Aloe
Aloe is a genus native to Africa containing about 500 species of flowering succulent plants. The most common and well known of these is Aloe vera, or "true aloe". Most Aloe species have a rosette of large, thick, fleshy leaves. The leaves are often lance-shaped with a sharp apex and a spiny margin. Aloe flowers are tubular, frequently yellow, orange, pink or red.
The Greeks and Romans used aloe vera to treat wounds. In the Middle Ages, the yellowish liquid found inside the leaves was favored as a purgative. Some species, particularly Aloe vera are used in alternative medicine and in the home first aids.
Aloe vera is useful for both internal and external applications. The gel found in the leaves is used for soothing minor burns, wounds, and various skin conditions like eczema and ringworm. The extracted aloe vera juice is used internally to treat a variety of digestive conditions. Despite its popularity, aloe is an allergen and should always be tested before use.
Aloe vera being the most popular is available in various forms such as aloe vera juices, aloe vera gel, aloe vera oil, aloe concentrates and aloe powder. You can also make your own aloe vera juice by mixing some citrus fruit or juice to the aloe vera gel and adding water.
Source: www.wikipedia.org
Image by Raulbot available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license
Aloe is a genus native to Africa containing about 500 species of flowering succulent plants. The most common and well known of these is Aloe vera, or "true aloe". Most Aloe species have a rosette of large, thick, fleshy leaves. The leaves are often lance-shaped with a sharp apex and a spiny margin. Aloe flowers are tubular, frequently yellow, orange, pink or red.
The Greeks and Romans used aloe vera to treat wounds. In the Middle Ages, the yellowish liquid found inside the leaves was favored as a purgative. Some species, particularly Aloe vera are used in alternative medicine and in the..
Read more.....