Aloe Skin Care
Aloe Vera Uses, Aloe Vera for face and skin

This so called “lily of the desert” has been used for centuries as a natural cure-all for ailments both internally and externally. Aloe Vera was first given it’s name by noted Swedish scientist Carl Von Linne (Linneus) in 1720. Due to the fact that it is a member of the lily family the majority of experts think that it had originated out of Africa before being spread throughout the world. It is a semi tropical plant with thick fleshy lance shaped leaves that have serrate edges. It is ideally grown in arid desert like conditions but it can also manage in any climate as long as the temperature is not freezing level. Aloe Vera is a very popular ornamental plant (you wouldn’t think so, after taking a look at its structure!), therefore it is found in many kitchen windows and gardens. The plant is also cultivated on a very large scale (which is rapidly expanding) to cater to the health care industry. The health care industry utilizes the plant’s natural healing qualities in various forms such as: drinks, balms, sprays, lotions and creams.

It isn’t known exactly when people began to use the different healing properties and concoctions of Aloe Vera. Ancient texts list Aloe Vera as a type of purgative .The yellowish latex residue of Aloe is found to help maintain very healthy bowels and can also be utilized as a laxative through oral use. It is also said that the ancient Egyptians used it in the embalming process, especially as a skin care product. Would you believe that there are reports of the beautiful Cleopatra using Aloe in the form of a cream herself? Additionally the Chinese have been using it for over thousands of years to treat everything from sinuses to skin diseases

Aloe primarily got the attention of Europeans during the height of the Roman era. Roman master of pharmacology (Dioscorides) was one of the initial Westerners to study it in detail and number its numerous advantages as a laxative and a soothing balm for bruises. Upon discovery of the New World, eventually Aloe Vera found its way to the Latin and South America through Spanish missionaries who planted it their gardens. 

Through the industrial revolution and the arrival of synthesized chemical fixes for ailments Aloe Vera’s role as a medicinal plant became neglected. While being acknowledged as a home remedy by many, the scientific community suppressed its medicinal use. During the mid twentieth century, Aloe went through a revival as people began again to look for traditional home remedies to assist with many conditions and ailments. The medical community also began to research and eventually a plethora of medical reports were released citing Aloe Vera’s ability to heal almost everything from periodontal disease to hair loss.

As of now, the medical community still claims strict neutrality on Aloe Vera’s potential as a cure-all; the cosmetic and natural health industry is going ga-ga for the green plant. Aloe Vera juice and additives are sold in health food stores around the world and a large amount of 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.