He aloe vera It is a cactus-like plant that grows in warm climates and is very present in the Mediterranean arc and in the Canary Islands, as well as in Andalusia.

The gel found inside its leaves has been used since ancient times to soften the skin, treat skin conditions and help heal the woundsbut he aloe vera It has many other health benefits.

cannot be assured with certainty How long has aloe been used (Aloe vera) as a medicinal plant. There is no doubt that it has played an important medicinal role. in many civilizations.

Some of its first uses are recorded on a clay tablet from 2,100 BC, but also Drawings of this plant can be found on the walls of ancient Egyptian templeswhich date back six millennia.

The Egyptians baptized him with the nickname plant of immortality for being included in the embalming processes.

The Israelites of Solomon’s time They praised its aromatic and medicinal properties, and in Mesopotamia they drank a decoction based on aloe, hemp and palm wine, the Elixir of Jerusalem, because they considered it gave them health and longevity.

Around 600 BC aloe reached India and Persia, introduced by the Arabswhich were already used both externally and internally.

Current knowledge about the virtues of aloe comes from Greek Herbalist what Dioscorides wrote (41-68 AD), where detailed for the first time that the content of Its leaves could treat boils, hemorrhoids, wounds and burns.

In the 15th centuryits cultivation spread throughout America at the hands of the Jesuits Spaniards, who used it as an excellent emergency remedy.

Today the use of aloe is so widespread which can be found both in pharmaceutical preparations and in juices, yogurts or children’s diapers.

Aloe vera plant: characteristics

Although aloe looks very similar to a cactusin reality it is a fleshy and perennial plant that belongs to the liliaceae familyas well as onions, garlic and asparagus.

There are more than 260 species of aloe and their number is increasing, since new hybrids are always being created.

Its habitat is desert or semi-desertalthough it can also grow in rocky areas of temperate zones, where rainfall is scarce. In Murcia and the Balearic Islands there are large areas dedicated to the cultivation of aloe.

aloe leavesthat They are perennial and have a green color that turns towards blue.have a lanceolate shape, They have a resistant cuticle and spines distributed throughout its perimeter.

Older plants can have up to thirty leaves and the weight of one of them reaches, in some cases, up to a kilo.

Aloe flowers usually appear around the third year of age.which is when the plant really has all its active ingredients to be used as medicine.

Pure aloe vera: the gel of its leaves

The leaves They constitute the useful part of this planta, since all its active ingredients are concentrated in them.

If you cut a leaf crosswise with a sharp knife you can see that the outer part is a greenish barkabout two millimeters thick, which secretes a yellowish liquid.

This crust surrounds the pulp, a translucent, gelatinous and colorless mass.

The outer part of this cortex is made up of several layers of epidermal cells that make up an elastic membrane capable of becoming waterproofclosing all its stomata during sunny hours.

Below this membrane, and occupying almost the entire cortex, there is an area of longitudinal channels through which the plant sap circulatesvery rich in a bitter substance called aloin.

In the center of the sheet The pulp is found, composed of parenchyma cells that form a spongy and mucilaginous tissue in which the plant stores its water reserves.

The leaves are collected in spring and summerbefore flowering, and are industrially processed to obtain its two main products: aloe gel and acíbar.

Pure aloe vera gel: its composition and derived products

Aloe gel or juice is obtained from the pulp from the leaves, which release a mucilaginous, transparent and tasteless broth. The fame that this plant is acquiring in recent years is due to him, especially for its notable effects on skin health.

The juice is composed of more than twenty substances:

• amino acids (basic components of proteins);
• anthroquinones of analgesic, antibactericidal and antifungal action;
• enzymes that transform proteins obtained through the diet into amino acids that are absorbed by the body and converted back into proteins;
• lignin and saponins that facilitate gel penetration and have cleansing and antiseptic properties;
• minerals that are involved in the formation of bone and cartilage tissue and that regulate the osmosis of organic tissues and the formation of substances of high biological value;
• Acemannan of immunostimulating action;
• vitamins A, C, E and group B that exert a antioxidant effect against free radicals;
• and water in its greatest proportion.

How to know if it is pure aloe vera

The label indicates its quality: this list includes, In order from highest to lowest quality, the commercial names of aloe:

• natural aloe gel. Undiluted and unprocessed tissue obtained from the leaves.
• stabilized gel. Undiluted, but processed natural fabric.
• Aloe 100%, processed and preserved liquid from the leaf that does not exceed 50 ppm of aloin.
• Concentrated. Aloe gel without its natural water, extracted mechanically,
• Reconstituted gel. Aloe concentrate mixed with water.
• Complete gel. It contains 50% of its pulp.
• Spray gel. Drying by this method,
• Reconstituted powder. Gel spray dried and mixed with water,
• in juice. It is at least 50% gel.
• aloe drink. It contains between 10% and 50% gel.
• Extract. It only has 10% aloe, dissolved in water and other compounds.

Aloe vera: properties

Due to its unique chemical composition The aloe plant has the ability to heal wounds almost instantly. to prevent the water inside from being lost.

It is assumed that This self-regeneration capacity is what gave the key to ancient civilizations to start using it.

The multiple studies performed on aloe to determine its therapeutic action They have found interesting properties that allow them to successfully treat various illnesses.

• Skin problems. The polysaccharides contained in aloe, including acemannan, stimulate the multiplication of fibroblast cells, increasing metabolic activity and cellular reproduction, which explains the success of aloe in treating viral infections such as herpes, healing burns and, above all, wound healing, as it accelerates the healing process by up to 50%, without keloids forming thanks to its ability to rebuild tissues without preventing oxygen from reaching the wound.
• Anti-aging. It is enough to make a facial mask of fresh aloe gel obtained directly from the leaf once or twice a week so that the aloe stimulates the production of fibroblast cells in the dermis, which are responsible for the formation of collagen, reducing the existence of wrinkles and reducing the appearance of new ones.
• Depigmenting. Those people who, due to age or due to excessive exposure to the sun, appear dark spots on the skin Due to hyperpigmentation, they can use the gel or directly a piece of freshly cut aloe leaf. It is applied directly every night on the affected area and the operation is repeated until the stain begins to disappear (between two and four weeks).
• bleeding gums. Natural aloe gel is used, if possible obtained from the fresh leaf, or aloe juice diluted with water, in the proportion of two tablespoons of aloe juice and half a glass of water. Once stirred mouthwashes are performed three times a dayafter each meal, without ingesting any other liquid for 20 minutes.
• Mouth ulcers. Mannose phosphate, present in the gelacts as a tissue growth agent and its beneficial effect on ulcers, especially mouth ulcers, has been proven.
• Tartar. The bactericidal, antiviral and fungicidal action of aloe inhibits the growth of the Streptococcus mutantsresponsible for tartar. Additionally, it strengthens the gums.
• Digestive system and intestinel. Perhaps this is the most surprising property of aloe juice, since drunk pure or diluted— calms acidity stomach, reflux and inflammation of the intestine. This is due to its powerful alkalizing actionwhich increases digestive mucus production and reduces acid production. Likewise, it facilitates the recovery of esophageal tissue and contributes to accelerating the healing process. healing of ulcers of stomach.
• Intestinal flora. The action of aloe juice persists throughout the entire intestinal tract, exerting a soothing and emollient effectwhich facilitates the recovery of intestinal flora, minimizes the presence of pathogenic flora and increases the absorption of essential nutrients for the body.
  To treat all these digestive problems it is recommended to take a tablespoon of pure aloe juice half an hour before each meal. It is necessary to drink it alone or with very little water and the effects are noticeable after one or two weeks. However, pure aloe juice, sold in herbalists and specialized stores, must contain pulp in its preparation to benefit from all its properties.

What is alcíbar or bitter aloe

Acíbar or bitter aloe is obtained from the viscous juiceyellowish and with a localized bitter taste on the surface of aloe leaves.

Once this liquid has been extractede concentrates, either by exposure to the sun or by boiling. As the liquid is heated it becomes darker and thicker. When all the water it contained has evaporated, it is left to cool. and a hard mass of dark and shiny color called acíbar is obtained..

Acíbar is composed of between 40% and 80% resins, and up to 20% aloin, an anthroquinone glycoside that is the main active ingredient of aloe. The acíbar is, Therefore, a substance very powerful effectso its administration must be prescribed by a specialist.

Due to its bitter taste, acibar mixed with water It has been used as a popular remedy to avoid biting nails. But without a doubt it is your laxative effect what has been traditionally sought.

Pure acibar usually comes in small pieces or powder and, depending on the dose, it has different effects:

• Up to 0.1 g is aperitif, stomachic and cholagogue, improving digestion.
• From 0.1 g it is laxative and emmenagogue (increases menstrual flow).
• In doses of 0.5 g (maximum daily) it acts as energetic and oxytocic purgative (causes uterine contractions).

However, the acíbar should not be used as a laxative by women during menstruation, nor by pregnant womenas it could induce abortion; It is also not recommended to those who suffer from hemorrhoids (it can make them bleed) and it is prohibited to take them in children.

Aloe vera: care

Aloe is a…