead to temporary diarrhea.

That having been said, let us now examine the gel. In order to harvest most of the gel without the latex, it is best to cut the leaf into about 2-3 inches lengths, use a small knife to cut the two edges of each piece, then carefully slice off the flat top, and cut out the gel from the remaining covering. The gel can then be treated in a variety of ways to facilitate consumption. It could be blended with water to make Aloe Juice. If appropriately blended and sieved, it could be made into a particle-free drink, which could be stored in the refrigerator for many days even without any preservative added. 

                               

In discussing the benefits of the gel, I will put those uses to which I am personally familiar first. It is obviously very potent in reducing blood sugar. The mechanism by which it does this is not clear, but its effectiveness is not in doubt. Also, the gel is known to contain essential amino acids, that is, the building blocks of proteins. While our system is capable of making most of them, the essential amino acids are those which our bodies are not capable of synthesizing and so must be taken in from an external source. This is good news if you want to avoid eating protein sources like meat. In addition to these, Aloe contains vitamins of the B group, including B12, B1, B2 and B6. Other vitamins found in this wonderful plant include A, C and E. No wonder this plant helps to boost the immune system. When any supplement contains this much nutrients, it must consequently be an immune booster. It is no wonder then that it is also reputed to prevent cancer. If any plant boosts the immune system, it will also help the body to destroy bacteria which invade the body, and help the body system to kill emerging cancer cells.

I have suffered a lot from indigestion, probably as a side effect of the medications I take for both high blood pressure and diabetes. However, I am lucky to be the keeper of a College greenhouse. I have propagated many potted Aloe plants there, and so there is no shortage of fresh Aloe for me. I usually cut myself a little piece before lunch, peel off the outer part and eat the gel directly! Yes, it is bitter, but I can assure you that the bitterness is easily removed by drinking water to wash it down, and does not persist in the mouth or spoil the taste of your meal. While I personally believe that the use of Aloe gel in skin lotions and cream is relevant, I simply wonder if the concentration of the gel included is high enough for it to be effective. This, I must confess, is a matter of personal opinion.

 

 

Added to the general benefits of this plant is the fact that it is a nice ornamental plant. It is easily grown in pots and could do very well indoor, as long as there is considerable amount of sunshine. Propagation is no problem. This plant literally propagates itself even inside the pot. New plants grow from the side, and these can be separated and grown in another pot. Within a year, a single plant can produce tens of others under a greenhouse condition.