Awesome Aloe Vera: The Benefits of This Miracle Plant
Over the past two years, aloe vera skincare products have gained massive popularity.
Have you heard or used it personally before?
These products are available in these forms: soaps, shampoos, creams and lotions for beauty purposes, gels, masks, and so on.
Aloe can also be used as a hair styling gel and works especially well for curly or fuzzy hair. It’s also used for making makeup, moisturisers, soaps, sunscreens, shampoos, and lotions.
What Is Aloe Vera?
Aloe vera is the oldest medicinal plant ever known and the most applied medicinal plant worldwide. Research done in Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India, reveals that the extracts are a proven skin healer.
What Is Aloe Vera Good For?
Aloe vera helps to soothe skin injuries affected by burning, skin irritations, cuts, and insect bites, and its bactericidal properties relieve itching and skin swellings.
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University also explains that aloe has been used externally to treat various skin conditions such as cuts, burns, and eczema.
The Benefits of Aloe Vera for My Skin
It’s alleged that the sap from aloe eases pain and reduces inflammation. It has antiseptic and antibiotic properties which make it highly valuable in treating cuts and abrasions.
It has also been commonly used to treat first- and second-degree burns, as well as sunburns, poison oak, poison ivy, poison sumac infections, and eczema.
Which parts of aloe are used? The leaf can be divided into two major parts.
They are:
- The outer green rind, including the vascular bundles, and;
- The inner colorless parenchyma containing the aloe gel
According to the Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, the lower leaf of the plant is used for medicinal purposes. If the lower leaf is sliced open, the gel obtained can be applied to the affected area of the skin.
Aloe vera is an important and traditional medicinal plant belonging to the family Liliaceae. It’s indigenous to Africa and Mediterranean countries.
Aloe Vera, the Miracle Plant
What is aloe termed the “Miracle Plant”? It’s because it has many things that benefit us. Many of the health benefits associated with aloe have been attributed to the polysaccharides called acemannan contained in the gel of the leaves.
Polysaccharides in Aloe Vera
A polysaccharide is a substance you get from carbs. These biological activities include the promotion of wound healing, antifungal activity, hypoglycemic or antidiabetic effects.
They also involve anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and immuno-modulatory (for immune body’s condition) attributes and has properties to protect the stomach.
According to the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology in South Africa, polysaccharides are found in abundance in nature.
They are readily available from sources such as algae, plants, microbes, and animals.
Aloe vera is a perennial succulent plant that develops water storage tissue in the leaves to survive in dry areas of low or erratic rainfall. The innermost part of the leaf is a clear, soft, moist and slippery tissue that consists of large thin-walled parenchyma cells in which water is held in the form of a viscous gel.
The thick fleshy leaves contain cell wall carbohydrates and storage carbohydrates.
A study revealed that the raw pulp of aloe contains approximately 98.5% of water, while the gel consists of about 99.5% of water.
A review was done in Food Sci in 2004 also said that the remainder consists of a range of compounds.
They include water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins, minerals, enzymes, polysaccharides, phenolic compounds, and organic acids.
All of that goodness in aloe means they have perfect cosmetic values. Aloe stimulates the production of collagen and elastin that prevents skin ageing. Aloe vera gel lightens the dark spots on the face and reduces the intensity of pigmentation.
How Can I Use Aloe Vera on My Face?
Aloe hastens skin repair and hydrates it, resulting in healthy and glowing skin.
When applied topically, the gel acts as a useful moisturiser that removes dead skin cells and rejuvenates the skin.
One ideal way of using aloe is through skincare products that contain a desirable amount of aloe. Implementing such products in your daily skin care regimen can reap plenty of rewards!
Can I Apply Aloe Vera on My Face Every Day?
Yes, you can apply aloe vera on your face on a daily basis.
Aloe Vera Face Pack Recipe
A face pack is a convenient and easy way of using aloe!
This DIY face pack can be applied daily to help hydrate and plump up your skin.
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon of aloe gel
- 1 tablespoon of honey
- 1 cucumber, sliced
Directions:
- Blend the sliced cucumber
- Combine the aloe and honey to the blend
- Apply the paste to your face and neck
- Leave the face pack on for 20 minutes
- Rinse off with lukewarm water
Aloe Vera for Skin Whitening
Aloe can be used to lighten your skin tone.
This ability stems from its natural compound that can reduce pigmentation, aloin. When you apply aloe regularly, it can lighten blemishes and get rid of dark spots.
Aloe Vera for Skin Rash and Eczema
There are a few reasons why aloe is an effective and natural solution to alleviate symptoms of dermatological conditions.
They include:
- Extremely hydrating with 99% of water that contains many antioxidants
- Plant hormones that have wound healing and anti-inflammatory abilities to speed up healing
- Anti-inflammatory attribute helps to reduce infection and helps eczema sufferers who typically have staph bacteria
Aloe Vera for Acne
People with oily skin can prevent the formation of pimples and acne by using this gel. For older people, scarring and stretch marks are some of the signs of ageing which can be prevented by the antioxidants present in this plant.
How Can I Use Aloe Vera on My Hair?
For your hair, the gel of the plant should be rubbed on the scalp for 30 minutes and rinsed well thereafter to naturally treat dry hair and dandruff. It also conditions damaged hair.
Can I Apply Aloe Vera on My Hair Every Day?
Yes, you can apply aloe to your hair daily, but we advise doing it once or twice a week because it has cooling properties. It’s safe to administer fresh aloe gel to your hair before going to bed.
Leave it in and wash it off the next morning for soft and lustrous hair.
Aloe Vera Hair Mask Recipe
Interested in a simple and quick DIY hair mask recipe for your daily use? Check this out!
Ingredients:
- Aloe gel
- Lemon juice
Directions:
- Apply this mixture to your hair after shampooing it
- Leave this for four to five minutes and then rinse thoroughly with water
Does Aloe Vera Help With Hair Growth?
The special enzymes in aloe vera help to facilitate healthy hair growth.
They break down dead skin cells that reside on the scalp. These cells can block hair follicles, which prevents them from growing properly.
Breaking down the cells allows the follicles to flourish and grow uninhibited. Nutrients can enter the follicles and promote efficient and faster growth.
Aloe also contains a chemical structure that’s similar to keratin, the fundamental protein in hair that helps to moisturise and prevent damage. As a source of essential proteins and vitamins, these components in aloe work together to boost hair regrowth.
With all the benefits you can get, it’s accurate to call aloe the Miracle Plant. And with all the fuss about this succulent, maybe it’s about time you get this miracle in your hands.
Check out HoneyCity’s Cantley Lifecare Aloevite Aloe Vera With Vitamin E!
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