Health benefits of aloe vera

A.L.O.E. ‘A little of everything!’
Aloe vera is a succulent that belongs to the liliaceae family (lily). The word ‘aloe’ has its roots in the Arabic word ‘alloeh’, which means ‘radiance’. The earliest documented use of aloe vera comes from Ancient Egypt – it can be seen on the tombs of ancient pharaohs – and the earliest recorded use for pharmacological reasons was in ancient Sumeria about 1750BC, where it was found to be an excellent remedy for stomach irritations and nausea.

The sap of the Aloe is a thick, mucilaginous gel. It is this gel which is used medicinally. The outer skin has essentially no value, though because it is commercially easier and less expensive to utilise the entire leaf, ‘whole leaf’ Aloe juice has been hyped as the ‘best’. This probably isn’t the case.

The Aloe plant is actually displayed on the coat of arms of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons – such is the emphasis placed on its’ use for treating sick animals.

Benefits of aloe vera include:
1. The long chain mannan polysaccharides in the plant helps activate and boost the immune system.
2. The magnesium lactate and salicylates in it effectively avert allergies, sinusitis and bronchitis.
3. The molecules in it act as anti-inflammatory agents, helping alleviate arthritic symptoms, and promoting good circulation for the heart and nervous system.
4. The polysaccharides in it bring down the body’s serum lipids, and thus lower triglyceride and LDL level (bad cholesterol) and increase of HDL (good cholesterol).
5. As an antioxidant, it guards against damage by free radicals and unwarranted toxins in the body. It also regulates blood pressure, and acts in rheumatism, arthritis, and infections of the kidney, the urinary tract and the prostate.
6. By the combined and synergistic effect of the various ingredients in it, aloe vera aids in treatment of peptic ulcers, stomach disorders, acidity, indigestion, gastritis and ulcers, colitis and haemorrhoids, cirrhosis, hepatitis and diabetes.

The list of different illnesses and conditions, that may be helped by the use of aloe vera is indeed impressive, covering everything from burns and slight infections to very serious conditions.

Unlike many aloe vera products on the market, Wikaniko’s aloe vera is not grown in the USA – instead it is cultivated on the sunny slopes in beautiful Andalucia, Spain, and therefore travelled less air miles to the UK. The fresh leaf gel has been prepared with cold pressing to maintain the beneficial properties of the plant. This superb product bears the coveted seal of the Organic Agriculture Committee of Andalucia is free of herbicides and pesticides, is totally organic, and not tested on animals.

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