Caption: In this picture taken on March 29, 2023, Salama Badwan, a 40-year-old Palestinian man, and his wife Alaa, 40, tend to Aloe Vera plants grown on their roof to be used for oil extraction and soap-making, at their home in Deir al-Balah in the centre of the Gaza Strip

 

THROUGHOUT time, man has been concerned with medicines that can prevent and cure various illnesses.  Aloe Vera is a plant that was discovered across the centuries for its curative benefits.  The healing properties of aloe have been reborn once again in this century and are acclaiming much attention as a “Miracle Plant.”

Aloe is most effective in treating skin disorders such as rashes, cuts, burns, wounds of all kinds and insect bites.  Scientific studies have revealed that this miracle plant is capable of healing much more than just skin disorders.

Aloe has the power to treat boils, induce sleep, acts as a purgative, is effective in treating ulcerated genitals, heals hemorrhoids, stops the loss of hair, is good for tonsils, gums, mouth pain and is excellent in stopping the bleeding of wounds, promotes tissue regeneration, is good for the treatment of X-ray and other radiation burns, normalizes the pH of the body, promotes a more favourable balance of gastrointestinal symbiotic bacteria, is wonderful for inflammatory pain, good for sinusitis, worm fever and convulsions in children when taken internally.

A famous physician, Pliny the Elder (AD 23-79) stated that aloe helps check perspiration and that the root of the plant could be boiled and used for the treatment of leprous sores.

Scientific studies have proven that the most effective use of Aloe Vera comes with a balanced blend of the three parts of the leaf: The sap, rind and the gel.  The gel plays its role when mixed properly with the sap but has little medicinal value alone.  This sap is found just under the green part of the leaf and contains the plant’s anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agents. Aloe should be mixed with an agent such as water or orange juice before ingesting.

Chemical analysis shows that Aloe Vera contains vitamins, minerals, triglycerides, carbohydrates, amino acids, enzymes and water.  The vitamins found in Aloe include; B-Complex, B-1, B-2, B-3, Coline, Folic Acid, C, and Carotene.  All of these are vital to the general good health of the body and some of which are vital to the formation of certain enzymes.

Minerals: Aloe has been shown to contain as many as 13 of the 17 minerals needed for good nutrition.  Minerals found in Aloe include Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Chloride, Iron Zinc, Manganese, Copper, Chromium, Sulphur, Aluminum and Sodium. All these minerals are necessary in the growth process and essential to the function of all body systems.

Triglycerides include fats, oil and waxes.  They carry the fat soluble vitamins, supply the fatty acids essential for growth and general health of all body tissue, especially the skin.

Carbohydrates assist in digestion and assimilation of nutrients in food and supply energy for muscular exertion.  They also control protein breakdown, the distribution of sodium, potassium, chloride, water balance, and are essential to healthy skin.

Aloe Vera juice contains twenty of the twenty-two Amino Acids known to be needed for good nutrition; eight or nine of these are essential and must be supplied from an outside source because the body cannot manufacture its own.  The other thirteen or fourteen can be built within the body by the essential eight or nine.  The complete list of Amino Acids known to exist in Aloe are: Lysine, Histidine, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Asparagine, Threonine, Serine, Glutamine, Hydroproline, Proline, Glycine, Alanine, Cystine, Valine, Methionine, Isoledcine, Leucine, Tyrosine, Glutamis Acid, and Phenylalanine.

Without enzymes, the chemical reaction of vitamins, minerals, and hormones cannot take place. Enzymes present in Aloe include AlkalinePhosphatase, Sgptransaminase, Sgotransaminase, Lactic Dehydrogenase, Amylase, Lipase, Oxidase, Peroxidase, Catalase, Bradykininase, Gamma Transaminase, Carboxypeptidase and Cellulase.

Water is the major component of Aloe Vera gel (the clear inner part of the leaf).  When the fibre or pulp is removed from the gel, what remains is approximately 99% water.  Water is the universal solvent and is responsible for the transfer of nutrients throughout the body.

In conclusion, Aloe Vera is a vegetable juice which eliminates many internal and external infections, limits or eliminates inflammation, and is a highly effective pain killer.  It is important to remember that the anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial agents are found in the sap and rind of the plant, not in the gel.  Also the whole of the aloe leaf works synergistically to promote healing and has been used to treat countless human and animal medical problems from A to Z.

As a skilled Esthetician and Wellness Coach, Naema Khan specialises in providing personalised care through Electrolysis, facials and various therapeutic massages such as Swedish, Thai, Indian head massage and therapeutic foot massages. She also offers consultations on natural health and wellness, guiding clients on holistic approaches to maintain optimal well-being and promote self-healing. With a passion for empowering individuals to achieve radiant health and beauty, she provides tailored services to nurture body, mind and spirit. She can be contacted at 1-868-330-9448