Facts about Aloe vera
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| Image Aloe vera |
- Aloe vera grows in arid climates and is widely distributed in Africa, India and other arid areas.
- Aloe vera, is a species of succulent plant that probably originated in the southern half of the Arabian peninsula, Northern Africa, the Canary islands and Cape Verde.
- There is some preliminary evidence that Aloe vera extracts may be useful in the treatment of wound and burn healing, minor skin infections, sabescaous cysts, diabetes and elevated blood lipids in humans
- The species name vera means "true" or "genuine."
- Like other Aloe species, Aloe vera forms arbuscular mycorrhiza, a symbiosis that allows the plant better access to mineral nutrients in soil.
- In India, the plant is known as Ghrtakumari(Hindi/Sanskrit: घृतकुमारी) or Gheekvar (घीक्वार)
- and is sometimes used in Ayurvedic healing. In states of Rajasthan and Gujarat it is known as GwarPatha
- The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753 as Aloe perfoliata var. vera, and was described again in 1768 by Nicolaas Laurens Burman as Aloe vera in Flora Indica on the 6th of April and by Philip Miller as Aloe barbadensis some ten days after Burman in the Gardener's Dictionary.
- In Indonesia, it is known as Lidah Buaya.
- In Latin America it is known as Sabila.
- The cosmetic and alternative medicine industries regularly make claims regarding the soothing, moisturising and healing properties of Aloe vera.
- Aloe vera can be grown as an ornamental plant.
- Aloe vera gel is used as an ingredient in commercially available lotion, yogurt, beverages and some desserts.
- Aloe vera juice is used for consumption and relief of digestive issues such as heartburn and irritable bowel syndrome.
- It is common practice for cosmetic companies to add sap or other derivatives from Aloe vera to products such as makeup, tissues, moisturizers, soaps, sunscreens, incense, razors and shampoos.
- Aloe vera is alleged to be effective in treatment of wounds.
- Aloe vera extracts have antibacterial and antifungal activities, which may help in the treatment of minor skin infections, such as boils and benign skin cysts.
- For its anti-fungal properties, Aloe vera is used as a fish tank water conditioner.
