| This "lily of the desert"
has been used for centuries as a natural cure-all for ailments
inside and outside of the body. It was first given its name
Aloe
Vera by noted Swedish scientist Carl Von Linne (Linneus)
in 1720. It is a member of the lily family and most experts
think that it had originated out of Africa before mankind
spread it throughout the world. It is a succulent semi tropical
plant with thick fleshy lance shaped leaves that have serrate
edges. It thrives best in arid desert like conditions but
it does well in any climate as long as the temperature remains
above freezing. Since it is hardy plant with interesting flowers
and medicinal qualities, Aloe Vera is a very popular
ornamental plant, earning a place in many people's kitchen
windows and gardens. It is also cultivated on a large scale
in order to supply the burgeoning cosmetic and natural health
care industries, which utilize the plants natural healing
qualities in a plethora of creams, drinks, balms, sprays and
lotions.
Nobody knows exactly when people began to utilize the different
healing properties of the Aloe Vera plant. Ancient
Sumerian text lists Aloe Vera as a form of purgative .The
yellowish latex residue of the Aloe plant is known to help
maintain healthy bowels and can be used as a laxative when
taken orally. The ancient Egyptians also reportedly used
it in the embalming process as well as a skin care product.
It has also been reported that the famed beauty Cleopatra
used Aloe as a facial cream to help maintain her famous
visage. The Chinese have also been using it for over a thousand
years to treat everything from sinuses to skin diseases
Aloe first came to the attention of the Europeans during
the height of the Roman era. Dioscorides, the Roman master
of pharmacology was one of the first Westerners to describe
it in detail and list its numerous benefits as a laxative
and a soothing balm for bruises. It became a mainstay as
a healing balm and purgative during the middle ages aided
by an obscure passage in the New Testament. Upon discovery
of the New World, Aloe found its way to the Latin and South
America through Spanish missionaries who planted it their
gardens.
The onset of the industrial revolution and the subsequent
arrival of synthesized chemical fixes for ailments pushed
back Aloe Vera's role as a medicinal plant. While
it was still employed as a home remedy by many, the scientific
community downplayed its medicinal importance. During the
mid twentieth century, Aloe experienced a revival of sorts
as people began once again to look at traditional home remedies
to help with various conditions and ailments. The medical
community also began to re-look at this little wonder plant
and a plethora of medical reports were released citing Aloe
Vera's ability to heal everything from periodontal disease
to hair loss.
Today, while the medical community still maintains strict
neutrality on Aloe Veras potential as a medical cure-all,
the cosmetic and natural health industry is crazy for the
little green plant. Aloe Vera juice and additives
are sold in health food stores around the country and many
cosmetic products list Aloe as a contributing ingredient.
As a plant, Aloe Vera remains extremely popular and
can be found in almost any garden center that you walk into.
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