Aloe Vera Plant
Medicinal Aloe Vera plants can be found in households all over the world, because they are known to be a medicinal herb. They differ from other plant, in that they do not have any naturally occurring populations, although closely related Aloes do occur in northern Africa. It is currently known to mainly live in captivity or cultivated by farmers for commercial use. This alone makes the aloe vera unique compared to many household plants that can also be found in the wild.
Another unique quality is that this plant has many health benefits reported to boost your immune system and case studies have shown that vera juice extract has a positive effect on diabetes and heart disease. As the stalks include several medical compounds, including acetylated mannans, polymannans, anthraquinone C-glycosides, anthrones and anthraquinones and lectins; aloe tends to be added to a wide range of natural Aloe Vera products to entice users to purchase them.
The aloe vera plant is a succulent plant, thriving in gardening zones 8-10. It is suitable as an ornamental plant for low-water gardens, as well as indoors. Aloe does not tolerate snow or frost and will die under such conditions. However, you can keep in alive in colder climates by putting it in a greenhouse or transplanting it indoors for the winter months. Being a succulent, the aloe vera plant resembles cacti and other common desert plants. Since it is most acclimated to dryer climates, over watering is the most common mistake that people make in caring for them. The best way to determine when it needs to be watered is by the soil, which should be very dry before watering, this will help to prevent harming or killing it, therefore, the soil is a good indicator on the best time to water the plant. To prevent root rot, be sure to purchase soil made for desert plant life, one that will provide proper water drainage for the plant.
Many people grow these plants at home and use them as a quick treatment for small cuts or burns. There are conflicting studies on how aloe vera affects the rate of healing. Studies have been conducted to observe the healing rate with various factors, such as the type of wound inflicted, it’s severity and how it was bandage after applying aloe vera to it. Several of these studies have shown that the aloe vera plant does indeed speed-up the healing process overall. In certain forms, the aloe vera is safe to ingest too.
Despite the lack of specific scientific proof on the increased healing and other properties of aloe vera, it has gained a high regard by the average individual, granting the aloe vera plant a place in shampoos, lotions, soaps and a wide range of cosmetics. However, the gains garnered from the presence of aloe in these products is based on belief, not on scientific proof.
The aloe vera plants gel has over 75 nutrients and a stunning 200 active compounds and there are certain related species are found in Africa today. There are references to aloe in the bible, which makes it one of the oldest documented species of plants known.
