Aloe vera, also known as Aloe Vera, is a plant that has been used medicinally since ancient times. Its active ingredients are found in the gel, its famous slime, while the skin is potentially toxic. Egyptians and Greeks already used aloe vera, and it is even mentioned in the Bible, which indicates its widespread use in various ancient civilizations.

ANVISA prohibits food products from containing aloe vera in Brazil because there are several species of the plant and some are toxic for ingestion. The species used as a herbal medicine is Aloe vera barbadensis, considered safe, with many benefits for skin, hair, and digestive health.

Benefits of Aloe Vera: What Is It For?

Aloe vera works as a natural digestive, has astringent, anesthetic, anti-hemorrhagic, anti-inflammatory, bactericidal properties, and on the skin it acts as a healing agent, moisturizer, and fungicide. It can also help in the fight for cancer cure.

Components of Aloe Vera

The gel of aloe vera is a food rich in active plant components. Its nutritional composition includes:

  • Water
  • 12 vitamins, including vitamins A, C, E, B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, and B13
  • 20 minerals
  • 18 amino acids
  • 200 phytonutrients, which include 15 enzymes, terpenes, glyconutrients, and glycoproteins.
  • Polysaccharides
  • Phenolic Glycosides

Indications

The main use of aloe vera is topical, for skin-related problems, from mild conditions such as acne to psoriasis, leprosy, etc. For internal use, such as in green juices, aloe vera strengthens the immune system and has anti-inflammatory and antiviral action, which means it can inhibit the multiplication of certain viruses, acting as an adjunct in the treatment of STDs.

As for cancer cure, there is still not much research, but some isolated tests have shown that the oligosaccharides present in aloe vera can destroy malignant cells found in tumors.

Other known effects of consuming aloe vera are:

  • Glycemia control preventing diabetes
  • Reduction of inflammation
  • Balance of cholesterol and triglycerides
  • Helps to heal ulcers and other chronic lesions in Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Crohn’s Disease, and Celiac Disease
  • Strengthens immunity with the component Acemannan
  • Increase in life expectancy
  • Heals physical and radioactive burns
  • Improvement in gum health
  • Reduction of cardiovascular problems and increased physical resistance
  • Enzymes that aid digestion
  • Treatment of kidney stones
  • Decreases oxidative stress.

How to Consume Aloe Vera

The aloe vera gel should be properly extracted, discarding the leaf skin, which is toxic. The extracted gel is transparent and almost tasteless, and can be added to a juice blended in a blender. The amount can be approximately one tablespoon for each blender cup.

This way, the aloe vera gel can be used to prepare juices and smoothies. There is no ideal amount to take, but to reduce the risk of unwanted digestive effects it is better to start with a small amount and then, if it is well tolerated, increase gradually.

To store the leaf that contains the aloe vera gel, it is best to keep it in the refrigerator, as it is quite large and fleshy, containing a lot of gel. Alternatively, the collected gel can be frozen and thus last up to six months.

Consumption Tip

The depurative properties that improve metabolism are enhanced when aloe vera is mixed with lemon, providing detoxifying properties. Aloe vera juice with lemon helps improve immunity, besides being an energetic juice for the morning. See how to make it:

  • 1 tablespoon of Aloe vera gel
  • 1 dessert spoon of honey
  • 1 lemon

Squeeze the lemon and blend the ingredients together with a glass of water in the blender. Preferably drink it on an empty stomach.

Aloe Vera for Skin and Hair

The most common use of aloe vera is in cosmetic products based on Aloe vera. There are many possibilities: facial and hair creams, scalp strengthening lotions, skin tonics and cleansers, deodorants, aftershave lotions, shampoos, creams for acne and dandruff.

This is because Aloe vera on the skin helps prevent wrinkle formation, hydrates and heals wounds, reduces acne inflammation, itching from fungal infections, and even burn marks. Aloe vera improves blood circulation around the wound. It also helps reduce inflammation and control oiliness.

By the same logic, aloe vera acts on the scalp skin by reducing itching and irritation caused by oiliness and dandruff. That is why it is also used in shampoo formulas. It cleans, fights hair loss and seborrhea, hydrates and even strengthens hair growth, as it helps to open the pores of the scalp and penetrates it, stimulating blood circulation and favoring healthy growth. Its properties are similar to keratin, nourishing and giving flexibility to the hair strands. Lastly, it can act as a sunscreen, protecting hair from ultraviolet rays.